About this course
While family involvement is a cornerstone of treating adolescent eating disorders, its role in adult therapy varies widely in terms of orientation, frequency, and goals. Engaging adults in family therapy can be challenging due to openness to involving others in their recovery journey and the availability and/or willingness of supportive social networks. This presentation will highlight the critical role of support persons and explore different family therapy orientations and interventions to consider in this crucial treatment modality. During this presentation, participants will be provided with new research findings from an IRB-approved study that indicates that higher levels of family involvement are associated with better treatment outcomes. Data from a multi-center national sample of adults who attended residential treatment demonstrates that when supports are engaged, treatment outcomes are better, whereas a lack of family involvement is associated with less progress. Common comorbidities and demographic features amongst the group of clients who had the least amount of family involvement will inform suggested interventions to increase family involvement. Additionally, practical strategies for enhancing family therapy engagement and exploring how societal and cultural factors impact the family system will be presented. Through case examples and a systems and bio-psycho-social framework, this presentation will offer common barriers to family therapy work, the impact of intersectional identities, and the importance of the extended therapeutic alliance in the treatment process.
