Eating Disorder Treatment

We use Family Based Treatment (FBT) to help young people recover from eating disorders. More than 30 years of clinical work and research consistently shows that young people have the best chance of recovering from an eating disorder when this model is used.

In this model, parents are seen as the best resource to help their child recover, and are initially in charge of re-feeding their child back to a healthy weight, with the psychologists’ support. Once the young person is within a healthy weight range and is medically stable, they are gradually given more responsibility for managing their own eating and exercise until they are “back on track” with their life, and eating has become a non-issue for the family. This is an intensive process for the parents, the child and siblings, starting with weekly meetings, and usually takes around a year. FEAST, Eating Disorder Families Australia and Eva Musby have lots of information for parents about this model.

For young people living at home who are 17 or older, we will adapt FBT or CBT-E to include appropriate family support. We will discuss this with each client according to their specific situation. We will liaise with your child’s doctor and will encourage you to work with an eating-disorder dietician, to ensure your child gets the best care possible.

If you want some information about young people and eating disorders, the Butterfly Foundation and Feed Your Instinct have a range of information and helpful checklists.

The Centre for Clinical Interventions has a range of information sheets about eating disorders, including nutrition and re-feeding information.

Help for adults with eating disorders

We use enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-E) for eating disorders, Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Supportive Structured Clinical Management (SSCM) to help adults recover from eating disorders. These are structured, evidence-based treatments which will give you the best chance of recovering from your eating disorder.

Recovery is an intensive process, with weekly sessions for 30 – 40 sessions. It takes consistent effort and hard work, but it is never too late to recover from an eating disorder, no matter how unwell you are and no matter how long you have had these issues.

We will liaise with your GP and encourage you to work with an eating-disorder dietician, to ensure you have the best care possible.

We offer consults in person and via telehealth for adults with eating disorders.

Medicare rebates for eating disorders

Young people and adults with severe eating disorders may be eligible for an Eating Disorder Treatment Plan (EDTP). The benefit of an EDTP is that is provides a Medicare rebate for up to 40 sessions of psychological treatment for an eating disorder per 12 months, as well as 20 dietetic sessions.

Although this is a very positive step, the eligibility criteria for an EDTP are quite high. If you are not eligible for an EDTP, it is likely that you will still be eligible for a mental health treatment plan (MHTP), which provides rebates for the first 10 sessions of therapy per calendar year. Your GP may also give you a chronic disease management plan referral, which provides 5 rebated sessions with a dietician.

If you live in a rural or remote area, you can access the rebates and treatment with us via Zoom videoconferencing, with both an EDTP and MHTP.