In this episode I invite Dr Susan Perkins, licensed marriage, and family therapist, for the second time onto the show. In our first meeting together, we discussed the role of family based therapy and how it fits into the process of eating disorder recovery, for both adolescents and adults.

We explored the many misunderstandings, frustrations, and challenges that both the suffering eating disordered individual and their families undergo. After we met, we had a lovely discussion about doing an experimental episode where we flip the script a bit in that Dr Susan interviews me (Kirsten, your host) about the role my family played in my eating disorder recovery journey.

Through a series of questions, we explore my perspectives on my individual family roles in early recovery, what challenges we faced as a family, what I might have done differently, or what I might have needed from my family at the time of early recovery, my treatment process and a bit about the relational influences on my eating disorder throughout the years. Here we explore early childhood friendships, bullying, toxic vs. non-toxic relationships, work relationships, and what my healed relationships look like today.

We highlight the importance of supportive relationships in the recovery journey, and how healing the system of the family can often be the most beneficial element of a person’s recovery, wherever this may be possible.

We understand that not every person in recovery will be able to heal familial or romantic relationships, but that does not mean that recovery is out of reach for these people.

We also hope to offer some kind of insight to family members and individuals currently navigating eating disorder recovery, so that they might become aware of ways that they can support themselves or their loved ones.

You can find part one of this conversation here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/q3B1LoyRrBb

You can find Dr Susan at www.cardinalpointstherapy.com – she is licensed in the states of North Carolina, Michigan, and Idaho, meaning I can provide in-person or teletherapy to NC residents and teletherapy to Michigan and Idaho residents.