ARFID Therapy (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

ARFID: When Eating Feels Stressful, Limited, or Overwhelming

If you or your child struggles with eating a limited range of foods, avoids certain textures or smells, or feels anxious around meals, it may be more than “picky eating.”

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a feeding and eating disorder that goes beyond typical preferences. It can impact nutrition, growth, social experiences, and daily functioning.

At Dear Therapy, we help children, teens, and adults expand their eating patterns and reduce anxiety around food using structured, evidence-based approaches.

We offer therapy in Atlanta and virtually, making support accessible wherever you are.

What Is ARFID?

ARFID is characterized by restricted or avoidant eating that is not driven by body image concerns (unlike other eating disorders).

It may involve:

  • Eating a very limited number of foods

  • Avoiding foods based on texture, smell, or appearance

  • Fear of choking, vomiting, or getting sick

  • Lack of interest in eating

  • Strong reactions to new or unfamiliar foods

ARFID can lead to:

  • Nutritional deficiencies

  • Weight loss or difficulty gaining weight

  • Stress around meals

  • Social avoidance involving food

What ARFID Can Look Like

ARFID presents differently for each person. Common patterns include:

Sensory Sensitivity

  • Strong aversion to textures, temperatures, or smells

  • Preference for very specific foods

Fear-Based Avoidance

  • Fear of choking, vomiting, or allergic reactions

  • Avoidance after a negative food experience

Low Appetite or Interest

  • Limited desire to eat

  • Feeling full quickly

Many individuals experience a combination of these.

ARFID and Anxiety

ARFID is often closely connected to anxiety.

This can include:

  • Fear-based thinking around food

  • Avoidance behaviors

  • Distress in eating situations

  • Rigid patterns or routines

In some cases, ARFID overlaps with:

  • OCD

  • Sensory sensitivities

  • Autism spectrum traits

The Cycle of Avoidance

ARFID often follows a cycle:

  1. Food feels unsafe or uncomfortable

  2. Anxiety increases

  3. Avoidance or restriction

  4. Temporary relief

  5. Increased sensitivity and fear

Avoidance reinforces the fear over time

How Therapy Helps with ARFID

At Dear Therapy, we use gradual exposure and behavioral approaches to help expand eating patterns.

Therapy helps individuals:

  • Increase tolerance for new foods

  • Reduce fear and anxiety around eating

  • Build flexibility with textures and variety

  • Decrease avoidance behaviors

  • Develop confidence around food

The goal is not to force eating—
It’s to make eating feel safer and more manageable

What ARFID Therapy Looks Like

Our approach is structured, gradual, and individualized.

You can expect:

  • A clear understanding of eating patterns and challenges

  • Gradual exposure to new or feared foods

  • Support in building a “food ladder”

  • Reinforcement of effort and progress

  • Collaboration with parents when working with children

We move at a pace that builds success and reduces overwhelm.

Parent and Family Support

For children with ARFID, parent involvement is essential.

We help guide:

  • How to respond to food refusal

  • How to reduce pressure during meals

  • How to support exposure at home

  • How to create a more positive eating environment

You’ll have tools to support progress outside of sessions.

Who This Is For

We work with:

  • Children with extreme picky eating

  • Teens struggling with food avoidance

  • Adults with long-standing restrictive eating patterns

  • Families navigating stressful mealtimes

  • Individuals experiencing anxiety related to food

If eating feels limited, stressful, or overwhelming, treatment can help.

Start ARFID Therapy

You don’t have to stay stuck in patterns of avoidance or fear around food.

With the right support, it’s possible to:
Expand food options, reduce anxiety, and build a healthier relationship with eating