You’ve landed on my blog today because you suspect that someone in your family may be struggling with eating difficulties – or they may already have a formal eating disorder diagnosis – this is where coaching can help. Disordered Eating is rarely just about food. With years of experience in this field, I’ve seen how deeply rooted eating difficulties often are in low self-esteem, anxiety, perfectionism, and the complex transition into adulthood. Alongside, one key factor is often overlooked: family dynamics.
By strengthening communication, improving mutual understanding, and building supportive strategies, parents can become powerful allies in the recovery process. My role is not only to support the person who is struggling in a separate 1:1 setting, but also to equip parents with the tools they need to foster healing.
My 7-Pillar Approach
This approach is built on seven pillars that provide a structured, compassionate, and sustainable path forward:
1. Building Trust and Psychological Safety
Trust is the cornerstone of any recovery journey. When parents come to me, they often carry a heavy mix of guilt, shame, and frustration – all of which can block open communication. The first step is learning to create a safe, non-judgmental space where every voice matters. Therefore, we will focus on building active listening and empathy, skills – even when things feel messy.
Think of it like emotional CPR: You can’t heal a wound if you can’t talk about it.
2. Understanding What’s Really Going On
Eating difficulties are complex and multifaceted. Parents often only focus on food or weight, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. We will work together to demystify the (eating) behaviors and dive into the deeper emotional, psychological, and even biological layers underneath. Once you understand the “why” behind the “what,” you can start responding with compassion instead of fear.
3. Exploring Family Dynamics
Eating difficulties do not arise in a vacuum. Often, the family system, its communication patterns, roles, and unresolved tensions, play a role in how symptoms and behaviors develop and persist. We will explore how your family culture and behavior patterns may be impacting your loved one’s recovery, and how you as parents can contribute to a more emotionally safe and balanced environment.
4. Strengthening Communication
Words matter. When someone is struggling with disordered eating, even well-meaning comments can feel like shame and result in isolation. We will practice using non-blaming I-statements, expressing concerns with care, and creating a culture of regular check-ins where everyone can share openly and without judgment.
5. Creating Healthy Family Habits
To support long-term recovery, we will work on building healthy routines around food, movement, and emotional expression – without falling into the traps of diet talk or body commentary. This might include incorporating family meals, collaborative grocery planning, or simply learning how to talk about food without adding non-helpful labels.
A healthy environment isn’t about being perfect – it’s about being consistent and kind.
6. Navigating Setbacks
Recovery is rarely a straight line. Relapses and setbacks don’t mean failure – they are part of the process. Within the coaching, we will prepare for these moments by identifying early warning signs, practicing relapse prevention tools, and developing a shared language for when things get tough. We will learn to welcome patience and persistence as your allies.
7. Practicing Self-Care
Finally, it is easy to pour all your energy into helping your loved one, but leaving yourself depleted is also not the answer. Each family member needs tools for recognizing and tending to their own emotional needs. To aid this process, we will explore personal boundaries, stress regulation techniques, and sustainable self-care routines so that the entire family can thrive.
Curious to learn more?
Explore additional insights and tools on my blog and website.