Mailing Address:
41 University Drive, Suite 400, Newtown, PA 18940
Serving the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Florida, Maryland and West Virginia areas and offering virtual appointments
.png)
Moving Beyond "Picky Eating"
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) goes far beyond common fussy eating. It is a complex, distinct feeding disorder characterized by a severely limited selection of accepted foods. Unlike Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa, individuals with ARFID do not experience body image distortions or a fear of weight gain. Instead, the intense restriction is driven by sensory characteristics, such as taste, appearance, or texture aversions, a general lack of interest in eating, or fear of negative physical consequences like choking, vomiting, or allergic reactions.
Recognizing the True Symptoms and Subtypes
Though recently added to the DSM-5, ARFID heavily impacts child and adult populations alike, frequently co-occurring with generalized anxiety disorders and autism spectrum disorder. Key warning signs include a dramatically narrow range of safe foods, extreme distress when presented with new textures or smells, and a persistent failure to meet appropriate basic nutritional needs. Left untreated, ARFID can result in dependency on nutritional supplements, stall physical growth in children, cause severe gastrointestinal complaints, and profoundly disrupt social relationships. These struggles are involuntary, clinical obstacles that warrant specialized therapeutic intervention.
Our Proven, Multi-Disciplinary Care Model
Rebuilding food confidence requires a highly specialized, structured clinical protocol. Our virtual practice implements Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR) alongside Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to systematically decrease anxiety, challenge distortions surrounding food safety, and gradually build comfort with a wider variety of foods. For children and adolescents, we fold in supportive Family-Based Treatment (FBT) principles to empower caregivers. By collaborating directly with external occupational therapists and weight-inclusive registered dietitians, we confidently manage sensory processing and total nutritional rehabilitation.
Reclaim Your Path to Food Freedom
Living with ARFID can feel deeply isolating, but targeted, specialized care can dramatically improve your everyday quality of life. At Therapy For Success, we offer a dedicated, warm environment to help you or your child reduce mealtime panic. No matter where you are in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, or West Virginia, our remote telehealth model brings expert, outpatient clinical care straight into your comfort zone.