My Family is Back

Multi-Family Therapy for Eating Disorders

June Alexander, Ivan Eisler, Julian Baudinet

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781040396919
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Mental Health in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

My Family is Back challenges conventional methods of eating disorder care by explaining the effectiveness of Multi-Family Therapy (MFT) in helping children recover from anorexia nervosa.

MFT is an intensive method involving a small group of families working together towards recovery. Building on previous work that focuses on mobilising family resources as a major factor in therapeutic change, MFT introduces a new element: encouraging groups of families to work together to rediscover their strengths, overcome feelings of isolation, and find renewed hope. The authors describe how MFT works and how it can enhance the treatment of eating disorders by improving service delivery and reducing costs. Eighteen families serve as the 'voice of experience,' their stories breathing life into the science.

The families provide a long-term perspective and reflection on their MFT participation. Their stories emphasise the importance of early intervention, family involvement, and collaboration in overcoming anorexia. Strategies for family members, friends, and professionals illustrate the evidence base for this model of care.

This book, offering an accessible guide to MFT, has international appeal for families of children with eating disorders, health professionals, and healthcare providers.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Endorsements
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Foreword
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Section I Understanding eating disorders and multi-family therapy
• Chapter 1 Understanding eating disorders
• Chapter 2 Understanding multi-family therapy
• Section II Our stories: Families with experience of multi-family therapy
• Chapter 3 Introduction
• Chapter 4 The importance of being treated with respect
• Chapter 5 Everyone in the family has a role in recovery
• Chapter 6 When dad is the primary carer
• Chapter 7 A tale of anorexia, two mothers, and friendship
• Chapter 8 A job in a cheese shop provides a lesson in recovery
• Chapter 9 Reshaping daughter–mother dynamics
• Chapter 10 A mother and son can do this, too
• Chapter 11 When MFT is the last in a long list of therapies
• Chapter 12 ‘Only I can get myself out of this illness’
• Chapter 13 ‘There is no cookie cutter for this illness’
• Chapter 14 When ‘doing’ with others makes a difference
• Chapter 15 The sparkle behind a belly button piercing
• Chapter 16 ‘I am not my mother; I’m me’
• Chapter 17 Understanding the illness helps mother take charge
• Chapter 18 The getting of communication skills leads to breakthrough
• Chapter 19 Creating a caring environment at home to support recovery
• Chapter 20 ‘Oh, my sister does that, too’
• Chapter 21 ‘Can I have some fries, Mummy?’
• Chapter 22 Anorexia does not care who you are or where you are
• Chapter 23 The family stories: Reflecting on inspiring lessons
• Section III What can parents do if they are concerned about their child?
• Chapter 24 How to tell if your child has an eating disorder
• Chapter 25 Navigating the search for multi-family therapy
• Abbreviations
• Overview of FT-ED
• Eating disorder-focused family therapy manuals
• Index