First-Line Treatment Modalities

First-line therapies include well-established treatments that have the highest level of evidence to support them.

The Ontario Health Quality Standard for Eating Disorders (OH QS-ED) identifies therapies with the highest level of evidence as follows:

  • Family-based treatment (FBT) for children and young people under age 18 with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED) for adults with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa and adults with binge-eating disorder
  • Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for adults with binge-eating disorder

View the OH QS-ED here.

Family-Based Treatment Training

Family-Based Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa (FBT-AN) Training

What is it?
  • FBT is an evidence-based manualized treatment approach developed for treating children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa.
  • Training in FBT is offered by EDO as an introductory two-day workshop delivered via the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders. For more information about the Training Institute please visit their website.
  • This “Intro to FBT” training conveys the basic principles of FBT, and involves teaching about the structure, stance, and delivery of the treatment model. To view a full description of the workshop entitled “Introductory Workshop: Family Based Treatment for Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa,” please visit the Institute’s description found here.
  • EDO offers FBT training three times per year (February, June and October), free of cost to eligible clinicians.
What it isn’t?
  • Adherence to the treatment model is important. For this reason, clinical supervision in your own setting is recommended.
  • This training workshop does not include supervision, which is required should you wish to be certified. FBT certification is recommended.
  • Regulated mental health professionals can go on to pursue certification, which includes 25 hours of advanced individual training and de-identified case reviews with a Training Institute faculty member.
  • EDO does not offer a certification process. For this, please see the requirements set out by the Training Institute.
Who is eligible? The workshop is geared towards clinicians, including registered: psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, medical physicians, nurses, occupational therapists and mental health counsellors working with children and adolescents.

Criteria for Participation:

  • Participants must work in an Ontario Health-funded specialized eating disorders program offering FBT to children and adolescents with eating disorders.
  • Participants must hold foundational to intermediate knowledge of eating disorders.
  • The delivery of FBT is within the scope of practice of the participant and the participant has met the requirements of their regulatory college to deliver psychotherapy (psychological therapies).
  • The participant’s role is to deliver FBT to program clients/patients.
  • The participant has program approval and support to attend and complete all training requirements.

All participants undertaking training are responsible for:

  • Adhering to appropriate regulatory requirements for those who deliver psychological therapy
  • Ensuring that they are knowledgeable about managing the risks associated with working with patients with eating disorders and that they have appropriate supervision and management in place
What does it involve?
  • This introductory workshop takes place over two days. Successful completion requires full 2-day attendance.
  • The workshop will utilize an interactive format, including clinical discussion, role plays and lecture, and will prepare you to understand the background, theory, and application of FBT.
What are the next steps?
  • To express your interest in joining future “Intro to FBT” training workshops, obtain the registration form, or if you have questions, please contact EDO.
  • Complete and return the “FBT Training Request Form”, signed by both participant and manager.
  • Ahead of the training, EDO strongly encourages participants to:
What are other supports or learning opportunities?
  • EDO hosts regular monthly FBT implementation support sessions (peer-to-peer mentoring) for therapists who have completed the “Intro to FBT” training and are using FBT. To be included in this mentoring group, please contact EDO.
  • For those therapists who wish to have more advanced FBT training in how to apply FBT to the treatment of transition age youth (TAY) or for children and adolescents with ARFID, and have attended the “Intro to FBT”, please contact EDO for more information. EDO occasionally offers FBT-TAY and FBT-AR workshops.
  • This specialized training can also be accessed through the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders. Information about all their training workshops (dates, fees, etc.) can be found here.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders Training

Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-E) Training

What is it?
  • CBT-E is a manualized, transdiagnostic but individualized treatment approach for all types of eating disorders, and recommended as a first-line treatment for most adult clients.
  • The “focused” version of CBT-E is 20 sessions, aimed at treating adults in outpatient settings who do not need weight restoration.
  • The “broad” version is longer therapy (typically 40 sessions) for those who need weight restoration.
  • Adapted versions of CBT-E are available for those in intensive settings and for younger clients.
  • For a full description of CBT-E, please visit here.
  • EDO offers accelerated access to the web-based online course developed by the Centre for Research on Eating Disorders at Oxford (CREDO), which includes the training in focused, broader, and adapted versions of CBT-E.

