Family-Based Treatment for Eating Disorders Piece by Piece: A Practical Guide for Parents

The book illustrates how parents who are participating in family-based treatment (FBT) for their child’s eating disorder (ED) may enhance their chances of achieving optimal outcomes for their child by more successfully navigating the challenges that often impede progress in treatment and recovery.

The stance of the book is transdiagnostic, so that the information provided spans all ED diagnoses including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and atypical ED presentations as well as conditions that fall outside current diagnostic criteria. This book aims to help parents identify how they can make the most out of FBT therapy no matter which ED symptoms their child experiences. Case vignettes across the diagnostic and clinical spectrum are used liberally throughout the book, not only to illustrate examples of some of the specific challenges families face, but to help parents normalize the emotions they may feel around their experience of trying to help their child and around their experience of participating in the FBT intervention itself.

A respectful and supportive tone makes this resource accessible and jargon-free for parents, and provides useful information and approaches for psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and allied health practitioners who deliver FBT to young people and families.

James Lock is the Eric Rothenberg, MD professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of eating disorders in children and youth and one of the original developers of family-based treatment.

Aileen Whyte, PhD is a clinical associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine where she also serves as directory of the Stanford Outpatient Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Clinic. Dr. Whyte has significant experience in the provision of FBT to young people with eating disorders. Dr. Whyte has led multiple seminars and workshops in the treatment of eating disorders and provides ongoing supervision and consultation in the FBT approach.

Brittany Mathesonis a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Matheson is a certified FBT provider engaged in patient care, research efforts, and supervision of postdoctoral and psychiatry trainees and fellows.

Nandini Datta is a clinical instructor/faculty scholar at Stanford University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Datta is a certified FBT provider and has experience working with eating disorders across both outpatient and inpatient settings. She is also engaged in ongoing research trials using FBT from both a supervisory and clinical standpoint.