Benefits of Family-Based Therapy in Eating Disorder Recovery
Family-Based Treatment, sometimes referred to as The Maudsley Approach, is a type of family therapy that focuses on expanding treatment outside of a clinical setting and into the client’s home. In family-based therapy, both the client and their family are provided with the skills, resources, and support needed to work cohesively toward recovery.
By: Rebekah Paster
Family-based therapy is a critical component to successful, lasting eating disorder recovery. Below, you will learn more about this therapy approach and why it is so important in the treatment of eating disorders.
What is Family-Based Therapy?
Family-based therapy for eating disorders was originally developed for adolescent clients with Anorexia Nervosa, but is now used with clients of all ages and eating disorder diagnoses. These sessions provide a space for the client, their family, and the client’s therapist to work through any memories, beliefs, and/or behaviors that led the client’s eating disorder to develop. Family-based therapy sessions are also an opportunity for the client’s family to learn skills that will help their loved one in their recovery.
How is Family-Based Therapy Helpful?
Family-based therapy is helpful in eating disorder care because it helps align the client’s family with the client’s treatment goals. Numerous studies have shown that a supportive family environment helps clients with eating disorders reduce their eating disorder behaviors and achieve a more stable recovery. By actively participating in family-based therapy sessions throughout their loved one’s recovery, the client’s family is better prepared to support their loved one both during and after the client’s eating disorder treatment. Family members might also learn skills or gain insights that are applicable in their own lives. The more family members learn about eating disorders, disordered eating, diet culture, nutrition, and the many over topics that family-based therapy covers, the better prepared they’ll be to identify and address dysfunctional behaviors in their own lives.
What Might a Typical Family-Based Therapy Session Look Like at BALANCE?
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, we offer family-based therapy sessions called Multi-Family Group (MFG) both in our day program and in our evening program. These sessions occur weekly in the day program and monthly in the evening program. During MFG, clients and their families discuss a wide range of topics, including nutrition, communication skills, and relapse prevention. Participants often break out into smaller family-based groups to discuss the session’s topic and/or to practice any skills that are being taught. Clients can choose who they would like to bring to each MFG session — some bring parents, spouses, or partners, while other clients bring friends or roommates.
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our Multi-Family Group. Read more about our philosophy here or book a free consultation call with our admissions team below to request more information on our programs & services.
This post was written by BALANCE intern, Rebekah Paster.
Rebekah is a second-year MSW student at the Columbia School of Social Work, where she specializes in Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice. She is passionate about eating disorder recovery and plans to pursue a career in eating disorder treatment after graduation. Outside of school, Rebekah enjoys cooking and mindful movement.
Resources
Dimitropoulos, G., Farquhar, J. C., Freeman, V. E., Colton, P. A., & Olmsted, M. P. (2015). Pilot Study Comparing Multi-family Therapy to Single Family Therapy for Adults with Anorexia Nervosa in an Intensive Eating Disorder Program. European Eating Disorders Review, 23(4), 294-303. doi:10.1002/erv.2359
LE Grange D. (2005). The Maudsley family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa. World psychiatry: official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 4(3), 142–146.
Rienecke R. D. (2017). Family-based treatment of eating disorders in adolescents: current insights. Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics, 8, 69–79. https://doi.org/10.2147/AHMT.S115775
Robinson, A. L., Dolhanty, J., Stillar, A., Henderson, K., & Mayman, S. (2014). Emotion-Focused Family Therapy for Eating Disorders Across the Lifespan: A Pilot Study of a 2-Day Transdiagnostic Intervention for Parents. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy,23(1), 14-23. doi:10.1002/cpp.1933