Inside ARFID: Diagnosis, Anxiety-Based Treatment, and Neurodivergent-Informed Approaches

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a serious disorder characterized by food avoidance related to sensory sensitivities, fear of adverse consequences, and/or lack of interest in eating—not concerns about body image. ARFID is often maintained by emotional and experiential avoidance, with up to 75% of affected individuals meeting criteria for at least one anxiety disorder.

This workshop makes the case for treating ARFID through an anxiety-focused lens, focusing on underlying cognitive and emotional mechanisms, and ensuring a more comprehensive treatment approach. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR), especially when integrated with Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), offers an effective framework for addressing avoidant behaviors and underlying anxiety. ARFID is particularly prevalent among autistic individuals due to sensory processing differences, interoceptive challenges, cognitive rigidity, and a strong preference for sameness. This workshop underscores the importance of targeted, compassionate interventions that address both the psychological and functional impact of the disorder through multidisciplinary collaboration and neurodivergent-affirming care.

This series will provide practical strategies for clinicians, emphasizing the need for individualized care plans that respect sensory preferences, routines, and the unique emotional needs of each client

Target Audience

This course is designed for mental health professionals seeking to improve their understanding and treatment of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in children, adolescents, and young adults. Ideal participants include: Psychologists Social workers Professional counselors Marriage and family therapists Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners Pediatric and adolescent mental health providers Eating disorder clinicians School psychologists and school counselors Behavioral health clinicians working with anxiety, OCD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and feeding-related concerns Graduate trainees, interns, and postdoctoral fellows

Learning Objectives

Identify the three subtypes of ARFID and implement targeted interventions for each, including exposure strategies informed by CBT-AR and ERP.
Describe at least two benefits of treating ARFID through an anxiety-focused approach and demonstrate how ARFID is maintained by emotional and experiential avoidance.
Identify shared traits between ARFID and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and apply strategies to support neurodiverse individuals.
Describe the importance of a multidisciplinary treatment approach for ARFID that integrates medical, nutritional, psychological, and neurodivergent-affirming care.

Course summary

Available credit:

3.00 APA CE
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibly for the content of the programs.
3.00 ASWB continuing education credits
Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. AKH Inc. Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 3.00 continuing education credits.
3.00 Attendance
Credits: 3.00
3.00 NY Psychologists
3.00
3.00 NY Social Workers
New York State Social Workers
AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0233. Awarded credit: 3.00 contact hour(s).

Course opens:

06/19/2026

Course expires:

07/01/2028

Cost:

$0.00

Rating:

Rebecca Berman, LCSW, LCSW-C, MSS, MLSP, CEDS-S

https://anxietyinstitute.com/professional-training/on-demand-cour
ses/

Disclosures

It is the policy of AKH Inc. to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in all of its continuing education activities. The author must disclose to the participants any significant relationships with ineligible companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in the activity or with the commercial supporter of this continuing education activity. Identified conflicts of interest are mitigated by AKH prior to accreditation of the activity. AKH planners and reviewers have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use and Investigational Product

This educational activity may include discussion of uses of agents that are investigational and/or unapproved by the FDA. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

This course is designed solely to provide the healthcare professional with information to assist in his/her practice and professional development and is not to be considered a diagnostic tool to replace professional advice or treatment. The course serves as a general guide to the healthcare professional, and therefore, cannot be considered as giving legal, nursing, medical, or other professional advice in specific cases. AKH Inc. specifically disclaim responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through participants misunderstanding of the content. If you would like to opt out from future communications from AKH please send an email to [email protected] with your information with "Opt Out" in the subject line.

Author, Writer(s)