What self-efficacy is, where it comes from, and why a caregiver’s confidence matters this much. I say “confidence creates change” constantly. It’s on my website, it’s in my sessions, and it might be the phrase I use most in my work. I want to show you it isn’t a slogan. It’s built on decades of
What Is Self-Efficacy? Why Caregiver Confidence Matters in Eating Disorder Recovery Read Post »
This piece is written for two kinds of readers. If you’re a caregiver, it’s written directly to you. If you’re a clinician, dietitian, or treatment professional, it offers a view of what the families you work with are carrying at home, and what becomes possible when they’re given real support alongside your care. If you
The Confident Caregiver Approach™: A Plain-Language Guide Read Post »
Your child’s treatment team has recommended a higher level of care. Residential. PHP. A program that means pulling them out of school, out of their life, out of everything that feels normal. And you’re not sure you can say yes. Maybe your child is begging you not to send them. Maybe you’re worried about what
When Fear Gets in the Way of Treatment Read Post »
Celebrity body talk is everywhere. Your child may comment on a celebrity’s appearance, ask why someone looks different, or start comparing bodies, and you may find yourself wondering what to say. I was recently quoted in a SheKnows article about how parents can approach conversations like these. While a particular celebrity may be what starts
When Your Child Comments on a Celebrity’s Body Read Post »
Sports Physicals & Eating Disorders: What Parents Should Know You know this appointment. You’ve probably already scheduled it. A quick trip to the pediatrician, a signature on a form, and your kid is cleared to play sports. I want to offer you a different way to think about that fifteen minutes. It is these kids,
The Sports Physical Nobody Talks About Read Post »
This may be one of the most painful and confusing positions a parent can face. Your child is legally an adult. And yet, the young person you love may be struggling in ways that make independence feel more like an idea than a reality. They may tell you: “You can’t control me.” “I’m over 18.”
My Adult Child Has an Eating Disorder: Can I Still Set Boundaries and Help? Read Post »
If you are parenting a child or teenager with an eating disorder, there is a good chance you have doubted yourself more times than you can count. Am I pushing too hard? Am I making this worse? Should I back off? Shouldn’t they have some say? Why does this suddenly feel like I can’t parent
If you’re a parent in the middle of eating disorder treatment, you’ve likely had this thought: “Is this actually working?” And just as quickly, another thought follows: “Am I even allowed to ask that?” Let me be clear. Yes—you are. Recovery Doesn’t Look the Way You Expect Eating disorder recovery isn’t a straight line. It
Why It’s So Hard to Tell If Eating Disorder Treatment Is Working? Read Post »
If you’re here, you’re likely overwhelmed. You may be watching your child struggle with eating, emotions, or behaviors that don’t make sense. You may feel unsure of what to say, what to do, or whether you’re helping or making things worse. And if you’ve started looking for eating disorder caregiver support, you may have come
A Clear Look at Eating Disorder Caregiver Support Read Post »
When your child is struggling with an eating disorder, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm, your instinct is immediate: Make it better. You explain. You reassure. You remind them of what the therapist said. And when that doesn’t work, it can feel confusing, or even discouraging. Many parents don’t realize when emotions are high, the brain cannot
Staying With the Feeling: Helping Your Child Without Fixing Everything Read Post »
Many families enter eating disorder treatment believing that professionals will “fix” things by treating their child and giving parents some instructions to follow. Unfortunately, eating disorder recovery doesn’t work that way. Caregivers should never be on the sidelines. Caregivers are the daily stabilizer for their loved one that is suffering from an eating disorder. You
5 Signs It May Be Time for Eating Disorder Caregiver Support Read Post »
When parents first notice changes in eating, mood, or behavior, one of the most common questions I hear is,“What if I say the wrong thing?” That fear makes sense. When it comes to eating disorders parents often feel like the stakes are high, and they are. But the truth is you don’t need the “perfect”
5 Ways to Start the Conversation About Eating Disorders and Navigate Getting Help Read Post »
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is February 23rd – March 1st and it is an important reminder that eating disorders don’t usually arrive loudly or clearly labeled. More often, they show up quietly or subtly, through small changes that are easy to second-guess or explain away. Many parents tell me, “I wasn’t sure if I
5 Early Signs Your Child Might Be Struggling With an Eating Disorder Read Post »
As 2025 came to a close and I stepped into 2026, I’ve been reflecting on the path that brought me here and the direction I feel called to move next. For more than 25 years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and families affected by eating disorders. Over the past decade
January arrives, and suddenly it feels impossible to escape it. Detoxes. Cleanses. “Reset” plans. Before-and-after photos. Algorithms that seem to know exactly how to find us, without us even searching. The message is everywhere: Your body needs fixing. Your eating needs controlling. A better version of you is just one plan away. For kids, teens,
Helping Kids Resist Diet Culture in a “New Year, New You” World Read Post »
