Therapy for ARFID
What is ARFID?
ARFID stands for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. This is an eating disorder that can often be under-diagnosed, or mistakenly labeled as just “picky eating.”
ARFID stands out from the other eating disorders as it includes a lack of interest or avoidance in certain foods because of sensory or aversive consequences (or lack of interest), as opposed to a desire to change the way that one looks.
Living with ARFID is exhausting. It can also be very limiting to your life and social life due to eating only a small number of foods.
If this resonates with you-we can help!
Our team at The Eating Disorder Center in Rockville, Maryland has therapists that truly specialize in helping teens and adults to recover from ARFID and reclaim their lives. Recovery is possible!
We provide therapy for ARFID in Rockville, Maryland, serving Bethesda, Potomac, Gaithersburg, and Olney. We also provide therapy for ARFID virtually throughout Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and California.
We know that part of you may be scared to recover, while part of you desperately wants to be free from this. With specialized therapy geared towards helping you to recover from ARFID, you don't have to continue to feel so trapped.
ARFID stands out from the other eating disorders as it includes a lack of interest or avoidance in certain foods because of sensory or aversive consequences (or lack of interest), as opposed to a desire to change the way that one looks.
Living with ARFID is exhausting. It can also be very limiting to your life and social life due to eating only a small number of foods.
If this resonates with you-we can help!
Our team at The Eating Disorder Center in Rockville, Maryland has therapists that truly specialize in helping teens and adults to recover from ARFID and reclaim their lives. Recovery is possible!
We provide therapy for ARFID in Rockville, Maryland, serving Bethesda, Potomac, Gaithersburg, and Olney. We also provide therapy for ARFID virtually throughout Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and California.
We know that part of you may be scared to recover, while part of you desperately wants to be free from this. With specialized therapy geared towards helping you to recover from ARFID, you don't have to continue to feel so trapped.
Symptoms of ARFID:
- Having a small number of foods that are safe to eat
- Lack in variety of foods consumed
- Lack of nutrition and weight loss
- Forgetting to eat or skipping multiple meals in a row
- Only eating foods that consist of a certain texture or shape
- Lack of interest in food or eating
So, how can we help?
At The Eating Disorder Center we are highly skilled in providing therapy for individuals who are struggling with ARFID. We will work as part of a treatment team to help you to recover from ARFID, which may include a physician, dietitian, and/or psychiatrist.
We use evidence-based treatment methods, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. Our clinical director was also featured by CNN talking about ARFID. If there is co-occurring trauma we also offer EMDR therapy for trauma and eating disorders.
We pride ourselves on being action-oriented therapists, setting recovery goals, and doing exposures with clients, such as eating meals or snacks together. We value collaboration with other local eating disorder treatment providers. Many of our therapists are also personally recovered from eating disorders.
We are thankful to have helped many people to recover from ARFID.
We use evidence-based treatment methods, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. Our clinical director was also featured by CNN talking about ARFID. If there is co-occurring trauma we also offer EMDR therapy for trauma and eating disorders.
We pride ourselves on being action-oriented therapists, setting recovery goals, and doing exposures with clients, such as eating meals or snacks together. We value collaboration with other local eating disorder treatment providers. Many of our therapists are also personally recovered from eating disorders.
We are thankful to have helped many people to recover from ARFID.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is ARFID?
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterized by limited or avoidant eating that leads to nutritional, medical, or psychosocial concerns. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not always driven by body image or fear of weight gain. It often involves sensory sensitivities, fear of choking or vomiting, or lack of interest in food.
What are the symptoms of ARFID?
Symptoms may include very limited food variety, strong aversions to certain textures, smells, or colors, fear of choking or getting sick from food, poor appetite, weight loss or difficulty gaining weight, nutritional deficiencies, and significant stress around meals or social eating.
How do I know if I or my child has ARFID?
If eating patterns are causing health concerns, growth delays, nutritional deficiencies, or interfering with daily life, it may be ARFID. Unlike typical picky eating, ARFID does not improve on its own and often worsens over time. A professional evaluation can help determine whether ARFID is present.
What causes ARFID?
ARFID can develop from a combination of factors, including sensory processing differences, anxiety, past choking or vomiting experiences, gastrointestinal issues, or neurodevelopmental conditions. There is no single cause, and ARFID is not the result of poor parenting or behavior problems.
Is ARFID the same as picky eating?
No. Picky eating is common in childhood and usually temporary. ARFID is more severe and persistent, leading to medical, nutritional, or emotional consequences. When food avoidance limits health, growth, or participation in everyday life, professional support is recommended.
How is ARFID diagnosed?
ARFID is diagnosed through a comprehensive assessment by qualified healthcare professionals. This includes reviewing eating patterns, medical history, nutritional status, and the impact of food avoidance on daily functioning. Accurate diagnosis allows for an effective, individualized treatment plan.
How is ARFID treated?
Treatment for ARFID often includes therapy to address anxiety or sensory challenges, nutrition support to expand food variety safely, and medical monitoring when needed. At The Eating Disorder Center, treatment is tailored to each individual’s needs and focuses on gradual, sustainable progress.
Can adults have ARFID?
Yes. While ARFID is often identified in children, many adolescents and adults also experience ARFID symptoms. Some adults have had ARFID since childhood, while others develop it later due to medical or anxiety-related experiences. ARFID is treatable at any age.
What foods can someone with ARFID eat?
There is no single ARFID “food list.” Individuals with ARFID often have a small range of “safe foods” that feel manageable. Treatment focuses on respecting these preferences while gently and gradually expanding food variety at a comfortable pace.
Can ARFID go away? / What does recovery look like?
With appropriate treatment, many individuals experience significant improvement. Recovery from ARFID involves increased nutritional intake, reduced fear or distress around food, and greater flexibility in eating. Progress is gradual, but meaningful and lasting change is possible with support.
Therapy for ARFID, in Rockville, Maryland, Serving Potomac, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Montgomery County. Specializing in the treatment of ARFID, in Annapolis, Chevy Chase, Germantown and Olney.
Therapy for ARFID, in Arlington, Virginia. Serving McLean, Vienna, Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Leesburg, Purcellville, and Herndon. Specializing in the treatment of ARFID.