EDO offers entry into the CBT-E training on a rolling basis, free of cost to eligible clinicians.
What it isn’t?
  • Adherence to the treatment model is important. For this reason, clinical supervision in your own setting is recommended.
  • This training does not include supervision. Expert clinical supervision may be available through CREDO via videoconferencing.
  • You will find more information on CREDO’s clinical supervision and therapist competence here.
  • EDO does not offer a certification or accreditation process for CBT-E, although a certificate of completion for the primary module (focused treatment) is available.
Who is eligible? The workshop is geared towards clinicians, including registered: psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, medical physicians, nurses, occupational therapists and mental health counsellors working with transition-aged-youth and/or adults.

Criteria for Participation:

  • Participant must currently be working in an Ontario Health-funded specialized eating disorders program.
  • Participant must hold foundational to intermediate knowledge of eating disorders.
    The delivery of CBT-E is within the scope of practice of the participant and the participant has met the requirements of their regulatory college to deliver psychotherapy (psychological therapies).
  • Participant’s role is to deliver CBT-E to program clients/patients.
  • Participant currently works with patients/clients who have eating disorders or will soon start working with this patient/client group.
  • Participants have received (formal or informal) training in the delivery of short-term psychological treatments.

All participants undertaking training are responsible for:

  • Adhering to appropriate regulatory requirements for those who deliver psychological therapy
  • Ensuring that they are knowledgeable about managing the risks associated with working with patients with eating disorders and that they have appropriate supervision and management in place
What does it involve?
  • The CREDO web-based course is designed to be completed over a period of two to six months.
  • Participants must be able to devote the time needed to complete the self-paced course (11 to 15 hours online over 2-6 months) plus the time needed to treat one or more training cases.
What are the next steps?
  • To express your interest in joining the CREDO web-based training in CBT-E, obtain the registration form, or if you have questions, please contact EDO.
  • Complete and return the “CBT-E Training Request Form”, signed by both participant and manager.
  • Ahead of the training, EDO strongly encourages participants to:
What are some helpful resources?
  • Other recommended practical guidebooks/manuals can be found here.
  • For a more exhaustive list of research publications on CBT-E, please visit here.
What are other supports or learning opportunities?
  • EDO hosts regular monthly CBT-E implementation support sessions (peer-to-peer mentoring) led by expert clinicians. These sessions are intended for therapists who have completed or are registered and working through the CREDO CBT-E web-based course and are using CBT-E. To be included in this mentoring group, please contact EDO.
  • For therapists interested in more advanced CBT-E or other CBT-ED training, such as CBT for BED or CBT for ARFID, please contact EDO for more information.
  • More advanced CBT-E training may be offered by CREDO.
  • This specialized training can also be accessed through The Centre for Research on Eating Disorders at Oxford (CREDO). Information about their training (dates, fees, etc.) can be found here.

Expert Clinician Guided Mentoring/Practice Uptake Support Groups

Family-Based Treatment (FBT) Mentoring Series

What is it?
  • Family-Based Treatment (FBT) Mentoring supports clinicians in the adherent uptake of the FBT treatment modality, a first-line treatment for children and adolescents with eating disorders.

FBT Mentoring takes place monthly and virtually using the Microsoft Teams platform.
What it isn’t? FBT Mentoring

  • Must not be considered as supervision
  • Is not intended for clinicians who are not directly delivering FBT but are in a supportive role
Who is eligible? FBT Mentoring is geared towards clinicians, including registered psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, medical physicians, nurses, occupational therapists and mental health counsellors delivering FBT.

