The Eating Disorders Coalition reports that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. Since 1960, the incidence of eating disorders has doubled. Sadly, children as young as seven are now beginning to develop disordered eating patterns that are harmful to physical health.
Hope for Recovery with Family Counseling
According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, family counseling services can significantly improve the chance for recovery from an eating disorder. A study released in March, 2006 followed the case of a fifteen year old girl suffering from anorexia who failed to show signs of improvement with individual therapy. The girl was then placed in family counseling services and experienced complete remission from her eating disorder even after five years.
How Family Counseling Works
Family counseling services are usually offered by a professional with a Master in Marriage and Family Therapy. Structural family counseling analyzes family dynamics, including roles, alliances, conflicts, and interaction patterns that may be contributing to the eating disorder. Several studies have shown that family counseling is the most effective treatment approach to eating disorders for younger patients.
The Maudsley Approach is a relatively new method of family counseling services that builds on the findings of previous studies. It is an evidence-based model designed for eating disorder patients who are under the age of eighteen and living with their parents. Rather than focusing on negative family dynamics and the causes of the eating disorder, the Maudsley Approach encourages the parents to take an active role in the child’s recovery. They temporarily take over the task of correcting disordered eating patterns until control can be returned to the child at a reasonable point in the recovery process.
Required Education for a Career in Marriage and Family Counseling
Students who are interested in a career in marriage and family counseling must earn a Master in Marriage and Family Therapy before being licensed to practice in most states. This usually includes two years of full-time study in marriage family counseling along with 600 hours of supervised practice offering family counseling services and counseling marital difficulties.
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits schools offering a Master in Marriage and Family Therapy. Although it is not a requirement to graduate from a CACREP accredited school to become a counselor, it can be very helpful in obtaining state licensure. Schools such as Capella University offer CACREP accredited programs in marriage family counseling that may be completed entirely online. This can be a convenient option for a student who is already working and possibly juggling family responsibilities.
Additional Resources for Working with Eating Disorder Patients
For those who wish to focus their career in marriage and family counseling on eating disorders, additional training may be necessary. The International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals provides education for professionals who work with eating disorder patients semi-annually and also offers a certification in the treatment of eating disorders. More information and resources are also available through the Renfrew Center, a treatment center with multiple locations throughout the U.S.
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