ABSTRACT
The second session of the Parent-Based Prevention program includes a family meal that is held in the therapist’s office. When working with parents with eating disorders, the family meal session provides an opportunity to observe the family transactions, evaluate the family interactions around feeding and eating, and train the parents in their attempt to nourish their children healthfully. The major goals for session 2 are: to evaluate the family discussions and behavioral patterns around food preparation, food serving, and eating; to assess the family structure and its likely impact on the parents’ ability to successfully feed their children in age-appropriate amounts and encourage autonomy; and to identify family members’ cognitions and behaviors as manifested in interactional practices, feeding rituals, and communication that potentially influence the child’s cognitions and behaviors. These beliefs and thoughts are the targets of the intervention for parental eating disorders. These three aforementioned concentrations in session 2 set the tone for preventing eating problems and weight management in the children of fathers and mothers with eating disorders.
