A promising new evidence-based treatment for individuals with ARFID and picky eaters!
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a complex eating disorder characterized by an individual’s persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and energy needs. Click here to learn more about ARFID.
Treating ARFID is challenging, especially in children and adolescents. One promising approach is the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) program.
What is SPACE?
The SPACE program was developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center and is designed to help parents manage and reduce their child’s anxiety and related disorders, including ARFID.
It is a cost effective, quick 10-week program.
SPACE is unique because it focuses on the parent/caregiver and their approach in the home, rather than directly targeting the child and the child’s anxiety symptoms. It doesn’t touch your child’s behavior – you don’t need to fight or bribe your child and you’ll still see progress.
The SPACE-ARFID approach focuses on flexibility in eating habits and adjustment in food related situations. The primary goal of SPACE-ARFID is to alter parental responses to a child’s problematic eating behaviors by reducing family accommodation and increasing supportive responses. SPACE-ARFID teaches parents to systematically reduce these accommodations, thereby encouraging the child to face and overcome their food-related anxieties. This approach has been supported by small-scale studies and clinical observations, showing promising results in reducing the impairment caused by ARFID and helping children develop healthier eating patterns. Check out this article highlighting the benefits of a parent-based approach and ARFID.
Read more about the Core Components and Benefits of SPACE on our blog.
Our SPACE Treatment
Are you ready to see your child with ARFID make feeding progress and improve their nutritional intake?
We’re offering a new SPACE treatment hybrid group. It will consist of eight steps: six group sessions led by feeding expert, Kelly Komisaruk who is specially trained in SPACE Treatment Protocol. Groups are limited to six families, so space is limited!
The group sessions will focus on laying a foundation. We will:
- Discuss parental behaviors and common accommodations that parents make for their child that often reinforce anxiety and avoidance
- Learn skills and tools to help your child expand their diet and improve their nutritional intake
- Identify your and your child’s individualized needs
- Reduce accommodations you’re providing your child
- Learn how to implement skills and tools in your day-to-day life
- Improve your ability to respond for supportively to your child’s anxiety and avoidance behaviors
Our upcoming SPACE treatment hybrid group sessions are slotted for April of 2025 (Fridays at 12pm EST, starting April 4th). Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of exact dates/times and updates, as well as the booking link!
You will then sign up for your 1:1 sessions via Calendly.
Cost: $570 (*Significant savings utilizing our group model but still with just as effective benefits!). *Participants will receive up to three discounted sessions with Kelly following completion of the SPACE program.
Please note that all SPACE Treatment purchases are non-refundable; there will be no refund for incomplete or missed sessions. We appreciate your understanding and commitment to your therapy journey.
Questions? Contact Kelly.