Multi-family therapy – providing strength and support for families

Multi-family therapy – providing strength and support for families

The more I listen to families share their stories – mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters – about how they have helped their child, or brother or sister, recover from Anorexia Nervosa through multi-family therapy, the more I want this treatment, together with family based therapy, to be available everywhere, in every country. The sufferers of this horrendous illness, together with their families, deserve this evidence-based support NOW.

London has been my base for the past three weeks, with meetings at the nearby Maudsley Hospital with Professor Ivan Eisler and with interviews with families throughout the UK, for  My Family is Back, a book I am co-authoring with Prof. Eisler on multi-family therapy. I have completed 22 family interviews in UK and this Tuesday will fly to the USA and Canada, to meet with Dr Leora Pinhas (Toronto) and Dr Stephanie Knatz (UCSD) and interview more families, who also have experienced MFT, there.

On completion of this seven-week book research trip, kindly and generously funded by The Butterfly Foundation, health professionals will have a chance at the following Melbourne-based event to hear about my experiences in gathering material for My Family is Back:

CEED Eating Disorders Seminar Program 2013

Bringing the strength of peer support to recovery from eating disorders:  Multi-Family Therapy for eating disorders

Presented by:  June Alexander  

Author, life-writing educator and mental health advocate with lived experience of recovery from an eating disorder, June is committed to the dissemination of evidence-based research for health practitioners and mainstream readers. Her books include:  A Girl Called Tim; My Kid is Back: Empowering Parents to Beat Anorexia Nervosa, Anorexia Nervosa_ A Recovery Guide for Sufferers, Families and Friends,  Ed says U said, and A Collaborative Approach to Eating Disorders. Website: lifestoriesmentor.com.au

Claire Diffey, Manager and family therapist CEED

Seminar Outline:

There is strong evidence in mental health research for peer support models as part of recovery. This seminar will consider peer support models in eating disorder treatment, focusing specifically on Multi Family Therapy (MFT). After an overview by Claire Diffey, June Alexander will talk about her upcoming book My Family is Back. Co-authored with Professor Ivan Eisler, the book describes MFT for Anorexia Nervosa. This model has been utilised in the UK for more than 10 years. It extends the ideas of the original family based therapy (FBT) with a focus on sharing parental expertise and solidarity. There will be time for questions and discussion about the possible application of this model in Victorian services.

Date:                                     Friday 8 November 2013, 9.00am – 11.00am

 Venue:                                 North Western Mental Health (NWMH) Poplar Learning Centre

Building D, Room 1

Orygen Youth Mental Health (OYH)

35 Poplar Road, PARKVILLE, Victoria

Target Audience:          Priority will be given to Eating Disorder Coordinators and other clinicians of public mental health services.

Cost:                                      FREE – coffee and tea provided between 8.30am – 9.00am

Applications close:               C.O.B. Friday  7 November  2013 

Registrations:                Go to: http://www.trybooking.com/BXKG_______________________________________________________________________

Seminar content enquiries: Beth Shelton – beth.shelton@mh.org.au  Ph: (03) 8387 2789

PLEASE REMEMBER:

Your registered place is not confirmed for this seminar until you receive a confirmation email from CEED after the close of application date.  If you do not receive a confirmation please call:

Amira Campana on (03) 8387 2673 or email amira.campana@mh.org.au

Places are limited. After registration, if you are unable to attend, please notify CEED- 8387 2673