Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

We treat ARFID using cognitive bhavioural therapy (CBT) for ARFID developed by the University of Cambridge. 

CBT-ARFID involves two phases: 

1. Resoration of the body to an ideal weight if required (nutritional rehabilitation) 

2. Improve the variety of foods you are able to tolerate through graded, repetitive, but small food exposures 

The Sensory overwhelm experienced by some people living with ARFID can be a strong driver of food avoidance. In this case, treatment can be ongoing for several years with regular consults allowing for goal setting, meal planning and in-clinic food exposures. You can learn to interact with food like a curious scientist, becoming more familiar with its sensory properties, whilst training your brain to tolerate the big sensory experiences that it may cause. Over time, you can find yourself relying much less on avoidance to cope when eating new foods, and this can drastically improve your nutritional intake or make social eating experiences feel less threatening.   

The fear of aversive consequences of eating may be of a greater priority to treat amongst someone living with ARFID. In this instance, strong fears arise as a result of a belief that certain foods will trigger choking, gagging, vomiting, gastrointestinal upset, an allergy or food sensitivity reaction. Usually the feared outcome of eating these foods, greatly over emphasises the risk and cautious exposure can help to address the avoidance and fear. Through repetition over time, approaching these same foods delivers signifcant anxiety relief and assists individuals to improve their nutritional intake and confidence to eat socially.   

Treatment begins with an initial assessment with a dieititan. Contact us for further information or to book in your initial assessment.