We offer a range of evidence-based interventions for Eating Disorders. Recovery from an Eating Disorder can take a very long time and be an incredibly difficult journey. Families can be a valuable resource in supporting, or even driving, a young person’s recovery and so our first line treatment is most often a family-based approach. However, every young person and their family are unique and we will work with you to identify the approach that is right each young person in maximising their chances of recovery.
Monitoring your physical health is necessary throughout all of these therapeutic approaches and, depending on how a young person’s recovery is progressing; we may routinely weigh you, take your blood pressure and pulse and request blood tests.
Interventions for Anorexia
Family Based Treatment and Approach
- Emphasis on family supporting young person to restore weight / normalise eating
- Empowers parents to support young person
- Returns control to young person as recovery progresses
- Non blaming approach
- Option for supplementary Multi-Family Therapy groups
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Structured treatment, focussed on the present
- Individual approach
- Focuses on influencing thoughts and behaviours that maintain the Eating Disorder
- Sets behavioural experiments to challenge problematic beliefs
Adolescent Focussed Therapy
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- Focus on patients identifying, tolerating and managing their emotions
- Alliance and mutual understanding of Anorexia
- Enhancing independence from parents
- Develop strategies to deal with the tasks of adolescence
- Supports weight restoration
Interventions for Bulimia
Family Based Treatment and Approach
- Emphasis on family supporting young person to restore weight / normalise eating
- Empowers parents to support young person
- Returns control to young person as recovery progresses
- Non blaming approach
- Option for supplementary Multi-Family Therapy groups
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Structured treatment, focussed on the present
- Individual approach
- Focuses on influencing thoughts and behaviours that maintain the Eating Disorder
- Sets behavioural experiments to challenge problematic beliefs
Interventions for Binge Eating Disorder
Guided Self-Help
- A clinician will support a young person to work through an appropriate self-help manual or workbook
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Structured treatment, focused on the present
- Individual approach
- Focuses on influencing thoughts and behaviours that maintain the Eating Disorder
- Sets behavioural experiments to challenge problematic beliefs
Dietetics
Young people and families referred to Community Eating Disorders Service will also have access to specialist Dietetic advice on the nutritional aspects of recovery from an Eating Disorder. This may include education on a balanced diet to ensure normal adolescent growth and development, advice on nutrients to optimise physical and mental health and help with normalising eating patterns and behaviours.
Parents & Carer’s support group
This group is for all parents and carers who are currently accessing treatment from Community Eating Disorders Service. The aim of this group is to give parents and carers a space to share their experiences and learn from one another. You are welcome to access this group as and when you feel it would be helpful, in additional to your child’s individual treatment plan. If you would like to attend please can you let your named clinician know or call us on 01302 566980
Multi-Disciplinary Review
All care plans and interventions offered to a young person and their family are regularly reviewed by Community Eating Disorders Service multi-disciplinary team and are under the over-arching supervision of the team’s Consultant Psychiatrist. Further psychiatric, psychological or family interventions may be offered as appropriate, including the use of medication.
When it is not possible to safely support a young person with an Eating Disorder and their family in the community, Community Eating Disorders Service may refer them to an inpatient mental health, or paediatric hospital bed. Community Eating Disorders Service staff manage the referral process, accompany families for assessments, provide in-reach work and attend reviews whilst the young person is an inpatient.