ARFID Treatment for Adults and Adolescents in Pennsylvania
It feels like you’ve tried almost everything to make eating easier.
Meal plans, nutritionists, even powering through. But, food still feels like the enemy.
Maybe it’s been this way since childhood. Maybe it got worse after a medical scare or a period of anxiety.
Either way, it’s exhausting, isolating, and often deeply misunderstood.
If you or your teen avoids food not because of body image concerns, but because eating feels overwhelming, unsafe, or unpredictable, you might be navigating ARFID.
And no, it’s not just “picky eating.”
At Reclaim Therapy, we provide trauma-informed ARFID treatment for adults and adolescents in Pennsylvania.
We offer therapy for ARFID in-person at our Horsham office and virtually statewide.
Our approach honors your nervous system, your lived experience, and your body’s protective wisdom.
We specialize in working with those who’ve been dismissed or misdiagnosed for years. Whether you're a parent seeking help for your teen, or an adult who’s quietly struggled for decades, you’re not alone,and you’re not too late.
What Is ARFID?
ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is a type of eating disorder that’s not about body image. It often begins in childhood but can persist into or emerge in adulthood, especially if left untreated or misunderstood.
ARFID might look like:
Intense anxiety or aversion around certain textures, smells, or food categories
Extremely limited variety in your diet
Reliance on supplements or meal replacements due to fear or lack of appetite
Avoidance of food due to fear of choking, vomiting, or nausea
For many, ARFID is a protective adaptation, often rooted in sensory sensitivity, chronic illness, medical trauma, anxiety, or experiences of emotional or relational trauma.
Common Symptoms of ARFID in Adults and Adolescents
Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms we see in adults and adolescents:
Limited range of accepted foods
High anxiety around new or unfamiliar foods
Avoidance of eating in social situations
Weight loss or nutritional deficiencies
Feeling overwhelmed, ashamed, or disconnected around food
Long-term food aversions that haven’t gone away with age
If this list hits close to home, we want you to understand that your struggles aren’t about being too picky or too difficult. And, you're not just being 'weird about food.'
There's usually a reason this feels so hard.
Most people we work with have been misunderstood or blamed for something their nervous system is actually trying to manage. Our job is to help you start to get curious and untangle how to feel more safe around food and in your body.
Our Approach to ARFID Treatment in Pennsylvania
We don’t just address the food behaviors—we work with the whole person. That includes the nervous system, trauma history, sensory sensitivities, attachment patterns, and your lived experience.
Here at Reclaim Therapy, ARFID treatment may include:
CBT-AR (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID) to support gradual food flexibility in a client-led, emotionally safe way
EMDR Therapy to process food-related fears and overwhelm at a root level
Somatic therapy to help regulate the nervous system and reconnect with internal cues
Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to support sound and sensory integration
Parts work to meet avoidant or protective parts with compassion
Collaboration with dietitians or medical providers when appropriate
We’re not here to force you into foods you’re not ready for. No power-through mentality. No shame tactics. Just a steady, supportive process that meets you where you are, and honors why things got hard in the first place.
Meet Your ARFID Therapist, Ashley Fox, LAPC
Ashley is a warm, collaborative, and deeply compassionate trauma therapist with specialized training in ARFID treatment.
She brings advanced expertise in CBT-AR (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID) and is an EMDR therapist, blends structured support with nervous-system attunement.
Ashley knows that ARFID isn’t about being stubborn, it’s about safety, overwhelm, and the body’s best efforts to protect.
She partners with teens and adults to help them build flexibility with food, without shame or pressure. Her work is client-led, trauma-informed, and always grounded in deep respect for each person’s lived experience.
Whether you're seeking help for yourself or your child, you’ll find Ashley to be a steady, thoughtful support as you begin this work.
Therapy for ARFID Isn’t About Changing Who You Are
You don’t need to be convinced to try harder or eat perfectly. Our work is about slowly rebuilding trust, with your body, your cues, and the experience of nourishment.
Recovery doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly love all foods. It means you’ll feel safer, more empowered, and more resourced in your relationship with food.
This work is possible. And you don’t have to do it alone.
Get Started With Therapy for ARFID in Horsham, PA and online in Pennsylvania.
You don’t have to keep white-knuckling your way through meals, avoiding social events, or feeling stuck in a pattern that no one around you seems to understand.
If you're struggling with ARFID, whether as a teen, an adult, we're here to help. Therapy can support you in untangling the fear, anxiety, and overwhelm that make eating feel so complicated.
At Reclaim Therapy, we believe healing happens in relationship. You deserve a space where you’re not judged, pathologized, or pushed. You deserve to be supported by someone who understands that this isn’t “just picky eating.”
Our Horsham, PA eating disorder treatment center is home to a team of trauma-informed therapists, including EMDR and ARFID specialists, who are ready to walk with you, one step at a time.
Ready to Get Started? Here’s How!
step 1
Contact Reclaim Therapy for a free consultation call.
step 2
Meet with one of our Eating Disorder Therapists!
step 3
Start your healing journey. You and your therapist will discuss your needs, your preferences, and your goals and you’ll tackle them together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer ARFID therapy for adults?
Yes! Many of our clients are adults who’ve lived with ARFID symptoms for years without knowing it had a name. We want you to know that there’s no shame in your suffering, you’re not alone, and it’s never too late to begin healing.
What if I’m not sure I “have” ARFID?
You don’t need a diagnosis to start. If you struggle with intense food aversions, anxiety about eating, or nutritional concerns, we’re here to help you make sense of what’s happening with gentleness and clarity.
Is your approach trauma-informed?
Absolutely. We consider the whole picture, past experiences, protective parts, nervous system regulation, and your current needs. We believe in working with the body, not against it.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes! We provide ARFID therapy online across Pennsylvania and in-person at our Horsham office.