Anorexia: What Therapists and Parents Need to Know
by Lisa Sabey and Robert Blair
Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among US adolescents, but it has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. In this video about the devastating impact of anorexia on parents, see how Family-Based Therapy (FBT) actively engages parents in effective treatment.
Resources on eating disorders—particularly anorexia nervosa—are hardly in short supply among mental health practitioners, but options dwindle when it comes to family-based approaches, as much of the literature focuses on individual treatment. This illuminating video offers a rare take on the challenges of treating anorexia, from the perspective of parents. Here, not only will you watch parents discuss their feelings about their adolescents’ descent into the illness, but you’ll also see them engage in the strategies, activities, and ultimately, successes of a systems approach to anorexia treatment, Family-Based Therapy (FBT).

Developed by Dr. Daniel LeGrange in the 1980s, FBT (aka The Maudsley Approach) is a hands-on family model with three phases that gradually restore the client’s weight, eating and fitness behaviors, and self-regulation. FBT holds that parents of anorexic adolescents, rather than being part of the problem, are an indispensable part of treatment. As the video begins, you’ll see several parents talk about the pain of losing their once-vibrant children to the disorder and you’ll get a narrated glimpse into the punishing self-talk that can overtake a client’s mind.

You’ll then follow several families as they demonstrate the key tasks of FBT including psychoeducation about the neurological basis of anorexia; taking on responsibility for “refeeding”; and managing self-blame, child pushback and other emotional difficulties. Clinicians watching this video will get to see how FBT transforms family dynamics to support the client’s healing, while parents will be reassured to learn that FBT helps families grow closer as they collectively work toward healing.

This accessible video illustrates the inner workings of anorexia not just individually, but in the family system as a whole. Those seeking resources on anorexia in adolescents, family-based therapies, or a parent’s experience of the disorder should take a look today. 
In Depth
Specs
Bios
So much of the clinical knowledge base around anorexia revolves around individual treatment, even though a substantial number of afflicted clients are adolescents whose parents bear a heavy emotional burden when their kids become anorexic. We’re proud to offer this parent-focused resource, which reveals their stories, acknowledges their challenges, and offers insight and therapeutic tools in the form of Family-Based Therapy (FBT).

Developed by Dr. Daniel LeGrange in the 1980s, FBT (aka The Maudsley Approach) is a hands-on family model that aims to gradually restore the client’s weight, eating and fitness behaviors, and self-regulation. Featuring multiple interviews with parents whose families have successfully completed treatment, this video covers issues particular to the parent’s experience of this debilitating disorder.

You’ll follow several families as they go through the three phases of FBT, with interviews, narrative, and clinical commentary interspersed throughout. You’ll learn about the biological reality and consequences of anorexia, the internal dialogue young clients often experience, and the anxiety parents feel as they support their often-resistant children through “refeeding” and other interventions. You will also witness how FBT helps families deepen their bond as they collectively work toward healing their adolescent’s relationship with food.

It’s clear from this video that anorexia affects not only the individual with the condition, but the entire family system. If you’re in search of resources on anorexia in adolescents, family-based therapies, or a parent’s experience of the disorder, this one fits the bill.

By watching this video, you will:
• Get an overview of Family-Based Therapy (FBT) for anorexia.
• Learn more about diagnosis and treatment from a parent’s perspective.
• Discover helpful tools for engaging the whole family in therapy.
 

Length of video: 00:40:07

English subtitles available

Group ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-528-9

Group ISBN-13 #: 978-1-60124-528-1

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