The Other Side of the Table

A practical guide to supporting your loved one with an eating disorder.

Eating disorders affect more than just the person who is struggling. Parents, partners, siblings, and friends often find themselves frightened, confused, and unsure of how to help their loved ones. In The Other Side of the Table, Kim A. Guarascio, PhD, offers a trauma-informed, evidence-based guide for those who care deeply but may not know what to say, when to step in, or how to remain connected without making things worse.

Unlike many books on eating disorders, this book focuses on the emotional and relational challenges faced by supporters. Dr. Guarascio explains how eating disorders can strain trust, heighten conflict, and leave loved ones feeling powerless. Using insights from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and current eating disorder research, she provides practical tools for navigating difficult conversations, setting boundaries, responding during moments of crisis, and repairing connection after conflict.

Part skills manual and part emotional support resource The Other Side of the Table includes sample scripts, real-life examples, and practical tools for navigating difficult moments with greater confidence and compassion. Written with both clinical expertise and a deep understanding of the emotional toll of eating disorders on relationships, the book offers support for the people who often feel overwhelmed or forgotten during a loved one's recovery.