Treatment for ARFID

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy-AR (CBT-AR) is the current leading treatment for children (10+) and adults with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

CBT-AR consists of four stages conducted over 20-30 sessions. CBT-AR is similar to CBT-E in that there is a strong focus on identifying and addressing the cognitions, behaviours and emotions that have maintained individual difficulties with eating over time. Additionally, there is a strong focus on underlying biological traits and developmental factors which may have led to a pattern of food avoidance since childhood. In addition to achieving (or maintaining) a healthy body weight, one of the main goals of CBT-AR is to be able to eat at least some foods from each of the five basic food groups.

Sessions with your therapist will involve learning about new foods and doing small tasting experiments, and then practising this at home (either independently or with support from family/others). As you become more comfortable and confident trying new foods, your therapist will then assist you to think about how you could incorporate some of these into your regular meals and snacks.