I am one of the very few Maudsley-trained therapists providing Family-Based Treatment (FBT) in Michigan. In 2009, I completed the FBT training workshop with Dr. Daniel Le Grange (University of Chicago) and Dr. James Lock (Stanford University), and I have attended three Maudsley Parents conferences. Over the past six years, I have helped families with children who have anorexia, bulimia, and EDNOS. I also help young adults and adults with eating disorders.
My protocol includes the following evidence-based treatments:
- Maudsley Family-Based Treatment (FBT)
- Exposure and Response Prevention (EXRP)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Eating disorders are neurobiological diseases with physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms. People with eating disorders have genetic predispositions to chronic anxiety. The combination of malnutrition and anxiety help develop disabling phobias of eating, food, and weight gain. Environmental factors such as family, hormonal changes, and stressful events can also play a role. Current research shows that people suffering from anorexia often share very similar character traits:
- Perfectionism
- Rule-abiding (rigid thinking)
- Inflexible (difficulty set-shifting)
- Anxious (worry, fear, panic)
Children & Adolescents with Eating Disorders
Families and full nutrition are key ingredients in FBT treatment, and I coach parents to provide FBT at home. Parents need support throughout refeeding and recovery. I can help you:
- Successfully feed your child
- Reduce and eliminate child’s obsessive and phobic behaviors
- Increase confidence in parenting an ill child
- Create strategic solutions to everyday problems
- Provide consistent and safe care at home
- Learn strategies to avoid relapse
Adults with Eating Disorders
I believe adults can recover from eating disorders. I offer individual and group treatment based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with an emphasis on full nutrition. Similar to FBT, families and supportive people are valuable to recovery. ACT helps adults:
- Decrease suffering and struggle
- Increase quality of life
- Decrease binging/purging/restricting patterns
- Clarify personal values and commit to valued actions
Recovery is possible with treatment focused on full nutrition, exposure to reduce phobias, and behavior change.
Contact me to discuss eating disorder treatment.
From Dr. Daniel LeGrange
"As for most illnesses with a significant behavioral component, the sooner a correct diagnosis and treatment begin, the shorter the course of treatment and better the outcome. Given Maudsley's promising results, Family-Based Treatment should be the first-line intervention instead of an alternative for adolescents who qualify for outpatient care. To be really honest with families, we should say: 'We only have one treatment. There is a fair amount of evidence, and it's what you should start with.' If clinicians are not willing to do that, then we have to agree we're just improvising."
- Daniel Le Grange, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience and Director of the Eating Disorders Treatment Program at the University of Chicago