Criteria for Participation:

  • Participants must work in an Ontario Health-funded specialized eating disorders program.
  • Participants must hold a certificate of completion in FBT training (or progressing toward completion of FBT training), as well as foundational to intermediate knowledge of eating disorders.
  • The participant’s role is to deliver FBT treatments to program clients/patients.
  • The participant has program approval and support to attend.

All participants are responsible for:

  • Adhering to appropriate regulatory requirements for those who deliver psychological therapy
  • Ensuring that they are knowledgeable about managing the risks associated with working with patients with eating disorders and that they have appropriate supervision and management in place
What does it involve?
  • Led by an expert in FBT, FBT Mentoring utilizes an interactive format.
  • Case discussions involving the delivery of FBT, as well as review of best practices and guidelines, leads to discussions that promote adherence to this psychotherapeutic model.
  • Peer-to-peer interactions provide support and validation in challenging circumstances and treatment successes.
What are the next steps?
  • To express your interest in joining FBT Mentoring or if you have questions, please contact EDO.
What are other supports or learning opportunities?
  • EDO encourages those interested in becoming members of FBT Mentoring to view the On-Demand video, Multidisciplinary Perspectives on the Implementation of Family-Based Treatment, available on the EDO website. For more information, click here.

Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT-E) Mentoring Series

What is it?
  • Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-E) Mentoring supports clinicians in the adherent uptake of the CBT-E treatment modality, a first-line treatment for adults and older adolescents with eating disorders.

CBT-E Mentoring takes place monthly and virtually using the Microsoft Teams platform.
What it isn’t? CBT-E Mentoring

  • Must not be considered as supervision
  • Is not intended for clinicians who support those delivering FBT
Who is eligible? CBT-E Mentoring is geared towards clinicians, including registered psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, medical physicians, nurses, occupational therapists and mental health counsellors delivering CBT-E.

Criteria for Participation:

  • Participants must work in an Ontario Health-funded specialized eating disorders program.
  • Participants must hold a certificate of completion in CBT-E training (or progressing toward completion of CBT-E training), as well as foundational to intermediate knowledge of eating disorders.
  • The participant’s role is to deliver CBT-E treatment to program clients/patients.
  • The participant has program approval and support to attend.

All participants are responsible for:

  • Adhering to appropriate regulatory requirements for those who deliver psychological therapy
  • Ensuring that they are knowledgeable about managing the risks associated with working with patients with eating disorders and that they have appropriate supervision and management in place
What does it involve?
  • Led by an expert in CBT-E, CBT-E Mentoring utilizes an interactive format.
  • Case discussions involving the delivery of CBT-E, as well as review of best practices and guidelines, leads to discussions that promote adherence to this psychotherapeutic model.
  • Peer-to-peer interactions provide support and validation in challenging circumstances and treatment successes.
What are the next steps?
  • To express your interest in joining CBT-E Mentoring or if you have questions, please contact EDO.
What are other supports or learning opportunities?
  • EDO encourages those interested in becoming members of CBT-E Mentoring to view the On-Demand video, Overview of the CBT-E Model, available on the EDO website. For more information, click here.
  • Also available On-Demand, Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents. For more information, click here.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Binge Eating Disorders (CBT-BED) Mentoring Series

What is it?
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder (CBT-BED) Mentoring supports clinicians in the adherent uptake of the CBT-BED treatment modality.

CBT-BED Mentoring takes place monthly and virtually using the Microsoft Teams platform.
What it isn’t?
  • CBT-BED Mentoring must not be considered as supervision.
Who is eligible? CBT-BED Mentoring is geared towards clinicians, including registered psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, medical physicians, nurses, occupational therapists and mental health counsellors, provided the service or program routinely supports or provides treatment to clients with Binge Eating Disorders.

Criteria for Participation:

  • Participants must work in an Ontario Health-funded Health Care program.
  • Participants must hold foundational to intermediate knowledge of eating disorders.
  • The participant has program approval and support to attend.

