Family-Based Treatment
Family-Based Treatment (FBT), otherwise known as the Maudsley method, is considered the gold standard of eating disorder treatment for children and teens.
FBT refutes the belief that parents cause eating disorders in children, and in fact, does not focus on why the disorder has developed. Instead, FBT views parents as the experts of their child and critical to their child’s recovery, and aligns the parent(s) and child in working against the eating disorder.
FBT follows a structured, three-phase approach:
- Parents take control over meals and interrupting disordered eating behaviors in order to restore regular eating patterns and weight restoration if applicable.
- After full nutrition and weight restoration has been achieved, the child or teen gradually resumes some age-appropriate independence over their eating, and the family may reclaim control as necessary in response to regression.
- Promoting identity development and autonomy in the child, targeting any comorbid problems or developmental delays, and addressing relapse prevention.