FBT Do's and Don't with Suzannah Neufeld, MFT, CEDS-C
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Welcome to Family-Based Therapy (FBT) for eating disorders, where mealtime becomes a battleground (or does it have to?).
In this episode, I’m joined by Suzannah Neufeld—a licensed psychotherapist, certified eating disorder specialist and consultant, author, and all-around badass about how FBT turns the chaos of food fights into moments of healing. Spoiler alert: it’s as heartwarming as it is messy.
Think parents becoming the unsung heroes of eating disorder recovery, dishing out more than just meals, and kids eventually finding their way back to health and independence (with plenty of bumps and tears along the way).
Suzannah Neufeld, MFT, CEDS-C, is a licensed psychotherapist and certified eating disorder specialist based in Berkeley, CA. She has been dedicated to supporting individuals and families coping with eating disorders since 2003. Her work is rooted in evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches and mind-body practices including relational therapy, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT Advanced Certified), ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, yoga/somatic therapy, and family-based therapy for eating disorders (FBT).
In this episode, we’re talking about:
Family-Based Therapy (FBT), is considered the gold standard for treating adolescent eating disorders (and what that even means, if much at all) and breaking down its methods and misconceptions.
Misconceptions of FBT.
How FBT has evolved from initial skepticism to becoming a preferred method.
The phases of FBT: initial symptom management by parents, gradual transfer of responsibility to the child, and addressing family dynamics and long-term recovery.
The challenges parents face in staying calm and supportive during tantrums or resistance.
How FBT principles extend to older adolescents and young adults, promoting family support for recovery in diverse age groups.
How FBT adapts to individual family dynamics and needs, rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.
That FBT is a collaborative effort where parents, therapists, and the individual work together for recovery, often strengthening family bonds.
Premise of trust and support in eating disorder treatment.
Externalizing eating disorders in therapy. A core aspect of FBT involves viewing the eating disorder as separate from the child to reduce blame and criticism.
The downsides of externalizing the eating disorder.
The notion of FBT as a “gold standard.”
The benefits of starting with FBT over hospital-based treatments.
The importance of addressing nutrition early in treatment.
Whether you’re an FBT skeptic or superfan, or just someone who loves a little behind-the-scenes therapeutic drama, this episode is packed with insight, myths to bust, and practical wisdom.
Tweetable Quotes
"You know your kid the best, and I know a lot about eating disorders, and we're going to work together to figure this out." - Suzannah Neufeld
"When your kid yells at you, you're getting a gift because you're getting to see what's happening inside their head... if you can respond to it with strength and love, they're going to internalize that." - Suzannah Neufeld
"FBT really supports the idea that the kid is not alone in it. They're part of a team working on this." - Suzannah Neufeld
"The kid is not the one who's lying. The kid is not the one who might hide the food. That's the illness. That's the eating disorder that's doing that." - Suzannah Neufeld
"I’m not going to be the person who saves you or your family. You’re saving your own life, and I’m on the journey with you." - Rachelle Heinemann
Resources
A network that supports the Bay Area ED Care Community.
Suzannah’s book - Awake at 3 a.m.: Yoga Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Pregnancy and Early Motherhood (Parallax Press, 2018).
Suzannah is a contributing author in the anthology, Yoga Rising: 30 Empowering Stories from Yoga Renegades for Every Body.
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Related Episodes
Episode 147. Social Media and Eating Disorders with Lily Thrope, LCSW
Episode 144. Prevention with Marcy Forta
Episode 143. Normal Moms and Disordered Eating
Episode 132. Parents and Families with Judy Krasna from FEAST
Episode 118. Navigating Parenthood and Eating Disorders with Dina Cohen, MS, RDN, CEDS-C
Episode 102. My Kid's Being Bullied, ARFID, and More *Podcast Listener Questions Answered*
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Grab my FREEBIE!: As you navigate recovery, you may be feeling like something is missing. You're doing a lot of work challenging yourself with the food, your body, and exercise. You're probably working on lots of other things at the same time, like stuff at work or relationship issues.
But, still, something doesn't feel like you're getting to the bottom of it. Grab my free journal prompts below and begin to work through the emotions of healing.
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