What is Family-Based Therapy (FBT)

What is Family-Based Therapy (FBT)?

Family-Based Therapy (FBT), sometimes referred to as the Maudsley Method, is an evidence-based treatment approach for children and adolescents with eating disorders. Instead of placing responsibility solely on the individual, FBT empowers parents and family members to take an active role in supporting their loved one’s recovery.

This method emphasizes weight restoration, rebuilding healthy eating patterns, and reducing harmful eating behaviors — all while strengthening the family unit as a source of support.

At Virtue Recovery, FBT is integrated into our treatment programs for adolescents and, when appropriate, adapted for older clients with strong family involvement.

5 Key Principles of FBT

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Parents Are Central to Recovery

Families play an essential role in supporting their loved one’s healing. Their involvement provides stability, accountability, and encouragement throughout the recovery journey.

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Externalization of the Disorder

The eating disorder is treated as separate from the person, helping shift blame and reduce shame. This perspective allows families and clients to unite against the disorder rather than each other.

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Weight and Health Restoration

Families help restore healthy eating behaviors and nutritional stability. This process is critical for rebuilding physical strength and ensuring long-term health.

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Gradual Return of Control

Over time, clients regain autonomy in their eating as recovery progresses. Families provide guidance while encouraging independence at a pace that supports sustained healing.

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Family Empowerment

The process strengthens families and teaches lifelong recovery support skills. By building confidence and understanding, families become valuable partners in maintaining progress.

Do I Have an Eating Disorder?

If you’re concerned about your symptoms, click below to take our eating disorders quiz.

How FBT Works at Virtue Recovery

  • Phase 1: Weight and Health Stabilization
    Parents take charge of their child’s meals and nutrition until stability is achieved. The primary focus is on restoring weight and addressing immediate medical risks associated with the eating disorder. This foundation ensures the child has the strength and health needed to move into the next phase of recovery.

  • Phase 2: Gradual Return of Control
    Eating responsibility is slowly handed back to the adolescent in a structured way. Parents remain actively involved, but the individual begins to practice making healthy food choices. This phase fosters confidence and accountability while ensuring ongoing nutritional stability.

  • Phase 3: Establishing Healthy Independence
    Focus shifts to long-term recovery, emotional well-being, and healthy independence. The adolescent learns to maintain balanced eating habits while also developing tools to cope with stress and emotional triggers. Families continue to provide support, but independence and self-sufficiency become the ultimate goals.

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Luxury Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

Our facilities provide a comfortable and private environment where families can actively participate in therapy. We believe that family involvement is a key component of lasting recovery, so we create space for loved ones to engage in the healing journey alongside the individual.

With luxury accommodations and holistic care, Virtue Recovery ensures that both clients and families feel supported throughout every step of the process. From serene surroundings to evidence-based treatment, our programs are designed to bring comfort, healing, and hope to families facing anorexia together.

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Our Las Vegas Luxury Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Center

Our inpatient program in Las Vegas incorporates FBT into treatment for adolescents and young adults. Families are involved in therapy sessions, meal support, and education so they can continue providing effective care at home.

Our Las Vegas Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Center

Our outpatient program provides ongoing FBT sessions for families who do not require inpatient treatment or who are transitioning from residential care.

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Our Las Vegas Adolescent / Teen Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Center

FBT is most effective for adolescents, making it a cornerstone of our Teen Inpatient Program. Families are deeply involved in their child’s recovery journey, with regular therapy sessions, meal support, and educational workshops.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Maudsley Method is another name for Family-Based Therapy (FBT), emphasizing family involvement in eating disorder recovery.

FBT is particularly effective for children and adolescents with anorexia, bulimia, or ARFID, but may also benefit older clients with family support.

Unlike traditional therapy that focuses on the individual, FBT makes parents and family members central to the recovery process.

No. FBT views the eating disorder as separate from the person and the family, empowering parents as allies in recovery.

Treatment typically progresses over several months, with the timeline tailored to each client’s needs.

Glossary of Terms for Family-Based Therapy

An evidence-based therapy that empowers families to support recovery.

Another term for FBT, developed at the Maudsley Hospital in London.

Viewing the eating disorder as separate from the individual.

Guiding families in providing supportive mealtime environments.

Parents actively support weight restoration and behavior change.

Tools for families to maintain progress at home.

24/7 residential care including family therapy.

Flexible therapy sessions while living at home.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps clients identify and reframe negative thought patterns that lead to disordered eating behaviors.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT equips individuals with skills in emotional regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance to reduce self-destructive eating behaviors.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

MI fosters intrinsic motivation for recovery by helping clients resolve ambivalence and set meaningful goals.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT guides clients to accept difficult emotions while taking committed actions aligned with their values and recovery.

Family-Based Therapy (FBT)

FBT empowers families, particularly for adolescents, to take an active role in restoring healthy eating and supporting long-term recovery.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

IPT addresses how relationship challenges, grief, or life transitions contribute to eating disorders and promotes healthier social functioning.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

ERP reduces food-related anxiety by helping clients gradually confront feared foods and break avoidance patterns.

Meal Support Therapy

Structured mealtime support provides a safe environment to help clients relearn normal eating patterns and reduce food-related fear.

Nutritional Counseling

Licensed dietitians work closely with clients to develop balanced, individualized meal plans and restore healthy nutritional habits.

Group Therapy

Group therapy fosters peer support, shared healing, and community connection throughout the recovery journey.

Art Therapy

Art therapy offers a nonverbal outlet for exploring emotions, trauma, and body image issues through creative expression.

Music Therapy

Music therapy engages clients in healing through sound, rhythm, and songwriting to promote emotional release and relaxation.

Meditation Therapy

Meditation therapy promotes mindfulness, self-awareness, and inner calm, helping clients manage anxiety and stay grounded.

Yoga Therapy

Yoga therapy enhances body awareness, self-acceptance, and emotional balance through movement, breathwork, and mindfulness.

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