Keep it in the Family: Family-Based Treatment and the BIPOC Adolescent

with Dr. Kelli Rugless, PsyD

This presentation will introduce Family-Based Treatment (FBT), its tenets, approach, and the research that supports why it should be the gold standard for treating eating disorders in adolescents. It will also review several adolescent-focused treatment approaches to treating eating disorders and explore why, though less effective, these strategies are regularly implemented in eating disorder treatment settings. Lastly, this presentation will discuss the unique cultural values of the traditional BIPOC family, the barriers they often face when seeking out eating disorder treatment, and how FBT is particularly suited to address these barriers and restore the physical and mental wellbeing of the BIPOC adolescent struggling to recover from an eating disorder.

(she/her)

Dr. Kelli Rugless, PsyD

Dr. Kelli Rugless is a Licensed Psychologist and the owner of Flourish Psychology, a private psychological practice in Beverly Hills, California dedicated to meeting the unique needs of all women. Dr. Kelli’s areas of specialty include the treatment of eating disorders, perinatal mental health, and chronic medical conditions. As a Black woman, Dr. Kelli is particularly passionate about creating a safe space for Black, Indigenous, people of color who often struggle to find mental health services tailored to address their unique and important needs. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biopsychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her Master’s degree and Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Health Psychology, from Loma Linda University. Dr. Kelli is a member of several professional associations including the American Psychological Association, The Academy for Eating Disorders, and the International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals.