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 family 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. And one key factor that is often overlooked are family dynamics.
By strengthening communication, improving mutual understanding, and building supportive strategies, families can become powerful allies in the recovery process. My role is to empower the person who is struggling, while also equipping parents and siblings with the tools they need to foster healing.
My 7-Pillar Approach to Family Coaching
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 families come to me, they often carry a heavy mix of guilt, shame, and frustration – all of which can block open communication. The first step in family coaching is creating a safe, non-judgmental space where every voice matters. We will focus on active listening, empathy, and learning how to show up for one another – 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. Families 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 – plays a key role in how symptoms and behaviors develop and persist. In this phase, we will explore how your family culture and behavior patterns may be impacting your loved one’s recovery and how each member 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 or result in isolation. In this phase, 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 encorporating 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 Setback
Recovery is rarely a straight line. Relapses and setbacks don’t mean failure – they are part of the process. In family 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 also work on inviting 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 depleated 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.
Closing Notes
While full family involvement is often the most impactful, I also offer targeted parent coaching. Please contact me, if you (solo or with your partner) are trying to learn how you can support your loved one but they are not yet ready to walk this path with you.
Curious to learn more?
Explore additional insights and tools on my blog and website.