Family-Based Treatment

Help your Child or Teen Achieve Recovery from Anorexia with Family-Based Treatment in the St. Louis Area – Get Support, Resources, and Compassionate Nutrition Counseling

Access Outpatient Family-Based Treatment for Anorexia with Dietitians from Missouri and Illinois

What is FBT for anorexia?

Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is an evidence-based therapy for anorexia nervosa, particularly effective in adolescents. FBT has demonstrated effectiveness in improving weight restoration, reducing eating disorder behaviors, and promoting long-term recovery in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

What are the three phases of Family-Based Treatment?

What are the three phases of Family-Based Treatment?

The various stages can be A LOT but it’s totally doable for you as parents AND your child. We like to remind parents that having your child live with an eating disorder for the rest of their life is much more debilitating than successfully getting through the various stages of FBT.

 

  • Phase 1 – Weight Restoration: Parents are responsible for ensuring their child restores weight to a healthy level. This often involves monitoring and supervising meals, as well as providing emotional support and encouragement.

  • Phase 2 – Returning Control: Once weight restoration is achieved, control over eating is gradually returned to the adolescent. Parents still continue to provide support, but shifts towards promoting autonomy and self-management of their eating behaviors.

  • Phase 3 – Establishing Healthy Identity: In this final phase, the focus is on addressing underlying psychological issues, rebuilding relationships, and fostering a healthy sense of identity and self-esteem.

What are the five principles of FBT?

  1. Family Involvement: FBT prioritizes family participation in treatment.

  2. Externalization: It separates the illness from the individual.

  3. Weight Restoration: FBT focuses on restoring a healthy weight.

  4. Parent Empowerment: Parents are empowered to manage meal supervision and behaviors.

  5. Transition to Autonomy: It gradually shifts responsibility from parents to the adolescent.

Does insurance cover nutrition therapy for anorexia?

We are in-network with many insurance companies. Insurance-based nutrition counseling is based on your insurance provider’s approval and specific insurance plan. We can only provide services based on what they allow, following their specific guidelines. Such perimeters include:

  • Limitations in visits

  • Requiring a certain amount of time in between appointments

  • No additional support between appointments

  • Check your medical nutrition therapy benefits here.

 

While nutritional counseling can be beneficial for various conditions, we find that, specifically for those suffering from disordered eating, continuous support and ongoing accountability is the game changer in achieving recovery.

We believe that full recovery is possible with the right support and treatment. We look forward to being part of your healing process.

Our Team of Dietitian Nutritionists in the Greater St. Louis Area

Branz Nutrition Counseling is a team of certified eating disorder dietitians who provide compassionate care to those struggling with their relationship to food. Our approach is weight-inclusive, LGBTQIA+, and social justice-oriented, which means that we believe that everyone deserves access to quality care. 

 

We can’t wait to meet you!

With locations in Illinois and Missouri, we offer both virtual and in-person counseling sessions. And, we are licensed to provide Telehealth nutrition therapy to  patients around the country.

​Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Missouri | New York | Texas | Virginia

We see clients in person in the St. Louis area, Missouri, Illinois, and from around the country via Telehealth. Learn more here.

Scroll to see the whole team.

How It Works – An Easy Three-Step Process to Get You on the Road to Recovery

Make An Appointment

What service do you need? We offer a range of appointments of different durations to best fit your needs.

Meet with your Personal Dietitian

Be paired with the dietitian nutritionist on our team and get continued support with one of our online groups. One-on-one counseling, in-person, or virtual. WE TAKE INSURANCE!

Take Control of Your Life

Heal your relationship with food and your body. Choose the best foods for your unique needs. Get the tools you need to live a healthy life. Receive continued support.

Note: In order to secure a spot on a dietitian’s schedule, we need a valid payment method on file.

Our Testimonials

Thank you for choosing us as the Best Dietitian Practice in STL (2023)

  • There have been times where my daughter will eat 4 bowls of carrots and turn down a cookie, and there have been times where she will want all the fruit snacks and nothing else, but it doesn’t stress me out because I know now that it’s just what her body wants in the moment. The information provided in your course not only helps my kids, but also opened my eyes to some of my own internal struggles around sugar and meal times!"

  • My sister Gifted this program to me and I'm so glad she did! I've already gotten so much out of watching the modules and reading the PDFs."

  • Understanding and implementing the Division of Responsibility in Feeding really takes the pressure off meal times. I love sitting down to enjoy dinner with my family and I hope it’s a memory my kids enjoy when they’re older too."

  • Also, againg, thank you for being so kind to "A". She usually does not like seeing "doctor like people", but she actually enjoys coming to see you, so that says a lot.

    by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO

  • I can't thank you enough for all you have done for us. I know we will continue to deal with food issues but at least I see hope. I honestly don't know how L(or myself) could have got through the past year without you. You literally are a lifesaver!! You are an amazing dietitian!!.

    by Mother of a Patient

  • Thank you for the caring devoted service and gentle compassion you have shown "S" over the years.

    by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO

  • I am truly grateful we found you to be he nutritionist. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    by Mother of a Patient, Saint Louis, MO

  • "For most of my life, I have correlated the size of my body to being loved and accepted. The smaller I am, the more lovable and acceptable I am. Giving up the dieting, the rules, and the noise has given me the freedom to trust, appreciate and accept love from others as well as myself".

    by

  • I truly appreciate the encouragement and hearfelt, genuine concern you have for me. Your counsel and empathy have meant a great deal and helped keep me going during difficult times.

    by C, Saint Louis, MO

  • Thanks for helping me think about food differently and providing guidance regarding how to select carbs. Also, thanks for helping me recognize that the evolution would take several months to come to a 'new normal'.

    by E, Saint Louis, MO

We Accept Insurance

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Branz Nutrition in the Media

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Nutrition Blog & Latest News

Our team of Dietitians offers online support as well as in-person appointments in MO and IL.