TREATMENT
About the Clinicians
Treatment Options

EDUCATION
What are Eating Disorders?
Medical Complications
Family Guidelines
Nutrition
Exercise
Health and Weight
Suggested Reading

Although the origin of eating disorders continues to be studied, there are a number of possible causes, and likely a number of contributing factors: biology, genetics, the psychological nature of the individual, culture, the media and family dynamics. Whatever the actual cause or causes might be, there is one thing that clinicians are certain of - the family has a significant role in the recovery process. Family therapy plays a critical role when it comes to the treatment of an adolescent with an eating disorder.

I find it helpful to categorize three main areas of work which involve the family in the recovery process: family support and education, management of family stress, and family dynamics and communication. There is a broad range of issues with regard to each of these categories, and clearly the issues vary depending upon the needs and strengths of each family. Family therapy is utilized to assess each of these areas and provide assistance as needed.

Family Dynamics and Communication
Let me stress this point. NO ONE IS TO BLAME FOR A LOVED ONE’S EATING DISORDER. There are too many variables often contributing to an eating disorder, as stated earlier, to think that any one individual is responsible for its manifestation. A loving parent is predisposed to believe he or she has done something to contribute to the onset of a loved one’s eating disorder. Self-blame is all too often misguided. Blame serves no useful purpose. However, there certainly can be specific interactions between individual family members along with styles of communication that could either enhance or impede recovery. Family therapy addresses these components of family life.

Management of Family Stress
Health professionals have come to learn that eating disorder symptoms (restrictive eating patterns, bingeing, purging and negative thoughts) can become heightened in times of family stress. It is not the purpose of family therapy to alleviate all family stress (some stress is essential for healthy functioning), but rather its purpose is to assist the family in learning healthier styles of managing stress which would ultimately aid in recovery.

Family Support and Education
When a loved one's experiences any sort of distress (emotional or physical), it often reverberates throughout the family. Family members, in response to their loved ones distress, will likely experience their own distress. Family therapy addresses the emotional distress family members experience, thus enabling the family to more productively contribute to their loved one’s recovery. Family education provides concrete answers to some of the questions families have in response to their loved one’s eating disorder and practical suggestions to help manage eating disorder symptoms.