April, 2015
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce that my colleague, Dr. Laura Bumberry, has completed certification as a Family Based Treatment (FBT) provider. As you know, FBT is an evidence-based treatment and the treatment of choice for adolescents with anorexia nervosa; recent research suggests it is also efficacious with adolescents struggling with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. We are lucky to have one of the two certified FBT providers in the state of Missouri right here at Webster Wellness Professionals!
The certification process, thru the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders, was designed by Daniel LeGrange, PhD, and James Locke, MD, the developers of FBT. In addition to a 2-day workshop at Stanford University, Dr. Bumberry read numerous research and clinical articles on FBT, and received 25 hours of supervision over an 18 month period from a certified FBT supervisor. These supervision hours were crucial in becoming a skilled FBT provider, affording her the opportunity to learn how to apply FBT principles in a variety of challenging circumstances. These include cases with high-conflict parents, recently divorced couples, significant adolescent or parent pathology, and heightened suicide risk. Dr. Bumberry has also successfully used modified versions of FBT to treat young adults and spouses with eating disorders.
We know from the research and our own experience that early, aggressive intervention drastically improves the likelihood of a faster, fuller recovery. In many cases, FBT can prevent admission to treatment in a residential setting. Please consider including Dr. Laura Bumberry as part of your treatment team for your patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Dr. Bumberry is a passionate proponent of FBT for individuals with eating disorders, and would be pleased to discuss the merits of FBT and for which patients it would be most effective. Please give her a call at 314.737.4070, to discuss possible referrals or to schedule a patient for consultation.
Sincerely,
Randall C. Flanery, Ph.D.
Director, Webster Wellness Professionals
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
