My Family is Back: Multi-Family Therapy for Eating Disorders

by June Alexander, Ivan Eisler, Julian Baudinet

Overview

My Family is Back challenges conventional methods of eating disorder care by explaining the effectiveness of Multi-Family Therapy (MFT) in helping children recover from anorexia nervosa.

MFT is an intensive method involving a small group of families working together towards recovery. Building on previous work that focuses on mobilising family resources as a major factor in therapeutic change, MFT introduces a new element: encouraging groups of families to work together to rediscover their strengths, overcome feelings of isolation, and find renewed hope. The authors describe how MFT works and how it can enhance the treatment of eating disorders by improving service delivery and reducing costs. Eighteen families serve as the ‘voice of experience,’ their stories breathing life into the science.

The families provide a long-term perspective and reflection on their MFT participation. Their stories emphasise the importance of early intervention, family involvement, and collaboration in overcoming anorexia. Strategies for family members, friends, and professionals illustrate the evidence base for this model of care.

This book, offering an accessible guide to MFT, has international appeal for families of children with eating disorders, health professionals, and healthcare providers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781040396919
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/25/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	338
File size:	813 KB

About the Author

June Alexander, PhD, is an Australian writer whose life and career have been shaped by her experience with anorexia nervosa, which began at age 11. Her PhD investigates diary writing as a therapeutic tool for eating disorders.

Ivan Eisler, PhD, is Emeritus Professor of Family Psychology and Family Therapy at King’s College, London. He is also honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders in London.

Julian Baudinet, PhD, is Joint Head and Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders. He is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Medicine at King’s College London.

Table of Contents

Introduction Section 1: Understanding Eating Disorders and Multi-Family Therapy 1. Understanding Eating Disorders 2. Understanding Multi-Family Therapy Section 2: Our Stories – Families with Experience of Multi-Family Therapy Introduction 1. The Importance of Being Treated with Respect (REBEKAH) 2. Everyone in the Family has a Role in Recovery (NATALIE) 3. When Dad is the Primary Carer (DAVE) 4. A Tale of Anorexia, two Mothers and Friendship (LISA and HARRIET) 5. A Job in a Cheese Shop provides a Lesson in Recovery (LYDIA) 6. Reshaping Daughter-Mother Dynamics (MATHILDA) 7. A Mother and Son Can Do This, Too (JAMES) 8. When MFT is the Last in a Long List of Therapies (MILLIE) 9. ‘Only I can get Myself out of this Illness' (CASSANDRA) 10. 'There is no Cookie-Cutter for this Illness' (AMY) 11. When 'Doing' with Others makes a Difference (EMILY) 12. The Sparkle behind a Belly Button Piercing (AMELIA) 13. ‘I am not my Mother; I'm Me' (CHAROLETTE) 14. Understanding the Illness helps Mother take Charge (DIANA) 15. The Getting of Communication Skills leads to Breakthrough (SAMANTHA) 16. Creating a Caring Environment at Home to Support Recovery (EMMA) 17. ‘Oh, my Sister does that, too’ (EVA) 18. ‘Can I have some Fries, Mummy?’ (CATHERINE) 19. Anorexia does not care who you are or where you are (SHIRA) 20. The Family Stories – Reflecting on inspiring Lessons Section 3: What Are Parents To Do? 1. How to tell if your Child has an Eating Disorder 2. Navigating the Search for Multi-Family Therapy Glossary 1: Abbreviations Glossary 2: FT-ED with GLOSSARY2 FT-ED Umbrella (diagram) Glossary 3: Eating Disorder Focused Family Therapy Manuals

Editorial Reviews

‘This book is a valuable testimonial where many voices interweaved: a narrator, who herself suffered from anorexia nervosa for over 40 years, specialists of the disorder, and above all, families who have undergone multi-family therapy for anorexia nervosa. Therapy with families is based on the observation that you can't move forward without your family, particularly when you suffer from an illness that binds you together pathologically, but also because scientific research shows that the family is a resource for the sufferer. This book aims to reposition the family and the group as fundamental resources in the process of individual development at a time when ‘self-fulfilment’ has become a mantra.’

Noël Pommepuy, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department 93I05, Ville-Evrard Hospital, France

‘This inspiring book is a must-read for any family member who has lived through an eating disorder in their child.  Ivan Eisler and Julian Baudinet - expert researchers and clinicians - provide a wealth of evidence on eating disorders and the utility of multi-family therapy that is easy to understand with many examples and practical skills that can be applied to different contexts.  Alexander eloquently brings to life the many stories of families from across the globe who have benefited from MFT.  She interviews families about how their experiences with MFT galvanized them to bring their family back from the grips of an eating disorder.’

Gina Dimitropoulos, MSW, PhD, FAED, Professor, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Canada

‘My Family is Back is set to become a treasured resource for families looking for a way forward to help their child start to recover from the eating disorder. The authors have skillfully gathered stories that give hope and show positive steps towards recovery are possible when a family works together and with other families. This is the special power of Multiple Family Therapy, and it shines brightly through each story. My Family is Back beautifully allows the voice and experience of parents, siblings and the young person to be heard. I highly recommend this book to parents as a companion on your journey, and to clinicians to better understand the experience of families.’

Dr Andrew Wallis, Clinical Social Worker, Family Therapist and Eating Disorder Service Network Lead, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Australia

‘It is virtually impossible to understand the difficulty of living under the shadow of anorexia nervosa without having firsthand experience. The illness grips and manipulates both the sufferer and their family members in incomprehensible ways that can feel deeply isolating and de-railing. When these families find each other and undergo the journey of recovery together, something deep and powerful happens that cannot be fully understood on an intellectual level alone. In My Family is Back, June, Ivan and Julian relentlessly endeavour and commit to capturing these effects for the betterment of professionals, patients and families alike by allowing families to give firsthand accounts of their illness and multi-family treatment experiences. These personal stories provide a deeper and more textured understanding of what it is to undergo the journey of illness and recovery and the importance of connecting families via multi-family therapy as a powerful antidote to the isolation and paralysis that can come with AN and allow it to fester.  Through these accounts, we can begin to understand the immense therapeutic value of treating systemically on both an inter- and intra-family level. This book will serve as an access point for patients and families desperate to connect with others’ stories as we contend with our healthcare systems‘ current limitations in facilitating this work and as a poignant learning tool for providers working with those in recovery.’ 

Stephanie Knatz Peck, PhD, Associate Clinical Professor; Director, Intensive Family Treatments; UCSD Eating Disorders Treatment; Department of Psychiatry, USA

From the Publisher