Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Children, Teens & Young Adults

Family-Based Treatment (FBT), also known as the Maudsley Approach

How it is used:
Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is a structured, evidence-based approach in which parents or caregivers take an active role in helping their child recover from an eating disorder. Early in treatment, the primary focus is on restoring nutrition and interrupting eating-disorder behaviors. Parents are coached on how to provide firm, compassionate support around meals while the therapist guides the family through challenges and problem-solving. As health improves, responsibility for eating is gradually returned to the child in a developmentally appropriate way.

Who it is for:
FBT is most often used for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, ARFID, or other restrictive eating disorders who live at home and have caregivers willing to participate.

What families can expect:
Families can expect to be actively involved in sessions, especially early on. Parents are not blamed for the eating disorder—instead, they are empowered as essential partners in recovery. Treatment is practical, goal-oriented, and focused on helping the child return to healthy growth, development, and age-appropriate independence.

How it is used:
AFT is an individual therapy that helps adolescents explore the emotional, relational, and developmental factors connected to their eating disorder. Treatment focuses on building emotional awareness, coping skills, and a stronger sense of identity separate from the eating disorder. Weight restoration and medical stability are supported alongside psychological growth.

Who it is for:
AFT is used for adolescents and young adults particularly when individual emotional processing and identity development are key treatment needs.

What families can expect:
While therapy is primarily individual, families are often included for support and coordination of care. Families can expect a focus on emotional development, autonomy, and helping the adolescent move toward healthier coping strategies.

(For clients who desire) At Ezer Psychotherapy, we offer the option to thoughtfully integrate Christian faith into treatment alongside evidence-based approaches. For clients who desire it, this may include incorporating prayer, Scripture, and faith-based perspectives into sessions, while still using proven therapies like CBT-E and FBT. Our approach is always client-led—honoring your beliefs, values, and goals—while providing high-quality, clinically effective care that supports whole-person healing: mind, body, and spirit.

How it is used:
FBT-TAY adapts the principles of FBT for older adolescents and young adults, emphasizing collaboration and shared decision-making. While nutrition restoration and behavior change remain central, the young adult is treated as an active participant in treatment. Parents or chosen supports provide accountability and structure, while the therapist helps the family navigate independence, boundaries, and real-world challenges such as college, work, or living arrangements.

Who it is for:
FBT-TAY is designed for ages 16–25, especially those who want support but are not developmentally suited for a fully parent-directed model.

What families can expect:
Families can expect a balance of support and autonomy. Young adults are encouraged to build independence with eating while still relying on their support system. Treatment respects the young adult’s voice while recognizing that recovery is strengthened through connection rather than isolation.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR) is an evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, and adults with ARFID—an eating disorder marked by restrictive or avoidant eating that is not driven by weight or body-image concerns.

CBT-AR uses a structured, gradual approach to help individuals expand food variety, improve nutrition, and reduce anxiety or distress around eating. Treatment includes education about ARFID, skill-building, and gentle, supported food exposures tailored to sensory sensitivities, fear of adverse consequences, or low interest in eating.

Parents and caregivers are actively involved for younger clients, while adolescents and adults are supported in building confidence and independence with eating.

CBT-AR helps clients move toward more flexible, nourishing, and confident eating—at a pace that feels manageable and sustainable.

How it is used:
CBT-E is a structured, skills-based therapy that focuses on identifying and changing the patterns of thoughts and behaviors that maintain an eating disorder. Treatment targets regular eating, reduction of eating-disorder behaviors, and addressing beliefs related to control, perfectionism, food, and body image. Sessions are collaborative and goal-focused, with tools that clients practice between sessions.

Who it is for:
CBT-E is commonly used for adolescents and adults with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or other specified eating disorders, particularly those who are medically stable and able to engage in individual therapy.

What families can expect:
Families may be involved for adolescents, though CBT-E is more individually focused than FBT. Clients can expect a clear treatment structure, active skill practice, and a focus on long-term relapse prevention.