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Family based therapy

Five Reasons Parents Should Be Included in the Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Eating Disorders

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Three eating disorder therapists at the 2016 IAEDP Symposium. Are you wondering how much impact parents can have on their child’s eating disorder treatment? Find out by meeting with an FBt therapist in Los Angeles, CA.

TL; DR Including parents in the treatment of children and adolescents with eating disorders is essential for effective recovery. Here are five compelling reasons: 1. Debunked Myths. Historical views blaming parents for eating disorders have been disproven, shifting the focus to inclusive care. 2. Best Practices. Current clinical guidelines advocate for family involvement, emphasizing that …

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How Do I Parent My Teen During Family-Based Treatment? When to Set Limits

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Photo of one teen pushing another in a shopping cart. Wondering how to navigate your role as a parent during your teen’s eating disorder recovery? Working with an FBT therapist in Los Angeles, CA, can help you set clear expectations.

TL;DR Parenting a teen with an eating disorder during Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is challenging. Parents need to balance normal parenting with the unique demands of recovery, which often involves refeeding at home. It’s important to distinguish between behaviors stemming from the eating disorder (like defiance during meals) and typical teenage rebellion. During high-stress moments related …

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Return to Exercise and Eating Disorder Recovery in Teens During FBT

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Drawing of a teen running on a treadmill. Wondering about when to incorporate physical activity during eating disorder recovery? An FBT therapist in Los Angeles, CA, can help you find healthy balance for you and your child.

TL;DR Excessive exercise is a common symptom in teens with eating disorders, potentially worsening their condition. During Family-Based Treatment (FBT), the approach to exercise is phased: Phase 1: Focus is on weight gain and stopping eating disorder behaviors. Exercise is typically halted for safety, as malnourished teens are at risk for serious health issues. Parents …

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Early Intervention with Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for Eating Disorders

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A teen girl sits next to a doctor who is writing notes. Does your teen show early signs of an eating disorder? Get equipped with the right guidance from a n FBT therapist in Los Angeles, CA.

TL;DR Early intervention is crucial in addressing eating disorders, which can lead to severe health issues if not treated promptly. Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is a leading, evidence-based approach tailored for teens, emphasizing parental involvement to support recovery. Despite its potential benefits, parents often hesitate to intervene due to uncertainty about the early signs of these …

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Expert Guidance: When to Add an Individual Therapist in FBT-Phase 1

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Picture of a teen in an individual therapy session. Is an individual therapist during FBT necessary? An expert family-based treatment therapist in Los Angeles, CA, explains why it might not be a great idea.

TL;DR In Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for teen eating disorders, experts discourage adding an individual therapist during Phase 1 (nutritional rehabilitation). Most teens do not require individual therapy at this stage, as it can undermine the family’s role and the focus on nutritional restoration. Experts agree that individual therapy should only be considered if there are …

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Are We Setting Recovery Weights Too Low? Insight From an FBT Therapist

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Photo of a rusty doctor scale. Setting the right goal weight in eating disorder recovery can feel intimidating, but an experienced FBT therapist can help. Discover the tools you need for healthy success through Family-Based Treatment in Los Angeles, CA.

TL;DR At the 2018 International Conference on Eating Disorders, experts discussed the low BMI threshold (18.5) often used to define recovery from anorexia nervosa, suggesting it’s inadequate for many individuals, especially those with higher weights or atypical anorexia. Many parents and practitioners advocate for a more individualized approach to recovery weights, emphasizing that a higher …

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How Much Food to Feed?

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Family having dinner and unhappy in FBT [Image description: family of 2 adults and two kids and the teen girl looks very unhappy about eating] Represents a potential family in California doing FBT for their teen's eating disorder

In Family-Based Treatment (FBT), we charge families with nourishing their teens back to health through meals at home. Because FBT is a parent empowerment model, parents are often given little specific guidance about how to do this. If you are like other families with whom I’ve worked, now that you understand this important point, you …

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Supporting your Child or Other Loved One with an Eating Disorder Through the Holidays

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Supporting Child with Eating Disorder Over Holiday in Los Angeles, California [Image description: photo of a Black family preparing a meal together and all the family members are dressed up] represents a potential family supporting a loved one with an eating disorder during the holidays

By Carly Poynter, AMFT, staff therapist The holidays are a challenging time to navigate for most people. The holidays are even more challenging for those who struggle with their relationship with food. As we prepare for the holiday feasts and festivities, there are a few things to consider, especially when you have a child or …

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Externalizing an Eating Disorder: When, Why, and How Do You Do That and Who is “Ed” Anyway?

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Externalizing your eating disorder in Los Angeles, California [Image description: a drawing of a girl facing a monster] Represents a potential teen with an eating disorder in Los Angeles, California externalizing her eating disorder

Externalizing an eating disorder is a therapeutic strategy. Jenni Schaefer’s book Life Without Ed, co-written by her therapist Thom Rutledge, popularized this strategy The book summarizes Jenni’s recovery from an eating disorder. Jenni describes how in her treatment she learned to personify the eating disorder as “Ed,” an abusive boyfriend. As explained in the blurb …

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FBT Treatment Team Members

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FBT Treatment Team Including Therapist, Dietitian, and Medical Doctor in Los Angeles, California [Image description: Purple scrabble tiles spelling "FBT Treatment Team"]

Family-based treatment (FBT) is the leading evidence-based treatment for teens with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In an ideal world, every person with an eating disorder would have access to a full treatment team. This team could include a therapist, a dietitian, a medical doctor, and a psychiatrist. However, manualized FBT calls only for a …

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