Supporting the People Who Support Recovery
Family Coaching
When someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, it can be difficult to know what to do. Many parents, partners, and family members find themselves feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, frightened, or unsure of how best to help. Eating disorders often impact the entire family system, and supporting recovery can feel like navigating unfamiliar territory without a roadmap.
Family coaching provides education, guidance, and practical support for loved ones who want to play an active role in the recovery process. Whether your loved one is currently in treatment, considering treatment, or navigating recovery independently, coaching can help you feel more confident and effective in your support.
Why Family Coaching?
Most people are not taught how to respond to eating disorder behaviors, body image concerns, meal-time challenges, or recovery setbacks. Family coaching offers a space to ask questions, learn evidence-based strategies, and gain a deeper understanding of what your loved one is experiencing.
Dr. Joy’s focus is on helping you:
Better understand eating disorders and the recovery process
Respond effectively to eating disorder thoughts and behaviors
Navigate meal-time challenges and food-related conflicts
Improve communication and reduce power struggles
Establish healthy boundaries
Support recovery without becoming consumed by it
Manage your own stress, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness
Strengthen connection and trust within the family system
A Collaborative and Compassionate Approach
There is no perfect way to support a loved one through recovery. Families are often doing the best they can with the information and resources they have available. My approach is collaborative, nonjudgmental, and tailored to the unique needs of each family.
Rather than focusing on blame, we focus on understanding. Together, we identify what is working, address barriers to recovery, and develop practical strategies that support both your loved one and the well-being of the family as a whole.
Who Family Coaching Is For
Family coaching may be helpful for:
Parents of adolescents or young adults with eating disorders
Partners supporting a loved one in recovery
Adult children concerned about a parent or family member
Families navigating treatment recommendations or transitions in care
Loved ones seeking guidance on how to provide support while maintaining healthy boundaries
Family coaching can be beneficial whether your loved one is actively engaged in therapy, receiving a higher level of care, or not yet ready to pursue treatment.
