In this conversation, Sarah and Erica Butler, PhDc, LMFT, the founder and executive director of Blue Ridge Eating Disorder Care Center, discuss the role of families in eating disorder recovery. 

They highlight the importance of families being involved and invested in the treatment process. They also discuss the challenges that families face, such as navigating higher levels of care and dealing with treatment trauma. They emphasize the need for open communication, collaboration with the treatment team, and ongoing support for both the individual with the eating disorder and their family. 

Erica provides tips for families transitioning from higher levels of care to outpatient treatment and discusses the challenges and complexities of parenting a child with an eating disorder. Sarah and Erica emphasize the importance of empathy, support, and collaboration in helping families navigate this difficult journey. They also highlight the need for education and awareness about eating disorders, as well as the harmful impact of diet culture on individuals and families. 

Takeaways

• Families play a crucial role in eating disorder recovery and should be involved and invested in the treatment process.
• Open communication and collaboration with the treatment team are essential for successful recovery.
• Families may face challenges such as navigating higher levels of care and dealing with treatment trauma.
• Ongoing support and involvement from the family are important for long-term recovery.
• Transitioning from higher levels of care to outpatient treatment requires careful planning and coordination with the treatment team. Parenting a child with an eating disorder can be challenging and distressing, and it requires empathy, support, and collaboration.
• There is a lack of education and awareness about eating disorders, which often leads to delayed recognition and intervention.
• Diet culture plays a significant role in the development and perpetuation of eating disorders, and it is important to challenge and change harmful beliefs and behaviors.
• Treatment for eating disorders should be person-focused and incorporate a health-at-every-size approach, focusing on overall well-being rather than weight or appearance.
• Support groups and therapy for partners and families are crucial in navigating the complexities of eating disorders and maintaining healthy relationships.
• Residential treatment centers like Blue Ridge provide specialized care for adolescents with eating disorders, offering individualized treatment plans and a supportive environment.

Be sure to check out Erica and her team at Blue Ridge at https://www.blueridgetreatment.com/ and on Instagram at @blueridgetreatmentpa

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