Help and Education for Family and Loved Ones

Family and friends can be a valuable source of support and strength on the journey to recovery. Our clinical team places a strong emphasis on involving family and loved ones in the treatment process. We place great importance on instilling a sense of hope while acknowledging the difficult nature of recovery.

“Family” can consist of any support system: parents, siblings, significant others, friends, coaches and teammates or colleagues. As an individual treatment plan develops, we work closely with you to determine how to involve your support system in treatment in meaningful and healing ways.

Although uncommon, there are some situations when family therapy is not recommended. When this arises, the therapist and clinical team will discuss the situation with you and work toward an alternative support plan. Family involvement is critical in our programs and we encourage family members to be involved in therapy and meal support.

“My daughter finally found the ability to trust and open up so that she could explore the underlying issues related to her eating disorder. Our family also received several sessions of top-notch therapy! We would like to sincerely express our gratitude for the quality care our daughter has received and continues to receive as a participant in your program. You truly run a world-class program!” – Mother of Former Patient

Our therapists work from a variety of eating disorder treatment modalities with a general focus on the healing power of the therapeutic relationship. Each plan is individualized, utilizing principles from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, depth-oriented psychotherapies, somatic therapies and family systems.

We provide extensive psychoeducation about eating disorders, the course of treatment, and instilling hope for recovery. Additionally, family work may involve therapeutic meals, meal outings and various therapeutic passes.

For those whose families do not live locally, we offer weekly in-person or family telephone sessions. In our inpatient eating disorder program, we offer a weekly multi-family group on the weekends where the therapy staff provides psychoeducation, nutrition education and process-oriented support for families and friends.

If you know someone who has an eating disorder or suspect that someone may be struggling, please contact us so we can help.

See our Family Resources section for more tools and materials on helping loved ones with eating disorders.