FBT Meal Strategies Gleaned from Ziplining: A Therapist’s Perspective

Photo of Dr. Lauren Muhlheim on a zip line. An FBt therapist in Los Angeles, CA, shares a metaphor from her zip-lining experience, including meal strategies that canhelp parent support their teen’s eating disorder treatment.

TL; DR In her insightful piece, Dr. Lauren Muhlheim uses a zip-lining experience as a metaphor to illustrate how parents can support their children with eating disorders during family-based treatment (FBT). She highlights key strategies that can ease the anxiety surrounding mealtimes, akin to facing the fear of jumping from a plane. Physical Placement: Parents …

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Research on the Family Meal in FBT: The Impact of Parental Direction

A family sits around a dining table. What is the impact of the family meal during family-based treatment? An FBt therapist in Los Angeles, CA, explains the effect this time can have on teens during their eating disorder treatment.

TL; DR Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is the leading outpatient therapy for adolescent eating disorders, particularly anorexia. A key component is the family meal, where parents actively encourage their teens to eat, often under the observation of a therapist. Research with 21 families revealed that direct prompts (like urging teens to eat specific foods) were more …

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Five Reasons Parents Should Be Included In Their Child’s Eating Disorder Treatment

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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With a Little Help From My Family: Who is FBT For?

Two Asian women eating together. Are you an adult with an eating disorder? Find out how you may benefit from Family-based treatment in Los Angeles, CA. Discover success in a recovery plan that relies on the whole family for support.

TL;DR Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is not just for teens; it can be effective for adults, too. Originally designed for adolescents with anorexia and bulimia, FBT involves parental support in meal planning and supervision, which is crucial for recovery. Recent evidence suggests its application extends to young adults and older individuals, with many successfully using it …

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When Your Teen With an Eating Disorder is Sick….

When your teen with an eating disorder is sick during recovery [Image description: drawing of a daughter in bed and appears ill and her mother is holding her head and a thermometer] Represents a parent caring for a teen with an eating disorder in Los Angeles, California

Guest post by Dr. Jennifer Johnson What if Your Teen With an Eating Disorder is Sick? One of the most common questions that arise when parents are renourishing a teen with an eating disorder is what to do when they get sick. Parents are sometimes totally overwhelmed when that happens. Some families may back off …

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Family-Based Treatment Can Help Depression and Self-Esteem Too!

FBT Depression and Self-Esteem

  Family-Based Treatment Family-based treatment (FBT) is the leading evidence-based treatment for teen eating disorders. It represents a paradigm shift from older treatments that focused on helping teens become independent from their parents in order to recover from their eating disorders. In FBT, parents are central members of the treatment team. Parents are charged with …

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On Empowering Parents—Not Pathologizing Them

Empowering Parents

I often write about the importance of including parents in the treatment of adolescents and young adults. My work is informed by my training in Family-based Treatment (FBT). A central component of this treatment is empowering parents to help their ailing children with eating disorders return to health. When asked why families should be the …

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A Viewing Guide for “To The Bone” Movie

Eating Disorder Film Guide

Ten Things I Want Viewers of To the Bone to Know “To The Bone,” Marti Noxon’s semi-autobiographical film about her experience as a young adult living with anorexia, was released today on Netflix and has already stirred up much controversy within the eating disorder community. Generally, I do not see things in black and white. …

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Condiments, the Final Frontier of Eating Disorder Recovery

Condiments in Eating Disorder Recovery in Los Angeles, California [Image description: a photo of various common condiments]

By Katie Grubiak, RDN Condiments in Eating Disorder Recovery In our work with clients with eating disorders, we help them to reintroduce recently eliminated and avoided foods that present as part of the eating disorder. We notice that as clients (both adult and child) reintroduce foods, it is often the condiments and sauces that are …

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For Teens With Bulimia, Family Based Treatment is Recommended

Teens With Bulimia Family Based Treatment

My original eating disorder training began in 1991 with learning Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for bulimia nervosa (BN) under G. Terence Wilson, the co-author with Dr. Christopher G. Fairburn, of the treatment approach that preceded CBT-E. In 2010 I underwent training in Family Based Treatment (FBT) for Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and became certified in …

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