Specialist Treatment for Eating Disorders at The London Centre

Systemic Therapy

There are a number of different systemic therapy approaches which The London Centre offers.

FAMILY SUPPORT AND PSYCHOEDUCATION

This involves offering guidance and support to families or partners of those suffering from an eating disorder.  ‘Caring’ for someone with an eating disorder can take its toll. Families or partners may have a lot of questions about the eating disorder and the role of the family in supporting a loved one through recovery,  and may also need their own support throughout this process.   

As these sessions focus on support for the family or partner, typically the person with the eating disorder would not attend.  The session might be a one-off session, or you may wish to have a small number of sessions every few weeks. 

 
 

MAUDSLEY FAMILY-BASED TREATMENT (FBT)

Family-based treatment for eating disorders is a specialised outpatient treatment that aims to empower parents to take charge of the recovery process. FBT is suitable for young people who currently live at home with a parent/caregiver (or can move home for the duration of treatment). 

Generally, this treatment has three phases which occur over a period of 12-18 months (depending on severity). 

  • Phase One: Refeeding and Weight Restoration

  • Phase Two: Returning Control of Eating to the Young Person

  • Phase Three: Addressing Adolescent Concerns and Treatment Completion

Treatment typically involves the whole family, including siblings, although the young person will be seen alone for part of each session.  Treatment will usually occur weekly and the family will be responsible for supporting their child to improve their eating and weight and for providing guidance and support between sessions. 

 
 

PARENT SUPPORTED CBT

This approach is most suitable for older adolescents who are not considered to be at high risk and who are very motivated to recover from their eating disorder. Treatment typically consists of 20 sessions conducted over 20 weeks but some young people may need up to 40 sessions (depending on severity).

Although most adolescents will typically spend more 1:1 time with the therapist compared to other approaches, it is essential that parents still attend part of each session so they can be involved in treatment as much as possible. Parents play a key role in supporting their adolescent to implement changes at home and manage any setbacks that may occur, as well as providing much needed emotional support throughout the recovery process.

 
 

FAMILY THERAPY

Sometimes families need help and guidance to address difficulties that have occurred, or are occurring within the family.  Sometimes these are issues around grief or separation. Sometimes these are unhelpful patterns that families have fallen into either prior to or after an eating disorder came into the family.  Sometimes these are extremely distressing or complex issues that are very difficult for a family to discuss. Family therapy aims to provide a supportive environment for the whole family to think about and work through these difficulties.