In-Person ARFID therapy in New City, NY 

Christine Knorr Psychotherapy Associates provides specialized ARFID therapy for children, teens, and adults at our office in New City, NY. Our office is accessible to all of Rockland County, Bergen County, Northern NJ, Westchester and Orange County, NY. 

 

 

Virtual ARFID therapy in New York

Virtual therapy is available to all of New York State. 

 

 

What is ARFID? 

 

ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is an eating disorder that sometimes looks like “extreme picky eating.” People with ARFID often have a limited number of foods they are willing to eat. 

 

If left untreated, ARFID can cause problems like stunted growth or failure to thrive in children, nutrient deficiencies, physical health problems, and social problems. Sometimes, ARFID can turn into another eating disorder; most often, Anorexia Nervosa. This happens for many reasons. Sometimes, weight loss in children and adolescents can cause changes in the brain that make them vulnerable to developing Anorexia.  

 

What causes ARFID? 

 

A number of things can cause someone to develop Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. They include: 

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• Genetics

• Sensitivity to the sensory aspects of some foods (smells, textures, etc.)

• Inflexibility 

• Fear of choking or becoming ill 

• Poor interoceptive awareness (not noticing hunger cues)

 

Genetics

Most eating disorders have a genetic component. They are caused by a complex interplay between genetics, environment, and one’s life experiences. There is not usually any one factor that causes someone to develop an eating disorder. It is important to know that eating disorders are treatable, and that people can and do recover from an eating disorder. Getting the right help matters a lot. Eating disorders are highly complex and require help from an experienced professional. 

 

Research published by the Alliance For Eating Disorders indicates that there is a high comorbidity between ARFID and neurodivergence. People who have Autism or ADHD may be more likely to develop ARFID than their neurotypical peers. 

 

Sensory Sensitivity 

Foods with certain smells or textures may cause a person to feel a lot of distress and anxiety. People who have this presentation of ARFID describe feeling “disgusted” when they see, smell, or even think about certain foods. They sometimes say that they don’t like certain textures, such as foods that are “chunky”, “slimy”, “chewy”, etc.  Their avoidance of these foods  becomes reinforced over time, strengthening the association between the food and anxiety until they cannot tolerate them at all. 

 

Inflexibility 

Some people struggle with flexibility. This is especially true for people with Autism, though both neurodivergent people and neurotypical people can feel this way. People who struggle with flexibility can have trouble when it comes to changing their mind or trying something new. When this difficulty extends to food, a person may develop strong preferences that they are unwilling or unable to change. 

 

Fear of Choking or Illness 

Sometimes, a traumatic life experience can cause ARFID to develop. An incident like choking or nearly choking, or becoming ill after eating a particular food can cause a person to avoid that food and foods like it. After a while, their anxiety about these foods is reinforced and becomes worse over time. Even if someone has not had these experiences, they can develop a fear of the possibility of it happening. 

 

Sometimes, a person can develop a fear of choking, hypervigilance around preventing food poisoning, etc. even if they have not experienced it. For some people, this can be associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. When this is the case, we treat both the ARFID and the OCD at the same time. This is a complex process that should be carried out by a therapist who is experienced in treating both ARFID/Eating Disorders and OCD, like the therapists at Christine Knorr Psychotherapy Associates. 

 

Poor Interoceptive Awareness (lack of hunger cues)

For some people, ARFID develops because they just don’t have much interest in food or don’t feel hungry as often as they should. Over time, communication signals between the brain and body get confused. The person may not be eating enough, which can cause a lot of health problems. Parents of children with ARFID often feel frustrated and powerless when it comes to getting their child to eat enough. 

 

I don't struggle with body dysmorphia. Does that mean that I do not have an eating disorder? 

People with ARFID often do not struggle with body dysmorphia the way people with other eating disorders often do. In fact, many people with ARFID feel just fine about the way their body looks. People with ARFID will often say that they want to gain weight because they have been told by a healthcare professional that they need to, or because others have noticed that they do not look well. Despite all of this, getting themselves to eat enough is a struggle. 

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Everyone is different, and human beings usually don't fit into neat categories or diagnoses. Some people with ARFID struggle with their body image, while others do not. 

 

Who can be diagnosed with  ARFID? 

 

Children, teens, and adults can all be diagnosed with ARFID.

ARFID in Children and Pre-Teens

Parents of children with ARFID often believe that they will “grow out of it” or that they are simply just picky eaters. However, this is often not the case. The longer the child avoids food, the worse their anxiety becomes. 

 

Children need to eat enough to be able to grow taller and keep up with their growth curve, and for physical and brain development. Children with ARFID can have stunted growth, growth falternig, or failure to thrive. Older children and teens need to eat enough to activate puberty.

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All people need to eat a variety of foods so that their brains and bodies can work optimally. If your child, teen, or pre-teen is experiencing any problems with their health, growth, or development, take them to see their pediatrician or another healthcare provider right away.

 

Children and Pre-Teens who have a limited number of foods that they are willing or able to eat may find that it causes them to feel socially isolated. They may have trouble eating with friends or family because they do not eat things that others eat. They may get in the habit of bringing their own food to play dates or birthday parties, but as they grow older they may feel embarrassed about it. They may have difficulty eating at school in the cafeteria. Parents worry that they can’t let them eat on their own, like at school,  because they may throw away their food or not eat enough. 

 

ARFID in Teens and Adults

 

Teens and adults can develop ARFID, or it may be something that they have had since childhood that has become worse. 

 

Like children, teens and adults need to eat adequately for their brains and bodies to work optimally. People who do not eat enough are at risk for osteoporosis, cardiac problems, hair loss, infertility, and a host of other physical health complications. If you or your teen is experiencing any health problems, it is important to see a doctor or another healthcare provider right away. 

 

Teens and adults who have ARFID may become socially isolated. They may have trouble eating with friends or family because they do not eat things that others eat. They may avoid going to restaurants because they worry that there won’t be anything on the menu that they can eat. They may feel too embarrassed to order from the kids' menu, even if they are comfortable with those foods. They might avoid eating with co-workers, eating in the college dining hall, or going out with friends. They might avoid holiday gatherings or eating in others’ homes because they worry that the host won’t have anything they can eat. 

 

Can A Person Overcome ARFID? 

 

Yes, absolutely. If you or your child has ARFID, please know that we are experienced at treating it. We tailor our approach to each individual’s needs and presentation. 

 

How does therapy for ARFID work at Christine Knorr Psychotherapy Associates? 

 

Every person is unique. We carefully consider your individual needs and create a treatment plan that is exactly right for you. We start where you are, and go at your pace.

 

Our approach may include: 

 

• CBT-AR (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID), an evidence-based treatment specifically for ARFID. 

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

• Play Therapy

• Family Based Treatment

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Behavioral interventions 

• Mindfulness, breathwork, and mind-body techniques to reduce anxiety

• Collaborating closely with your other providers, such as your doctor 

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In-Person therapy for ARFID 

​We provide specialized eating disorder therapy for ARFID in person in our office in New City, NY. Our office is accessible to all of Rockland County, Westchester County, Northern NJ, Bergen County, and Orange County, NY.

 

Virtual therapy for ARFID

For those who don't live in driving distance, or those who would rather participate in therapy from the comfort of home, we offer virtual ARFID therapy to people throughout New York State. Our virtual clients live locally in Rockland County, as well as other places such as Buffalo, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island, and Northern New York. 

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If you have questions or want to make your first appointment, please feel free to reach out to us at any time. 

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