Treating Teenagers and Their Families

When a teenager develops an eating disorder, recovery is most successful when the entire family is involved in the treatment process. The gold standard approach for adolescents is Family-Based Treatment (FBT), an evidence-based model that empowers parents to play an active role in helping their child recover while remaining at home, in school, and connected to their daily life.

Through FBT, parents learn how to support their teenager in restoring healthy eating patterns and challenging eating disorder behaviors. Treatment typically includes individual therapy, family therapy, nutritional guidance, and ongoing medical monitoring, all coordinated through a multidisciplinary treatment team.

While this process can feel intensive and overwhelming at times, families do not have to navigate it alone. With the support of an experienced treatment team, most adolescents can successfully recover without requiring residential treatment. Remaining at home throughout recovery often leads to stronger long-term outcomes, as healthy habits and coping skills are developed and practiced within the environment where daily life takes place.