DR MARIANNE MILLER

CARING EATING DISORDER TREATMENT IN SAN DIEGO AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, AND WASHINGTON D.C. FOR ADULTS & TEENS

How Family Therapy Can Help Your Child With ARFID: Working From a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned, Trauma-Informed Model
family therapy, ARFID therapy, ARFID in children, neurodivergent-affirming care, sensory-attuned care, trauma-informed care, parent resources for ARFID, consent-based care Marianne Miller family therapy, ARFID therapy, ARFID in children, neurodivergent-affirming care, sensory-attuned care, trauma-informed care, parent resources for ARFID, consent-based care Marianne Miller

How Family Therapy Can Help Your Child With ARFID: Working From a Neurodivergent-Affirming, Sensory-Attuned, Trauma-Informed Model

When a child has Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), family mealtimes can quickly shift into stress and worry. Parents may wonder whether to push their child to try new foods, follow their lead completely, or attempt structured strategies like food chaining. The truth is that ARFID does not look like other eating disorders. It is not rooted in body image concerns. Instead, it often comes from sensory sensitivities, distressing experiences with food, or neurodevelopmental differences.

Family therapy that is neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned, and trauma-informed offers a path forward. It helps children feel safer with food and safer in their bodies, strengthens parent-child bonds, and moves toward making eating opportunities into moments of connection rather than conflict.

Read More
Insights From ARFID Therapy With Neurodivergent Teens
ARFID, ARFID therapy, support for parents and teens, family therapy Marianne Miller ARFID, ARFID therapy, support for parents and teens, family therapy Marianne Miller

Insights From ARFID Therapy With Neurodivergent Teens

Working with neurodivergent teens who have Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) has taught me more than any textbook or training ever could. My clients have shown me that ARFID is a deeply misunderstood eating disorder, especially when it shows up in autistic teens, teens with ADHD, or those with significant sensory processing differences.

Read More