By Maria Ganci
My name is Maria Ganci and I am a registered Clinical Social Worker and Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytical Psychotherapist with over 30 years’ experience of working with families. Twelve years ago I developed an interest in working with adolescents suffering from Anorexia Nervosa and decided to specialise in the area. I was fortunate to join a team of clinical experts and together we set up the Specialist Eating Disorder Clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, whose mission was to deliver the best evidence based treatment namely “Family Based Treatment” (FBT) under the guidance of one of its co-founders, Daniel LeGrange.
Throughout those years I witnessed the pain and suffering of hundreds of young adolescents as they struggled with their eating disorder, but more so, I was struck by the tenacity displayed by their parents as they painfully struggled to help their child recover. Regardless of what the anorexia threw at them, their parents’ determination never failed and they fought the illness with minimal knowledge and little support. It became my passion to support those parents in any way possible hence my decision to write “Survive FBT”.
Whilst FBT currently delivers the best outcomes, the treatment is intense and many parents commence unprepared despite their willingness and courage to take on the task of re-feeding their ill child to health. Parents need knowledge to beat Anorexia and “Survive FBT” provides the tool kit they need.
As families embark on their recovery journey at BodyMatters with experienced and dedicated clinicians that provide support every step of the way, please keep in mind that parents are the single most important element that ensures a child’s recovery. Only parents have the courage to complete this demanding journey because it is their love for, and bond with, their child that will give them the stamina to succeed.
BodyMatters believes “Survive FBT” is an invaluable resource and, as such, we will be selling this book in our office for $20 each. Contact us if you would like to purchase a copy.