Supporting Caregivers of a Child or Adolescent in Eating Disorder Recovery
Author: Kathryn Lodwick-Jones, LPC, BC-DMT, NCC
The process of navigating recovery from an eating disorder (ED), no matter the age of the client, impacts their entire support system. When children and adolescents are undergoing treatment for an eating disorder, the emotional well-being of the caregiver is often overlooked, or at best an afterthought. Caregivers play a crucial role in the recovery process whether their child has been newly diagnosed or has been in recovery for an extended period of time. This article aims to provide suggestions for caregivers to consider when exploring support options.
The Important Role of the Caregiver
Caretaking a child/teen with an ED can come with both physical and emotional challenges. This could be navigating the uncertainty of the recovery process, a complex and confusing medical and mental health care system, or your own emotions and fears as a caregiver. Caregivers may experience stress, anxiety, depression or PTSD symptoms, self-doubt, burnout, financial strain, and potential social isolation. At the same time, caregivers play a crucial role in the recovery process for the child/adolescent by providing both physical and emotional support, advocacy, validation, and often, transportation to treatment. When caregivers do not have a support system for themselves to weather the stressors and challenges, this can lead to burnout or compassion fatigue.
Understanding EDs and Providing Education and Empowerment
Eating disorders are complex mental health issues, sometimes necessitating medical attention and a comprehensive treatment team. In all levels of care, including hospitalization, residential, partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient program (IOP), and individual or family outpatient therapy, it is best practice for the eating disorder therapist to work in tandem with a registered dietitian, the client’s PCP or pediatrician, and often a psychiatrist. The complex nature of EDs can further complicate the treatment and stress that impacts the client’s support system due to the intensity of treatment, frequency of sessions or medical care, and non-linear process of progress and recovery. Receiving support in the form of psychoeducation related to eating disorders, nutrition, parenting support or coaching strategies, and stress management techniques can lead to positive outcomes for both client and caregiver.
Preventing and Addressing Caregiver Burnout: Self-Care Strategies
Caregiver burnout can lead to various negative outcomes including increased stress, decline in physical health, increased mental health challenges, and overall decreased quality of life. Although the process of caretaking a child/teen with an ED is often uncertain and non-linear, caregivers can benefit from their own self-care. Caregivers are often prone to neglecting their own emotional and mental health due to the toll of caretaking, lack of support, and navigating other occupational and personal stressors like finances, caretaking other children in the home, full-time work, or limited social support network. Self-care, or the practice of taking regular action to protect our well-being and happiness, especially in times of stress, has been shown to reduce stress and increase emotional resilience. Self-care can take many forms including regular exercise, socialization, time outside, getting enough nutrients in our food, quality and adequate sleep, or seeking support from a medical or mental health professional to address acute and ongoing issues.
Individual therapy, family therapy, or parent coaching can be a productive outlet or source of support for caregivers of a child/teen in ED recovery. Caregivers can gain support to better support their child/teen, have their emotions and challenges validated, and gain emotional coping and stress reduction strategies.
In individual therapy, caregivers may address issues related to anxiety and depression, trauma responses or PTSD symptoms, how to navigate fear surrounding their child’s health or navigating the healthcare system, how to navigate conflict in the family system or with their children directly, how to navigate the overwhelm of nutrition, and medical or therapy appointments, addressing burnout, sleep issues and general emotional exhaustion.
Another common concern caregivers often address in therapy is grief over the formerly expected or anticipated parenting journey. Parent coaching can also be a helpful strategy for caregivers, especially those new to ED recovery. Parent coaching sessions differ from mental health counseling by focusing on parenting strategies and is often a more directive, skills-focused approach. Sessions support caregivers in how to respond to ED challenges and behaviors in real time or better handle related challenges like advocating at medical appointments or consulting with members of the care team. The aim is to provide caregivers practical strategies and increase their confidence in parenting a child/teen in ED recovery .
The Power of Connection and Support: Community Care Supports
Support can take many forms, including both self and community care and proactive and responsive coping strategies. Building a comprehensive support system to regularly lean on is a protective strategy to mitigate or better manage caregiver burnout and reduce the negative outcomes associated with isolation. By identifying both available and needed supports, caregivers can more readily make use of their supports and find ways to gain further support if needed. Support groups (both in-person and virtual) are a great place to start, as members are more likely to understand their unique struggles. Caregiver-focused support groups offer opportunities for both practice advice and emotional support including how to better understand the nature and recovery process of eating disorders, reduce self-blame and shame, provide suggestions for how to respond more effectively to stress or their child/teen’s eating disorder behaviors and most importantly, reduce feelings of isolation. There is evidence that supported and empowered caregivers lead to more positive outcomes in children and adolescents navigating ED recovery.
Good Communication for Long-Term Recovery
Whether a caregiver is gaining support or guidance from a support group, an individual therapist, or parent coach, the benefits of effective communication between caregiver and child/teen have significant positive effects to ED recovery and the caregiver-child relationship. Caregiver and child/teen-alignment can increase positive emotional outcomes for both. Effective communication and support can look like fostering a non-judgemental and empathic environment surrounding food, body image, and emotions. Caregivers can also benefit from checking in on themselves when they start to feel overwhelmed or stuck and modeling and practicing self-compassion and patience. Staying grounded and instilling hope are also key factors to strengthening the relationship. Remember that you don’t have to be perfect, just present.
Equilibria is a group of licensed mental health professionals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey with multiple specialties to serve all aspects of our diverse community’s mental, emotional, and behavioral needs. We provide in person and telehealth services to individuals of all ages, families, and those in relationships. Click here to schedule an appointment today.
