ARFID and Neurodiversity: Hear from San Diego Therapist Dr. Panicha McGuire
It is so difficult to live in sunny San Diego and have a child who struggles with picky eating and has ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). You just want to go outside and enjoy the beach and the fantastic weather, but you have to worry about your kid’s next meal, next snack, etc. If your child is neurodivergent, especially if they have ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), it is even more complicated and stressful. Dr Panicha McGuire, LMFT, is a San Diego psychotherapist who specializes in both children and adults with ARFID (selective eating) and who are neurodivergent. In this interview, Dr McGuire provides excellent information on how she treats these challenging conditions. She actually was a graduate student of mine back in my former life as an academic in San Diego. I’ve seen her do therapy both live and on video—she is incredibly gifted and her clients love her. Enjoy! :)
How long have you been working with kids and adults who are neurodivergent and struggle with ARFID/selective eating in San Diego? How did you begin specializing in ASD?
I have been a therapist in San Diego since 2015. I originally worked with children and teens with autism as an ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) behavioral specialist as an undergraduate student. I transitioned to psychotherapy, as I felt the need to work beyond the behavioral aspects of autism. I currently see neurodiverse children, teens, and young adults at my practice including those diagnosed with autism.
What common eating struggles are particular to neurodiverse people with ARFID/selective eating? How do you address these issues?
Eating challenges for individual diagnosed with ASD are usually associated with underlying factors, such as but not limited to the following issues:
Sensory processing disorders
Difficulty recognizing internal cues for thirst/hunger/fullness
Rigidity and unwillingness to try new foods
In children, selective eating is the most common concern. Families are often challenged with a child who is eating a limited variety of foods and are engaging in emotional outbursts when asked to try new foods. Selective eating can become a cause for concern when it results in nutritional deficiency or health complications that could impact the child's growth.
People with autism may have sensitivity to certain smells, tastes, temperatures, or textures of food. In some cases, the feeling of swallowing certain types of food can cause the person to have an adverse reaction to the experience. These sensory experiences can feel incredibly uncomfortable for this person.
When I explain sensory processing disorders to families, I use the example of putting on a wool sweater. For some people, wool can provide comfort and warmth. But for others, it can feel so itchy (or even worse-- like ants crawling on their skin!) that they have to take it off because they just cannot tolerate it.
I address these concerns by first ruling out any possible medical issues, so the first step is to collaborate with the client's primary care doctor. After medical issues are ruled out, I help the client practice anxiety management and work on sensory desensitization. It involves gradually helping the client introduce new foods into their diet. We work on relaxation techniques and also challenge any beliefs about their fear foods. I also continue to collaborate with medical professionals if there are any concerns regarding the client's nutrition.
How can people learn more about and contact you?
drmcguire@livinglotustherapy.com
858-522-9415
What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
My husband and I are huge Star Wars fans and had a Star Wars wedding on May 4th (AKA Star Wars Day—May the Fourth be with you)!
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