Eating Disorder Treatment Programs & Services, New York City

Family & Couples Therapy

Family and couples therapy is a treatment model in which the parent[s] (and sometimes sibling[s], too) and or significant others participate in a therapeutic session with the patient and a therapist. The focus of this work is to facilitate change and growth within the context of these important, intimate relationships.  It is not uncommon for unhealthy patterns to exist within our closest relationships and without addressing and changing these patterns, individual growth may be hampered.

Whenever possible, we find it helpful to include our patients’ families and/or significant others in the treatment process.  The intensity and frequency of therapeutic interactions with family members is always determined with the patient’s personal preferences and needs in mind and therefore, this treatment component takes different forms with each patient.  For some, family/couples work takes place on a consistent weekly basis (especially for our adolescent patients) and for others, it may be a treatment intervention we use periodically, as needed.   Periodic sessions may be more focused on very specific issues that require working through while weekly sessions are aimed to address ongoing interactions that are undermining the strength and health of each individual family member and the family system as a whole.  Family/couples sessions usually involve a significant educational component (i.e. helping families understand the nature and function of the eating disorder) and also may involve gentle confrontation, emotional expression, and provision of specific tools to improve communication and manage conflict.