Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for Eating Disorders

When a child or adolescent is living with an eating disorder, knowing how to help can be difficult. Meals may become stressful, eating disorder behaviours can become increasingly difficult to manage, and parents and carers may feel unsure about when to step in or how best to support their child.

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Family-Based Treatment (FBT), sometimes referred to as Family Based Therapy or the Maudsley approach, is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents with eating disorders. It is most commonly used for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa and may also be adapted for other eating disorder presentations.

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FBT actively involves parents and carers in supporting recovery. Rather than expecting a young person to manage the eating disorder independently, parents are supported to take a central role in restoring nutrition, interrupting eating disorder behaviours and gradually helping their child regain independence around eating.

 

At Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology, our FBT-trained clinicians provide Family-Based Treatment for children, adolescents and their families across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire.

 

How Does Family-Based Treatment Work?

 

Family-Based Treatment is a structured approach that typically progresses through three phases, with the pace determined by the young person's needs and progress.

 

Supporting nutritional and weight restoration

Parents and carers take an active role in supporting regular eating, restoring nutrition and interrupting eating disorder behaviours.

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Gradually returning responsibility for eating

As the young person's health improves and eating becomes more established, responsibility for eating is gradually returned to them in a developmentally appropriate way.

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Supporting healthy development

Once the eating disorder is more stable, therapy focuses on supporting the young person to return to age-appropriate development, increasing independence and helping the family move towards life beyond the eating disorder.

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What is the role of parents and carers in Family-Based Treatment (FBT)?

 

Parents and carers play a central role in FBT and are supported to become actively involved in their child's recovery. This may include planning and supervising meals, responding to eating disorder behaviours and helping their child manage distress around food and eating.

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As recovery progresses, responsibility for eating is gradually returned to the young person, supporting increasing independence in a way that reflects their age, health and progress.

 

FBT is primarily used with children and adolescents and requires the involvement of parents or carers. Whether FBT is appropriate will depend on the young person's eating disorder presentation, physical and psychological health, family circumstances and individual needs.

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FBT is generally provided alongside appropriate medical monitoring, particularly where an eating disorder has affected a young person's physical health.

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Family-Based Treatment in Sydney and the Sutherland Shire

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Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology provides Family-Based Treatment for children and adolescents with eating disorders across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. Our FBT-trained clinicians work alongside young people and their families to provide practical support throughout the different stages of eating disorder recovery.

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Appointments are available in person at our Sutherland Shire practice.

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If you're unsure whether Family-Based Treatment may be appropriate for your child or adolescent, our Client Care Team can assist. If you’re unsure where to begin, our Client Care Team can assist. Call 02 8519 4197 or use the button below to request an appointment.

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