Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) with Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD): Diagnosis and Intervention

I received my PhD in School Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Iowa in 1998. I have been working with families of children with feeding disorders for over 30 years, across multiple settings (hospital, home, and school) and with multiple providers (occupational therapists (OT), speech therapists (ST), psychologists, behavior analysts, special education teachers, and physicians).

I’ve watched children take their first taste of solid food, overcome fears of choking, and sit at the table with their family for the first time. I’ve sat with parents in the stress of the moment and shared tears of joy at the small successes. Over the years, I have listened to what parents want, discerned what they need, and helped children succeed based on their strengths. My goal for children is that they learn to taste and try new foods, find their preferences, and participate in family meals and social gatherings around food. I also strive to provide comprehensive care and training to all therapists who interact with children and families with feeding disorders. This course aims to provide therapists with information around parent education, addressing psychosocial concerns that arise in feeding, and adding in behavioral and cognitive-behavioral strategies to improve therapeutic outcomes across settings.