There are two key reasons that families may seek input from the Bronte Foundation’s Family Consultation service.
1. Not everyone is ready to start treatment! Sometimes it’s the family who want the person with the eating disorder to change and when this is the case, the family may benefit enormously by gaining insight, information and advice about how to help someone move from denial to acknowledgement
2. If your family does not intend to utilise the Bronte foundation’s treatment program, but feel that it would be valuable to seek expert advice, assistance with strategy development and guidance about how to manage at home, or how to facilitate the development of a treatment team within a local community, family consultations may be an appropriate intervention

Accordingly, the purpose of a family consultation may vary; however in general, consultations aim to:
• Determine the needs of your family and offer;
­ Education and information about the illness and about possible treatment pathways
• Provide assistance in developing;
­ Insight into the illness
­ Skills to challenge and support sufferers and other family members
• Provide recommendations and support as you establish a treatment team within your own local community.

Family consultations are designed for family members and carers and are not a therapeutic offering. Where the consultant identifies the need for an individual family member to access ongoing counselling or strategic support, other than education, advice and planning, the practitioner will make alternative recommendations to the family.

Family consultations are limited in their scope and duration. They are a short-term intervention only