Family-based therapy, also known as the Maudsley approach, is an evidence-based treatment originally developed to treat anorexia nervosa at the Maudsley Hospital in London.
Pioneered in the United States by Drs. Lock & LeGrange, FBT treats eating disorders in children and teens at home, allowing them to avoid an intensive treatment setting. FBT therapists educate and empower parents to take charge of meals and nutrition, with the goal of achieving a healthy weight range and stabilizing eating disordered behaviors.
Treatment happens in stages and can be effective with or without the child or adolescent attending sessions. While developed for families with clients aged 12–18, FBT has been successfully modified for young adults living at home, and has been proven effective in addressing the full spectrum of eating disorder symptoms, including bulimia nervosa.