Using EMDR to support recovery of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is characterized by failure to meet nutritional needs. While ARFID is more common in children and adolescents, it can affect people all ages. ARFID can result in significant weight loss, nutritional deficiency and interference with psychosocial functioning. The prevalence of ARFID is unknown, but initial studies estimate it affects as many as 5 percent of children. This disorder, when untreated, persists into adulthood. Unlike other eating disorders it is less widely understood and treated. This presentation will discuss this diagnosis, and how EMDR can be applied to Avoidant, Aversive and Restrictive Subtypes. We will discuss use of EMDR standard protocol to target food traumas and an innovative application of the protocol to sensory aversions and phobic responses. We will discuss Phase 1 assessment targets, common cognitions, and desensitization. This presentation will also describe imaginal and in-vivo exposure and homework as a compliment to sessions.

Conference

English

Heidi Dalzell

Dalzell, H. (2022, September). Using EMDR to support recovery of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. Presentation at the 27th EMDR International Association Virtual Conference