ARFID Treatment
EBT Collaborative provides specialized CBT-AR and FBT-ARFID treatment for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder for children, teens, and adults.
What Is ARFID?
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterized by significantly limited food intake that is not driven by body image concerns. Unlike anorexia, ARFID is not about wanting to change one's body. It is driven by one or more of the following:
Sensory characteristics of food such as texture, smell, taste, or appearance
Fear of aversive consequences of eating, including vomiting, choking, or allergic reactions
Low interest in food or eating, including low appetite and lack of enjoyment in meals
ARFID can affect people of any age, including very young children. When left untreated, it can lead to nutritional deficiencies, growth problems, significant social impairment, and medical complications.
CBT-AR: The Evidence-Based Treatment for ARFID
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR) is the most evidence-supported treatment specifically developed for this condition. It is a structured 20 to 30 session treatment designed to expand food variety, correct nutritional deficits, and normalize eating through systematic in-session and out-of-session food exposures.
CBT-AR is appropriate for clients of all ages. It has been used with children as young as one year old.
How CBT-AR Is Delivered
Family-Supported CBT-AR
Family-supported delivery is generally recommended for:
Children under 15 years old
Young adults living at home who need to gain weight
Clients with co-occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder or others requiring additional support
Parents and caregivers take an active role in supporting exposures at home and in managing mealtimes during treatment.
Individual CBT-AR
Individual delivery is typically recommended for clients over 15 who are not significantly underweight. Sessions follow a highly structured format with assigned homework between sessions and review of completed assignments the following week.
The Four Stages of CBT-AR
CBT-AR progresses through four structured stages that build on each other:
Education and motivation: Building understanding of ARFID and commitment to change
Addressing sensory sensitivity: Systematic exposure to new foods through sensory exploration
Addressing fear of aversive consequences: Graduated exposure to feared foods and situations
Addressing low interest in eating: Building hunger cues, increasing meal variety, and expanding intake
ARFID and Co-Occurring Conditions
ARFID frequently co-occurs with anxiety disorders, OCD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Our clinicians are trained to treat ARFID alongside co-occurring presentations. For clients with significant OCD alongside ARFID, treatment is coordinated with our ERP program.