Therapy Approaches
Eating Disorder Treatment
Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, neurotype, ethnicity, social background, or disability. Appearance and weight are also poor indicators of whether an individual is experiencing an eating disorder. The earlier an eating disorder is detected and treated, the better the outcomes, however, people can and do recover even after many years of suffering.
Family Based Treatment
Family Based Treatment (FBT or the Maudsley Method) takes an agnostic approach to the causal factors of the young person's eating disorder and instead focuses on the need for urgent treatment to restore health first. Families are seen as not to blame, and instead as the greatest resource in supporting recovery. Treatment takes part in three phases. In phase one, parents are supported to take back control of their child's eating from the eating disorder to renourish their loved one. In phase two, the young person is supported to take back age appropriate control of their eating, and in phase three, other developmental issues are addressed.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, enhanced (or CBT-e) is a specific treatment developed for eating disorders, using a transdiagnostic approach. CBT-e focusses on understanding the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that drive the eating disorder and development of strategies to facilitate change. A formulation of the individual's eating disorder is collaboratively made, and treatment is adjusted for individual needs. Other issues such as perfectionism, low self-worth, emotion regulation, and interpersonal difficulties may also be incorporated into treatment.
​
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR) is a relatively new treatment that has shown efficacy in improving symptoms of ARFID. CBT-AR aims to provide education on ARFID, identify factors that may be involved in both the development and maintenance of ARFID, and support the individual to identify goals and make changes. CBT-AR takes a "volume over variety" approach to food and acknowledges individual's preferences. Depending on age of the individual, CBT-AR may include family/caregiver support.
Adolescent Focussed Therapy
In Adolescent Focussed Therapy (AFT), the eating disorder is conceptualised as playing a specific function in the life of the sufferer, while also interrupting normal adolescent development. This is explored throughout treatment, with the therapist taking a collaborative but containing stance and assisting the young person in finding other methods to meet their needs without the use of the eating disorder. Where indicated, parents play a supportive role in treatment and collateral sessions are used throughout treatment.
Specialist Supportive Clinical Management
Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) for eating disorders is a model of treatment that focuses on psychoeducation, nutritional rehabilitation and normalisation of eating behaviours, and supportive psychotherapy to address other life issues. SSCM is generally a more flexible model of treatment, with half the session dedicated to manage the eating disorder and half the session utilised for other issues that may arise.
​
A specific form of SSCM exists for individuals living with a severe and enduring eating disorder (SEED).
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was originally developed for individuals living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but has since been demonstrated to be efficacious in treating a number of different mental health concerns. DBT is a skills-based therapy that balances the idea of acceptance and change together, underpinned by the idea that the individual is doing the best they can, but is capable of doing more. Mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills are developed and integrated into life to reduce vulnerability to acting on strong emotions and assist with managing urges the individual identifies as not contributing to a "life worth living".
Complex Trauma and Trauma- Informed Principles
1
Safety
2
Trust
3
Choice
4
Collaboration
5
Empowerment
6
Respect for Diversity
Kaedee has undertaken specific training in trauma-informed care and working with survivors of complex trauma using a three-phased approach with the Blue Knot Foundation. Kaedee prioritises safety and stability when working with survivors of complex trauma, and recognises the importance of safe attachment in the therapy room while acknowledging that individual's embodied experience will differ. Kaedee draws from a number of different approaches and models, including Internal Family Systems, EMDR, Trauma-Informed DBT skills training, and Structural Dissociation Models within treatment.
​
Whilst Kaedee uses a phased-based approach, it is important to note that the phases are not linear, and safety may need to be established numerous times. The following phases are used when working with complex trauma:
1. Safety and Stabilisation
2. Coming to terms with traumatic memory (processing and integration)
3. Moving on/return to life (consolidation of gains)
​
It is widely recognised that for survivors of complex trauma often spend more time in therapy than those who have not had these experiences. It is not uncommon for survivors to engage in therapy for several years, or to engage in therapy on and off over their lifetime. Kaedee recognises that the available number of rebates under Medicare are often inadequate to meet the needs of survivors of complex trauma and supports the advocacy work of the Australian Association of Psychologists inc (AAPi) in both increasing the number of rebatable sessions and rebate limits.