ItaEUR (TM)s no surprise that eating disorders send parents into a panic. Even for kids getting professional help, family meals all too often end in raised voices and slammed doors when making a child eat doesn't work. In this powerfully compassionate book, psychologist Tom Wooldridge guides parents to take a different path. Dr. Wooldridge explains how eating disorder symptoms are fueled by out-of-control emotions that kids and teens can't put into words, and teaches specific parenting strategies that can help. Using guided practices and reflection prompts, parents learn to slow down their own emotional reactivity and remain present and attuned, no matter how impossible it feels. Vivid stories illustrate what it looks like to replace control with connection--and how it opens the door to recovery.
Tom Wooldridge, PsyD, is a board-certified psychologist, eating disorder therapist, and psychoanalyst in private practice in Berkeley, California. He is also Chair of the Department of Psychology at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. Dr. Wooldridge has years of experience treating children, adolescents, and adults with eating disorders, including working with parents negotiating the complexities of a child in treatment. He has published several books on eating disorder treatment for mental health professionals.
Foreword, Susie Orbach Introduction I. Understanding WhataEUR (TM)s Happening 1. Why ItaEUR (TM)s Not Just about Food 2. When Parents Feel Powerless 3. The Role of the Parent in Recovery II. The Emotional Terrain of Attuned Parenting 4. The Hungry Self and the Silent Child 5. Reflection in the Rupture 6. The Unspoken Conversation 7. Grief, Guilt, and the Ghosts of Parenting III. Parenting as Practice 8. Staying Close without Taking Over 9. Repairing the Breaks 10. Attunement Over Time 11. When You Need Help Resources Index
aEURoeThis gem of a book, grounded in profound compassion for both you and your child, is an invaluable resource for families facing the challenge of eating disorders. Rather than pathologizing your child or teen, or resorting to superficial and often harmful attempts to control behaviors, Dr. Wooldridge helps you understand the hidden emotional communications being conveyed in troubled eating patterns, and restore the attuned family relationships that provide the basis for true healing.--Gabor MatA (c), MD, author of The Myth of Normal aEURoeBeautifully written, engaging, and caring, End the Food Fight is one of the best books I have read for parents of kids in trouble with food. Dr. Wooldridge gives clear guidelines that not only help you support your child's recovery, but also, of equal importance, help you deepen and strengthen your relationship with your child, even through the worst of moments. This is an urgently needed read for any parent questioning what to do next. I can't recommend this book highly enough.aEUR--Judith Brisman, PhD, coauthor of Surviving an Eating Disorder Dr. Wooldridge combines deep compassion with practical parenting advice that will help you keep your bearings when everything feels uncertain. The book shows what is key to eating disorder recovery--it's not just about food, but about staying emotionally present with your child. Dr. Wooldridge offers concrete strategies for managing day-to-day crises, building trust, and keeping communication open. An invaluable, steadying companion for any parent navigating the storm of an eating disorder.aEUR --Peter Fonagy, CBE, FMedSci, FBA, FAcSS, Head, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom aEURoeI feel so seen by this book! When my daughter was going through treatment, I often felt irrelevant to the process, like our care providers just wanted us to stay out of the way. Dr. Wooldridge recognizes that parents are a critical part of a child's recovery, and gives you tangible tools you can use.aEUR--Marie A., San Francisco -
