One of the primary aspects of the Maudsley Approach is the parents take responsibility for re-feeding their child.
In more traditional forms of treatment, the child works with a nutritionist who writes a meal plan for the parents to do their best to follow.
This is written with the child's and parent's input.
Parents have been given mixed messages over the years about how much they should be involved in trying to get their daughter to eat.
Traditionally, they were encouraged not to be the food police and monitor her every bite.
More recently, their role is placed on a continuum of care it seems depending on the therapist and the approach.
They can be told anything from using a more "hands off" approach to literally making all food decisions.
Parents are totally put in charge of all decisions regarding food with the Maudsley method.
They prepare all the food, decide on portions and serve the food.
They take complete control of decisions until their daughter is weight restored and able to make healthy choices.
The re-feeding process can be very difficult for the whole family.
It is not easy to sit at the table until your daughter takes one more bite than she wants to take.
Some parents read out loud from a favorite family book, have the television or radio on or bring joke books to the meal.
It makes it easier to wait more patiently until she finally complies with the expectation of one more bite or finishing a meal.
The vital aspect of Maudsley is the parents encourage and coach until they are satisfied she has done what they want her to do.
The message to the eating disorder is, "You are no longer in control here.
We are.
"