Meeting the Needs of Families: Introducing Family-Based Therapy (FBT) at CPER
At The Centre for Psychology & Emotion Regulation, we’ve always known that families are central to a young person’s healing journey. Since the early days of our clinic, we’ve held a long-term goal of expanding our services to better support children and adolescents struggling with eating disorders. Today, we’re thrilled to share that we’re finally bringing that vision to life – with the addition of a new clinician and a new treatment track designed specifically for this population.
We’re so excited to welcome Saba, the newest member of our team. Saba brings both warmth and expertise in family-based approaches, and her arrival allows us to offer Family-Based Therapy (FBT) – an evidence-based treatment model that’s widely recognized as the gold standard for children and adolescents with eating disorders.
What is Family-Based Therapy (FBT)?
FBT, sometimes called the “Maudsley Method,” is a leading outpatient treatment for young people with eating disorders. What sets it apart is its focus on empowering caregivers, usually parents or guardians, to take an active role in helping their child recover.
Rather than viewing the eating disorder as something the child must fix alone, FBT invites families to be part of the solution. With guidance from a trained therapist, parents help support their child in restoring nutritional health, disrupting disordered behaviours, and gradually returning control over eating back to their child as recovery unfolds. The approach is non-blaming and deeply collaborative, and it recognizes the vital role families can play when they’re equipped with the right tools and support.
FBT is typically structured in three phases:
- Phase 1: Parents take the lead in ensuring their child eats and begins to restore weight in a safe and consistent way.
- Phase 2: Responsibility over eating is gradually returned to the young person as symptoms improve.
- Phase 3: Focus shifts to supporting healthy adolescent development and preventing relapse.
Research shows that FBT can be highly effective, particularly when treatment begins early. And while the process isn’t easy, families are never alone – ongoing guidance from a trained clinician helps ensure each step forward is supported and informed by best practice.
Why This Matters to Us
At CPER, we’ve worked with hundreds of individuals and families navigating the complexities of eating disorders. Until now, our team has primarily served older adolescents and adults. But we’ve always known there was a gap – and we’ve been determined to close it. Parents have been reaching out, asking for help. And thanks to Saba, we’re now in a position to say yes.
This new treatment track reflects our broader commitment to providing timely, evidence-informed care to those who need it most. Families deserve access to the right support early on, and we’re proud to now be offering a model that centres caregivers as partners in the process.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re a parent or caregiver concerned about your child’s eating, or if you’re a professional looking to refer a family, we’d be happy to talk more about whether FBT might be a good fit. You can reach out through our website or contact our team directly.
Together, we’re growing our services – and doing what we’ve always set out to do: helping families feel seen, supported, and equipped for the path ahead.