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How to Have Conversations With Parents About Eating Disorders

Shelly Bar, MD
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Information

Date & Time

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Identify at least three common barriers that can make conversations with parents about eating disorders difficult, including denial, minimization, guilt, fear, stigma, and emotional distress.

  • Apply at least two evidence-based communication strategies to clinical scenarios involving parental denial, guilt, mealtime conflict, or emotional distress, including use of reflective listening, validation, parental empowerment, and appropriate therapeutic language.

  • Select at least three appropriate communication techniques and avoid common communication errors, such as arguing, blaming, etc.

Educational Goal

The educational goal of this workshop is to emphasize the importance of tailoring communication with parents based on their emotional and clinical needs, rather than relying on a single approach. Using principles from Motivational Interviewing, Family-Based Treatment, and the New Maudsley Method, clinicians can reduce blame and conflict, strengthen caregiver engagement, and empower parents to actively support their child’s recovery.

Description

This workshop provides clinicians with practical, evidence-based strategies for communicating with parents about eating disorders. It explores common barriers such as denial, guilt, fear, stigma, and emotional distress, and introduces communication principles from Motivational Interviewing (MI), Family-Based Treatment (FBT), and the New Maudsley Method. Participants learn to tailor conversations to different parent presentations, use therapeutic language, reduce blame and conflict, and empower caregivers to support recovery.

Target Audience

  • Addiction Professional
  • Counselor
  • Dietitian
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Nutritionist
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Presenters

Shelly Bar, MD
Dr. Shelly Bar, MD, is double board-certified in Internal Medicine and Adolescent Medicine. She completed her residency at Kaiser San Francisco and her fellowship at Stanford Medical Center, where she also served as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Her practice is intentionally boutique, providing a discreet setting where she individualizes each treatment plan and works closely with every patient’s care team. She takes a Health At Every Size (HAES), non-dieting approach to care and is a dedicated advocate for Family-Based Therapy (FBT) in adolescent recovery.

Financially Sponsored By

  • Alsana