When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder: A Step-by-Step Workbook for Parents and Other Caregivers

“…written in a confident and approachable style, avoiding jargon, and the text is well broken up… a valuable book..” (www.edr.org.uk, 23 November 2004)

"I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the spectrum of eating disorders. Parents, teachers, doctors, and therapists will find just what they need in Abigail Natenshon's comprehensive exploration of this most puzzling disorder." ―Mary Ann Kirk, licensed clinical professional counselor

Never before available to parents, When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder provides information based on the assumption that parents are NOT to blame for their child's eating disorder, but that they DO have a powerful role to play as mentors to their child's recovery. In my experience, I have found that for the most part, parents want to do what is best for their child; they deserve to be taught how by their child's treating professionals.

Children, throughout their childhood, teenage and young adult years continue to require the wise and informed input, support, and counsel of their parents, particularly in times of crisis or illness. Scientific research corroborates my clinical findings that family involvement in the treatment process is the most effective way to heal youngsters living at home where the processes of disease and recovery unfold on a daily basis in kitchens and bathrooms. If parents are not part of the solution, they are in danger of becoming part of the problem.

When eating disorders are detected early and treated properly, they are curable in 80% of cases. Recovered individuals, no longer victims of food and fear, cease to be victims of circumstance, of self, and of others. "Eating disorder recovery allows both parents and child to take back control of their lives and destinies."

Work together toward recovery"When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder provides parents with hope as well as direction to aid their eating disordered child."-Vivian Hanson Meehan, president and founder, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders"This book provides parents with invaluable information about eating disorders and concrete steps to take in pursuing the best treatment option for their child. It is a much needed Andorsement of the positive role families can play in treatment."-Daniel le Grange, director, Eating Disorders Program, The University of Chicago"Practical, informed, comprehensive, and highly readable. This is a book that will be equally valuable to parents, patients, and clinicians."-Craig Johnson, director, Eating Disorders Program, Laureate Psychiatric Hospital, Tulsa"The wonderful workbook format will help families gain a deeper and more personal understanding of the illness and assist them in developing commonsense interventions."- Patricia Santucci, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and founding member, Academy for Eating DisordersDear Parent,Eating disorders know no boundaries. With indiscriminate cruelty they can crush friAndships, splinter families, and ravage health. I have watched my husband, and then my daughter, in the grips of this puzzling affliction. Like a small ship lost on a thundering sea, a person who is witness to a family member's eating disorder can be overcome by fear, discouragement, or grief. For me, Abigail Natenshon's book has been like a lighthouse in that storm.With knowledge that comes from experience, she guides us on this difficult journey with skill and courageous optimism. She increases our knowledge, teaches us about treatment options, and arms us with the tools to be the best advocates we can be for our child. She invites us all to look beyond the symptoms of this disease to see what's at its core-the suffering

Work together toward recovery

"When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder provides parents with hope as well as direction to aid their eating disordered child." ―Vivian Hanson Meehan, president and founder, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders

"This book provides parents with invaluable information about eating disorders and concrete steps to take in pursuing the best treatment option for their child. It is a much needed endorsement of the positive role families can play in treatment." ―Daniel le Grange, director, Eating Disorders Program, The University of Chicago

"Practical, informed, comprehensive, and highly readable. This is a book that will be equally valuable to parents, patients, and clinicians." ―Craig Johnson, director, Eating Disorders Program, Laureate Psychiatric Hospital, Tulsa

"The wonderful workbook format will help families gain a deeper and more personal understanding of the illness and assist them in developing commonsense interventions." ―Patricia Santucci, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and founding member, Academy for Eating Disorders

Dear Parent,
Eating disorders know no boundaries. With indiscriminate cruelty they can crush friendships, splinter families, and ravage health. I have watched my husband, and then my daughter, in the grips of this puzzling affliction. Like a small ship lost on a thundering sea, a person who is witness to a family member's eating disorder can be overcome by fear, discouragement, or grief. For me, Abigail Natenshon's book has been like a lighthouse in that storm.
With knowledge that comes from experience, she guides us on this difficult journey with skill and courageous optimism. She increases our knowledge, teaches us about treatment options, and arms us with the tools to be the best advocates we can be for our child. She invites us all to look beyond the symptoms of this disease to see what's at its core-the suffering in the heart of our loved one. She reminds us that this disease can, and usually is, conquered. Your child can recover from this illness, as did mine. The ship you share can arrive safely to shore. ―With understanding and best wishes for you and your child, An Anonymous Parent

ABIGAIL H. NATENSHON For 25 years, psychotherapist Abigail Natenshon has specialized in eating disorder treatment with individuals, families, and groups. As cofounder of Eating Disorder Specialists of Illinois, A Clinic Without Walls, she provides consultation for parents, schools, social service organizations, and mental health professionals.