ARFID

ARFID Therapy for Children, Teens & Adults

ARFID can feel confusing and isolating. You might hear that it’s “just picky eating” or “a phase,” but what you’re experiencing is real, and it’s affecting daily life. I specialize in compassionate, evidence-informed ARFID therapy to help children, teens, and adults build a safer, more flexible relationship with food—at a pace that feels manageable.

What Is ARFID?

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is more than being a “picky eater.” It is a real eating disorder where a person avoids or restricts food in ways that make it hard to get enough nutrition, grow, or participate fully in life. ARFID can affect children, teens, and adults of all sizes and backgrounds.

People with ARFID might avoid food because of:

  • Sensory sensitivities to taste, texture, smell, temperature, or appearance of food
  • Fear of choking, vomiting, or having a bad reaction after eating
  • Very low interest in food or eating, or feeling full very quickly

Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not driven by concerns about weight, shape, or body image. Many people with ARFID wish they could eat more freely, but feel stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed. With the right support, it is possible to expand your eating, reduce fear, and feel more confident around food and mealtimes.

Who I Work With

My name is Kristen Mennona, and I am a therapist who focuses on helping people living with ARFID and their families. I work with:

  • Children – I involve parents or caregivers closely in treatment so that you feel confident supporting your child at home and in everyday situations.
  • Teens – I provide a supportive space to talk honestly about fears, pressures, and goals, while also including parents or caregivers in a way that feels respectful and collaborative.
  • Adults – Whether you have struggled with limited eating since childhood or discovered ARFID more recently, I help you work toward eating in ways that fit your life, values, and responsibilities.

I also offer parent coaching sessions. These are dedicated times for you as a parent or caregiver to ask questions, learn strategies, and practice new approaches to mealtimes, without your child present. Parent coaching can be especially helpful if you are feeling stuck, worried, or unsure how to support your child’s eating in a gentle, effective way.

How I Treat ARFID

There is no one-size-fits-all plan for ARFID. Together, we will create a treatment approach that fits your (or your child’s) unique needs, strengths, and preferences. My work is always gradual, compassionate, and collaborative. I will never force you to eat or push you into situations you are not ready for.

Evidence-Informed Approaches

Depending on your goals, I may draw from:

  • Exposure and Response Prevention (E/RP) – Gradual, supported practice with foods or situations that feel scary, always at a pace that feels safe to you.
  • Family-based approaches (FBT, EFFT) – Involving parents or caregivers as active partners in treatment, so you are not carrying this alone.
  • Somatic awareness – Noticing how anxiety, fear, or shutdown show up in the body, and learning ways to gently calm the nervous system.

Creative & Compassionate Support

Especially for children and teens, therapy can include:

  • Expressive arts therapies – Using art, play, or writing to explore feelings about food and mealtimes in a non-threatening way.
  • Skills for anxiety and avoidance – Building tools for coping with worry, frustration, or overwhelm before, during, and after meals.
  • Practical support at home – Collaborating on realistic steps for grocery shopping, school lunches, family meals, and social situations.

Throughout our work together, I will check in often about how things are feeling and adjust our plan so that you feel respected, heard, and supported.

Modalities I Use to Treat ARFID

I draw from a range of evidence-informed approaches, always tailoring my work to what feels right for you or your child. Here is a little about each one.

E/RP — Exposure and Response Prevention

Gradual, supported exposure to feared foods or eating situations to reduce anxiety and avoidance over time — always at a pace that feels manageable for you.

SPACE — Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions

A parent-based approach that helps caregivers respond to their child’s anxiety in ways that reduce accommodation and build confidence — without putting the child in the hot seat.

I-CBT — Inference-Based CBT

Targets overvalued beliefs and feared outcomes around food, helping you distinguish imagination-based fears from what is actually happening in the moment.

CBT — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Identifies and gently reshapes unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors related to food and eating, making room for new experiences and more flexibility.

DBT — Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Builds distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and mindfulness skills to support the real challenges that come with expanding a food repertoire.

Psychosocial Skills

Practical tools to help you navigate social eating situations, build confidence around food with others, and feel less isolated in everyday life.

What to Expect

Beginning therapy for ARFID can feel like a big step. My goal is to make the process as clear and supportive as possible.

  • Initial sessions – I start by getting to know you (and your child or teen, if applicable), your history with food and eating, and what life looks like right now. We talk about what is working, what is not, and what you hope will be different.
  • Building trust – A safe, respectful relationship is the foundation of this work. I invite questions, welcome feedback, and move at a pace that feels right for you.
  • Creating a plan together – I work with you to decide on next steps—whether that is trying new foods in tiny, manageable ways, reducing mealtime battles at home, or feeling more comfortable eating with others.
  • Ongoing support – Over time, I review what is helping, celebrate progress (even small shifts), and adjust our plan as your needs change.

Take the Next Step

If you or your child are struggling with limited eating, fear around food, or the impact of ARFID on daily life, you do not have to navigate this alone. Together, we can create gentle, realistic steps toward more freedom and less fear around food.

I offer a free phone consultation so you can ask questions, share a bit about your situation, and decide whether working together feels like a good fit.

Book a Free Phone Consultation