ARFID & Picky Eating Therapy in La Jolla & San Diego

Are you worried about your child’s picky eating?

Have you wondered if your child’s picky eating is normal or if it’s something more?

Do you find yourself cooking separate meals every night just so your child will eat something?

Is your child’s picky eating affecting their ability to join in social activities or causing conflict at home?

As a parent, it’s stressful to watch your child struggle with food.

What many families first think is just “picky eating” can sometimes be something more serious…

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) often goes beyond typical picky eating where children may avoid foods because of intense sensory sensitivities, fears of choking or vomiting, and extreme anxiety around trying something new.

What is ARFID?

Unlike typical picky eating that many kids grow out of, ARFID is an eating disorder that can significantly impact a child’s health and daily life.

Children with ARFID may:

  • Eat only a very narrow range of foods

  • Experience high anxiety around trying new foods

  • Avoid entire food groups (e.g., anything with a certain texture or smell)

  • Lose weight or fail to grow as expected

  • Struggle socially, such as avoiding birthday parties or sleepovers because of food issues 

Recognizing the difference between ARFID and “normal picky eating” is the first step in getting your child the right help.

It’s also important to know that even if your child doesn’t meet full criteria for ARFID, extreme picky eating that disrupts daily life is still a valid cause for concern and may benefit from professional support.

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When Trying to Help with ARFID Makes Things Harder

If your child has ARFID or extreme picky eating, chances are you’ve already tried countless ways to help.

Parents often share that they have:

  • Cooked separate meals every night so their child will eat something

  • Used rewards or bribes to encourage trying new foods

  • Hidden ingredients or altered recipes in hopes of sneaking in nutrition

  • Provided constant reassurance to calm fears about choking, gagging, or vomiting

  • Avoided restaurants, parties, or family gatherings to prevent mealtime battles

These strategies are completely understandable.

You’re doing everything possible to help your child eat and grow. But over time, well-meaning accommodations can actually reinforce your child’s food avoidance.

This is where a structured, parent-focused approach to picky eating and ARFID can make a big difference

A Parent-Focused Approach to Picky Eating

At SoCal Child Psychology, we offer Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) adapted for ARFID.

Unlike traditional therapy where the child is the main participant, SPACE is a research-supported program that works directly with parents.

  • How it Works: Instead of trying to get your child to eat more foods in session, we focus on changing the family patterns that keep ARFID in place.

  • What Parents Learn: You’ll receive guidance on how to reduce accommodations around food (like making separate meals or avoiding eating out), while introducing supportive strategies that build your child’s resilience.

  • Why it matters: Research shows that when parents adjust their responses, children with ARFID become more open to trying foods and reduce their anxiety around eating.

What to Expect in ARFID Therapy for Kids & Teens

When you start therapy at SoCal Child Psychology, here’s what you can expect:

  • Comprehensive intake to understand your child’s eating patterns, medical history, and family dynamics.

  • Parent sessions where we teach you the SPACE strategies step by step.

  • Collaborative planning to gradually shift mealtime routines, reduce accommodations, and increase supportive communication

  • Increased flexible eating as your child learns to try new foods and expand the foods they are eating

  • Short-term therapy with treatment typically lasting 16-20 sessions in total

Frequently Asked Questions About ARFID Therapy

  • If your child’s food restrictions are severe, affect their growth, cause nutritional deficiencies, or create anxiety that impacts daily life, it may be more than picky eating.

    As part of our comprehensive intake process, we will assess for ARFID and other potential concerns.

    Even if your child’s picky eating isn’t ARFID, therapy can help your family find calm and less conflict around mealtimes.

  • Yes. The evidence shows that when parents change their behaviors and responses, children’s anxiety decreases and their flexibility with food increases. Parents are the most important agents of change in ARFID treatment.

  • Yes. We regularly work with pediatricians, dietitians, and gastroenterologists to ensure your child’s medical and nutritional needs are supported alongside therapy.

Take the First Step Toward Helping Your Child with ARFID

If you’ve been searching for an ARFID therapist in San Diego or La Jolla, you don’t have to face this challenge alone. At SoCal Child Psychology, we specialize in parent-focused ARFID therapy that gives you the tools to help your child feel safer and more confident with food.

Reach out today to schedule a consultation and begin your family’s path toward calmer, healthier mealtimes.