All participants are responsible for:

  • Adhering to appropriate regulatory requirements for those who deliver psychological therapy
  • Ensuring that they are knowledgeable about managing the risks associated with working with patients with eating disorders and that they have appropriate supervision and management in place
What does it involve?
  • Led by an expert in CBT-BED, CBT-BED Mentoring utilizes an interactive clinician-group format.
  • Case discussions involving the delivery of CBT-BED, as well as review of best practices and guidelines, leads to discussions that promote adherence to this psychotherapeutic model.
  • Peer-to-peer interactions provide support and validation in challenging circumstances and treatment successes.
What are the next steps?
  • To express your interest in joining CBT-BED Mentoring or if you have questions, please contact EDO.
What are other supports or learning opportunities?
  • EDO encourages those interested in becoming members of CBT-BED Mentoring to view the seven-part video series titled Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder, available on the EDO website, On-Demand video library. For more information, click here.

Understanding Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Mentoring Series

This time-limited series finished in November, 2024. Recordings of these sessions can be found through EDO’s on-demand events Understanding Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Series – Eating Disorders Ontario.

This group meets monthly to learn about and understand ARFID, and is an adjunct to CBT for ARFID and FBT for ARFID. The primary focus of this group is a discussion of cases and questions regarding how to assess and support a person with ARFID as well as the implications for treatment. Mental health treatment modalities (i.e., psychotherapy) are not routinely discussed in this series. Staff in specialized eating disorders programs and in partnership agencies (those working with a specialized ED program in Ontario) and providing ARFID services are eligible to attend. Other eligibility criteria may apply. No clinician prerequisites are required. If you work in a specialized eating disorders program and are interested in attending this group, please contact EDO. If you do not work in a specialized treatment program but are interested in attending, please connect first with the eating disorders program you are in partnership with before contacting EDO.

Advanced Psychotherapy Mentoring Series

What is it?
  • Advanced Psychotherapy Mentoring supports clinicians delivering psychotherapeutic treatment to individuals with complex eating disorders.
  • No single treatment modality is discussed, though emphasis is on first-line treatments.

Advanced Psychotherapy Mentoring takes place monthly and virtually using the Microsoft Teams platform.
What it isn’t?
  • Advanced Psychotherapy Mentoring is not prescriptive and must not be considered as supervision.
Who is eligible? The workshop is geared towards clinicians, including registered: psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, medical physicians, nurses, occupational therapists and mental health counsellors delivering psychotherapy.

Criteria for Participation:

  • Participants must work in an Ontario Health-funded specialized eating disorders program.
  • Participants must hold foundational to intermediate knowledge of eating disorders.
  • The participant’s role is to deliver psychotherapeutic treatments to program clients/patients.
  • The participant has program approval and support to attend.

All participants are responsible for:

  • Adhering to appropriate regulatory requirements for those who deliver psychological therapy.
  • Ensuring that they are knowledgeable about managing the risks associated with working with patients with eating disorders and that they have appropriate supervision and management in place.
What does it involve?
  • Led by an expert in complex clinical eating disorders presentations, Advanced Psychotherapy Mentoring utilizes an interactive format.
  • Case discussions regarding complex issues, review of best practices and guidelines, as well as emerging evidence leads to discussions that promote critical thinking.
  • Peer-to-peer interactions provide support and validation in challenging circumstances.
What are the next steps?
  • To express your interest in joining Advanced Psychotherapy Mentoring or if you have questions, please contact EDO.
What are other supports or learning opportunities?
  • EDO hosts regular monthly Family-Base Treatment (FBT) and Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-E) mentoring support sessions (peer-to-peer mentoring) for therapists who have completed the ‘Intro to FBT’ and/or the ‘Intro to CBT-E’ training and are delivering FBT/CBT-E. To be included in this mentoring group, please contact EDO.