Supporting your child’s recovery from an eating disorder: A parent’s guide

At Dovetail Counseling Group, we understand that navigating a child’s recovery from an eating disorder can be challenging for parents. Your role is crucial in supporting your child through their recovery journey, and your involvement can make a significant difference in their path to healing. 

Here are some effective strategies we use teach parents to help their child recover from an eating disorder:

1. Educate Yourself About Eating Disorders

Understanding the nature of eating disorders is the first step in providing effective support. Educate yourself about the specific eating disorder your child is facing, its symptoms, and its impacts. Knowledge about the condition can help you approach the situation with empathy and make informed decisions.

Tip: Ask to attend a parents-only family meeting with your child's therapist. This can give you an opportunity to ask whatever you really want to know without hurting anyone's feelings Write down 5 questions you really want to have answered and bring them in for a discussion!

2. Encourage Professional Help

Recovery from an eating disorder often requires professional intervention, including therapy, nutritional counseling, and medical support. When you feel cornered by your child's questions, objections, or eating disorder thoughts, use your team! Ask us questions and encourage your child to 'headline' their next meeting with the issue you both got stuck on.

3. Foster Open Communication

Create a safe and non-judgmental environment where your child feels comfortable discussing their thoughts and feelings. This point can sometimes sound like therapist psychobabble, but if taken seriously, it can make a huge difference in how you relate to your child during the course of this illness.

It makes an immense difference to your child if you react to their eating disorder thoughts with outrage, disgust, or a lack of interest. Before disagreeing in a disagreeable manner, try listening to why they think what they think. You would be surprised how many child-parent conflicts go on unnecessarily because nobody was willing to listen with an open mind.

4. Promote Recovery-Oriented Eating Habits

Support your child in developing a healthy relationship with food by encouraging balanced eating habits. Avoid excessively pressuring them to eat (learn when to back off), or focusing on food-related issues, and instead, promote a positive and supportive atmosphere around mealtimes.

This can mean role modeling normal eating habits: sometimes having dessert or sometimes not, including a wide variety of foods in the house, and not making excessive comments about the quality/taste/health of everything that is being eaten at the table.

5. Set Realistic Expectations and Goals

Recovery from an eating disorder is a gradual process that requires patience and understanding. Set realistic expectations and goals, both for your child and yourself, and celebrate small victories along the way.

It is critical that you also appreciate that victories for recovery feel like defeats for the eating disorder. No matter what your child does, moving towards or away from recovery, some part of them will be disappointed. Validating this, especially without them having to demonstrate their frustration, can go a long way towards convincing them that you 'get it'.

6. Seek Support for Yourself

Supporting a child through recovery can be emotionally draining. It’s important for parents to take care of their own mental health and seek support if needed. Consider joining a support group for parents or consulting a therapist to manage your own stress and emotions.

Conclusion

Helping your child recover from an eating disorder involves a combination of education, support, and love. Your involvement and dedication are crucial in their journey to recovery. At Dovetail Counseling Group, we are here to assist you and your child through this challenging time, offering guidance and support every step of the way.

If you’re seeking additional resources or support for your child’s recovery, contact us today. Our team of professionals is here to help you navigate this journey and provide the support your family needs.