ARFID Treatment and Therapy

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Food Doesn’t Have to Feel So Hard

If eating feels stressful, scary, or even impossible—you're not alone. Maybe certain textures make you gag, or certain smells instantly trigger panic. Maybe you've eaten the same handful of safe foods for years and feel embarrassed, overwhelmed, or misunderstood. This isn’t about being picky. And it isn’t your fault.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a real and valid eating disorder. Therapy can help you (or your child) build trust with food, your body, and the process of healing.

Understanding ARFID

ARFID is often misunderstood. It’s not about weight loss or body image—it’s about the deep discomfort, anxiety, or distress that can come with eating or even thinking about food.

Some people with ARFID avoid food because of sensory sensitivities (texture, taste, smell). Others may have had a traumatic experience like choking or vomiting and now feel intense fear around eating. Some feel no hunger at all, or eating just doesn’t feel “worth it.”

ARFID isn’t a phase. It’s not something you can “just grow out of.” It’s a complex experience rooted in your nervous system, emotions, and past experiences. And healing starts with compassion, not pressure.

How Therapy Helps with ARFID

You won’t be forced to eat foods that make you panic. You won’t be shamed, blamed, or rushed.

Instead, we’ll build a sense of safety—one step at a time. Our work will be collaborative, curious, and rooted in trust. You’ll learn to understand your responses to food, develop coping skills, and reconnect with your body at a pace that feels right.

I use trauma-informed approaches like CBT, DBT, parts work, and brainspotting to gently explore the deeper fears and experiences that shape your relationship with food. Whether you’re just starting to explore what’s going on or you’ve been living with ARFID for years, therapy can support meaningful, lasting change.

How ARFID Can Show Up

    • Limited variety or volume of food consumed

    • Low energy or frequent fatigue

    • Nutritional deficiencies

    • Gastrointestinal issues (constipation, nausea, reflux)

    • Slower growth or weight changes (especially in children)

    • Anxiety or dread around mealtimes

    • Shame or embarrassment about food preferences

    • Fear of choking, vomiting, or illness

    • Frustration with oneself or others

    • Feeling “broken” or “different”

    • Obsessive thoughts about food safety or texture

    • Difficulty identifying hunger or fullness cue

    • Rigid rules or routines around eating

    • Feeling overwhelmed by variety or change

    • Black-and-white thinking about what’s “safe” or “unsafe” to eat

    • Avoiding eating in public or around others

    • Limited food repertoire (only eating certain brands or preparations)

    • Conflict with family members over meals

    • Difficulty participating in school, work, or social events that involve food

    • Reliance on supplements or liquid nutrition

ARFID can impact every area of life—not just mealtimes.

Here are some common signs and symptoms across different areas:

Working with Children and Teens

Many of the individuals I work with are children and teens navigating ARFID. In younger clients, ARFID may look like extreme pickiness, meltdowns at meals, or food refusal—but underneath is often anxiety, sensitivity, or trauma that needs compassionate care.

I work closely with caregivers to build a supportive, non-coercive environment at home. No forcing. No bribing. Just safe, respectful collaboration.

Using gentle, play-informed techniques and developmentally appropriate approaches, we focus on building trust, reducing fear, and helping your child grow at their own pace—both nutritionally and emotionally.

What to Expect in ARFID Therapy

In our first few sessions, we’ll focus on understanding your (or your child’s) unique experience. What foods feel safe? What doesn’t? What memories or emotions come up around eating?

From there, we’ll work together to build a path forward that honors both comfort and growth. Progress might look like trying a new preparation of a safe food, sitting near a feared food, or reducing anxiety around mealtimes. Every small win counts.

This is not about “fixing” you. It’s about helping you feel safe, empowered, and supported as you learn to live more freely.

You Deserve Care, Not Criticism

Let’s Take the First Step Together

Living with ARFID can feel lonely, frustrating, and exhausting—especially when the people around you don’t understand. But you don’t have to keep pushing through on your own.

Healing is possible. And it begins with understanding, not judgment.

Whether you’re looking for support for yourself or your child, therapy for ARFID is available—and it can make a real difference. Let’s talk.