What we treat: Anorexia Nervosa and other concerns – Information For Clients

 

What we treat: Anorexia Nervosa and other concerns – Information For Clients

Eating disorders in children

Family-based therapy has been demonstrated to be the most effective treatment for eating disorders in children and adolescents. This approach actively involves parents in their child’s recovery. It supports parents to help their child restore weight and relearn healthy eating behaviours. On average, treatment is conducted within 15-20 treatment sessions over a period of approximately 12 months.

Family interventions that directly address the eating disorder should be offered to children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia Nervosa in adults

Most people with anorexia nervosa should be managed on an outpatient basis with psychological treatment provided by a service that is competent in giving that treatment and assessing the physical risk of people with eating disorders.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorder (CBT-E) is effective for the treatment for eating disorders in adults. CBT-E addresses the behaviours, thoughts, and emotions associated with an eating disorder. It involves establishing regular eating patterns, reducing rigid dieting, minimising triggers, reducing weight and shape concerns, and improving body image and self-esteem. Treatment involves 20-40 sessions (depending on severity). Session are initially conducted weekly but then spread out to fortnightly as the client nears recovery.

Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA) is a cognitive-interpersonal treatment method which has demonstrated good treatment outcomes in adults with severe and chronic anorexia nervosa. Treatment is tailored to the specific individual and can include strategies aimed at addressing thinking styles, emotional and relational styles, beliefs about one’s identity as well as the utility of anorexia, and interpersonal relationships. It consists of 20–40 individual weekly sessions (depending on illness severity), together with 4 or 5 follow-up sessions which are more spread out (monthly).

Bulimia Nervosa in adults

Cognitive behaviour therapy for bulimia nervosa (CBT-BN), a specifically adapted form of CBT, should be offered to adults with bulimia nervosa. The course of treatment should be for 16 to 20 sessions over 4 to 5 months

Weight Concerns

These approaches involve improving awareness of eating behaviours, establishing regular eating routines, reducing rigid dieting, eating in response to hunger and satiety, minimising triggers for overeating, developing alternative approaches to managing emotions, and improving body image and self-esteem.

Child feeding problems

Behavioural family interventions are the most effective approaches to the treatment of child feeding problems. This involves helping parents to alter the family’s feeding practices to promote improvements in their child’s eating behaviours.

Comorbidities

Individuals with weight, shape and body image concerns often experience physical- health (e.g., diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, sleep apnoea) and emotional health (e.g., depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders) issues. Optimal treatment involves integrated care that considers physical, psychological, and social aspects of illness.

Monitoring Progress

At CFIH, we are passionate about ensuring our clients get the best possible treatment and that treatment translates to meaningful change. For this reason, CFIH embraces a Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) approach, which means that we use data to tell us how each of our clients is progressing. Prior to each session with one of our practitioners, we will ask you to complete the 4-item Outcome Rating Scale (ORS). We will then monitor, analyse, and report on your progress every step of the way. If treatment is not assisting you, we will will review this with you and offer you alternative treatment approaches.

Psychological concerns

Our priority is to get you the right treatment individually tailored. As such, our psychologists are trained and highly skilled in a number of therapies and treatment approaches. Our treatment options include:

  • CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy)
  • ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
  • FBT (Family-Based Therapy)
  • DBT (Dialectic Behavioural Therapy)
  • Schema Focused Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Play-Based Therapy