FBT: Helpful or Harmful for Autistic People with Eating Disorders?

Family-Based Therapy (FBT), often hailed as the "gold standard" for eating disorder treatment, claims to help families take control of recovery. Unfortunately, this approach can be harmful for autistic people. In this episode, Livia shares her lived experience and insights on why FBT can clash with the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals. From issues of autonomy to the oversimplified prioritization of weight gain, we’ll explore how "evidence-based" treatments often overlook neurodivergence.

You'll learn:

• The basics of FBT and its three-phase structure

• Why FBT's focus on control and weight gain can fail neurodivergent individuals

• The importance of autonomy and safety in recovery for autistic people

• How eating disorders act as adaptive responses to an overwhelming world

• Why "evidence-based" treatments should really be called "evidence-biased"

• A compassionate alternative for supporting recovery

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📝 Read the blog post of this episode