Family Therapy
At Ellern Mede, our team of specialist Family Therapists provides essential support to foster positive dynamics within the home and family setting. We have a proven track record of working alongside families to improve communication, rebuild trust, and strengthen relationships that may have been impacted by illness.
Family involvement is central to the recovery process. Our therapists collaborate with families to co-create tailored support programmes, sensitive to each family’s structure, culture, and lived experience. Through individual sessions or group formats, we help families develop practical strategies to support their child’s recovery and support relapse prevention.
Parents play a crucial role in their child’s journey. We ensure they are equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and emotional support needed to navigate this path. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recognises Family Therapy as the treatment of choice for young people with an eating disorder or disordered eating and we are proud to deliver this evidence-based intervention as part of our comprehensive care model for all our patients.
Family Therapy and Parent Support at Ellern Mede
At Ellern Mede, we recognise that family involvement is central to recovery from complex mental health challenges, including but not limited to eating disorders and disordered eating. Our Family Therapy programme provides a safe, structured space for families to:
- Explore difficult thoughts and emotions
- Understand each other’s needs
- Develop practical tools to support recovery, both during treatment and after discharge
Family Therapy is available in inpatient and outpatient settings, offered in group or individual formats. We work in partnership with families to create positive change, drawing on their strengths, experiences, and cultural values. Our approach is sensitive to diverse family systems and beliefs, and is grounded in evidence-based practice proven effective worldwide.
Parent Support Group
Our Family Therapy Team also runs a monthly Parent Support Group, offering:
- Psychoeducation on complex mental health challenges and recovery
- Peer support from other parents navigating similar challenges
- Practical strategies for communication and relapse prevention
This group provides a safe space for parents to share experiences, improve communication, and assess the home environment in preparation for their loved ones return. We understand that discharge planning can be a vulnerable time, and we ensure families are well supported throughout this transition.
“There is a great need in the UK for family therapy to be integrated with treatment programmes for complex patients. We know that recovery from an eating disorder requires specialist treatment, family involvement, and post-discharge support which we can offer seamlessly through an inpatient to outpatient pathway with the same clinical team around the young person and family.”
Dr Hind Al Khairulla, Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director
Comprehensive Multi-disciplinary Approach
At Ellern Mede, all patients, and their families are supported through a multidisciplinary care model designed to address every aspect of recovery. Our approach includes:
- Physical and Mental Health Assessments
- Specialist Investigations such as blood tests, scans, psychometric testing, and neurodevelopmental assessments
- Mental Health Support for both the patient and their family
- Individual Family Therapy and Group Support
- Family-Based Interventions, including coaching on meal support and home routines
- Specialist Dietetic Input and personalised meal plans
- Psychological therapies for patients including:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT)
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
- Psychoeducational Interventions
Our goal is to ensure that families feel informed, empowered, and connected throughout the treatment process—and that they have the confidence and skills to support their relative’s recovery at home
Make a referral
Ellern Mede provides specialist inpatient mental health care for children (aged 8+), adolescents and adults with complex presentations, including eating disorders, trauma-related difficulties, emotional dysregulation, neurodivergence and overlapping mental health needs.
We accept referrals from NHS commissioners and international health authorities, and welcome private enquiries via self-funding or medical insurance.
All referrals are subject to clinical review to assess suitability, level of risk and therapeutic fit.