Family Support

We know that the eating disorders heavily impacts the person struggling.  Everything in their life is tainted by their eating disorder and therefore, it shows up within the family dynamics. We believe including family in the recovery process supports best treatment outcomes. Family involvement plays a crucial role in the healing process, providing a foundation of support, understanding, and encouragement.

And family members deserve support too. When we are asking families to engage in care, we are also asking them to do something really challenging. Big feelings and emotions can arise, and it is important for family members to get appropriate support to avoid compassion fatigue or burnout.

1. Comprehensive Support
Engaging family members in the recovery process ensures a comprehensive approach, addressing not only the individual’s challenges but also supporting families in fostering a recovery positive environment at home. Families can provide a compassionate and non-judgmental space for the individual to express their feelings and challenges.

2. Enhanced Understanding
There is a lot of misconceptions about eating disorders that can unfortunately be quite harmful those struggling. Family involvement promotes a deeper understanding of the complexities of eating disorders, which allows the family and the person to be on the same page. This allows family members to provide empathetic and informed support, which helps create an open and honest communication within the family, 

3. Unified Approach
Collaborative efforts between the individual and their family create a united front against the eating disorder! This is helpful to reduce the shame and isolation that can be contributing to the maintenance of the ED. Families can also support their loved one in adhering to their treatment plan, including attending meal support, nutrition/therapy sessions, group therapy and following recommended interventions.

Together, you can beat the eating disorder!

1. Strengthened Family Bonds:
   Family support contributes to the strengthening of familial bonds, creating a resilient foundation for the individual’s recovery journey.
2. Increased Treatment Efficacy:
   Studies show that involving family in the treatment process enhances the effectiveness of interventions and promotes sustained recovery.
   
3. Shared Learning Experience:
   Participating in family support provides an opportunity for shared learning, allowing family members to grow together through the recovery process.
   

1. Blame and Guilt:
   Myth: Family involvement leads to blame and guilt.
   Reality:  Your loved one’s eating disorder is not your fault. Our approach is non-blaming, focusing on education and understanding rather than assigning fault or judgement. Y
2. Individual Responsibility:
   Myth: Recovery is solely the individual’s responsibility.
   Reality: Family support complements individual efforts, creating a more robust and supportive recovery environment.
   
3. Lack of Effectiveness:
   Myth: Family involvement is not effective in eating disorder treatment.
   Reality: Research consistently shows that family involvement significantly contributes to positive treatment outcomes.
   

At The Balanced Practice, we believe in empowering families (parents, caregivers, and romantic partners)  with knowledge and  tools they require to contribute effectively to their loved one’s recovery journey. Our family support program combines eLearning modules developed by eating disorder specialists with personalized weekly support calls facilitated by our specialized eating disorder providers.

• Expertly crafted modules cover topics such as understanding eating disorders, effective communication strategies, and creating a recovery-focused home environment.

• Led by specialized eating disorder providers, these calls offer a platform for families to ask questions, share experiences, and receive guidance tailored to their unique circumstances.

Discover the strength of family support at The Balanced Practice. To learn more about our comprehensive family support program, we invite you to call us at (613) 695-0306. Our dedicated team is ready to provide the information and support you need to contribute to your loved one’s journey towards a balanced and healthy life.