ABSTRACT
This chapter describes one evolving example of trying to integrate the best of family therapy methods, supervisory systems, teamwork techniques, and psychological-medicine knowledge in addressing the complex difficulties that this client group and their families face. A systemic approach to supervision in the context of an inpatient treatment service for children and young people with serious eating disorders poses special and specific challenges. The different roles and responsibilities that the family therapy team members hold outside have to be given careful attention in relation to how "special knowledge’s" held between the inpatient team and the family therapy team relate to one another. The unit is unique in the National Health Service in providing for the child and adolescent age-group an inpatient facility specializing exclusively in the treatment of eating disorders. The therapists for the families of the children and young people with eating disorders will be either the family therapist/supervisor.
