Navigating Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), especially alongside Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), requires a nuanced and skillful approach. Equip and F.E.A.S.T. have partnered to offer this vital support group, blending Equip’s clinical expertise with F.E.A.S.T.’s invaluable lived experience mentorship. This session will be led by Equip clinicians Kathryn Frederickson and Dr. Jessie Menzel alongside F.E.A.S.T. mentors.
This session is designed to move caregivers beyond confusion, providing the psychoeducation, concrete explanations, and practical tools needed to effectively support their loved one's progress.
What You Will Learn:
Our clinicians and mentors will demystify the complex relationship between ARFID and co-occurring conditions, offering clear insights on:
- Understanding ARFID: The different types of ARFID and its relationship to other eating disorders.
- ASD Considerations: Special considerations for treating eating disorders in autistic individuals.
- Treatment Goals: How ARFID treatment and goals may differ from those for other eating disorders.
A Focus on Practical Skills:
Caregiving for a loved one with ARFID/ASD can be emotionally intense. Drawing on principles from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), you will be introduced to and practice:
- The STOP Skill: A powerful technique to help you pause, manage distress, and avoid making a difficult situation worse.
You will leave with a greater understanding of the challenges and a toolbox of skills to positively impact your loved one's treatment and journey toward lasting recovery.
(The 60-minute session will include a 30-minute presentation and a 30-minute supportive Q&A with Equip providers and FEAST caregivers.)
Dr. Jessie Menzel is a licensed clinical psychologist and a distinguished leader in eating disorder treatment and research. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Menzel specializes in developing innovative, evidence-based programs for patients of all ages. As Vice President of Clinical Programs at Equip, she oversees the creation and implementation of comprehensive, virtual care designed to transform eating disorder treatment.
Dr. Menzel's career includes founding the Pediatric Eating Disorder Program at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, where she also served as an Associate Clinical Professor. Her expertise encompasses treating Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), anorexia nervosa, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using evidence-based modalities such as family-based treatment, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure and response prevention (ERP).
Professional Experience
Vice President, Program Development, Equip (2023–Present)
Dr. Menzel leads Equip’s strategic initiatives to design and enhance innovative, patient-centered eating disorder programs. Her work ensures that Equip continues to deliver accessible, effective, and comprehensive care.
Senior Director of Program Development, Equip (2022–2023)
In this role, Dr. Menzel was instrumental in refining clinical programs to meet the diverse needs of Equip’s patients and families, driving outcomes through research-informed practices.
Director, Pediatric Eating Disorder Program, UCSD Eating Disorders Center (2014–2021)
As program director, Dr. Menzel built one of the nation’s most comprehensive pediatric eating disorder treatment programs, offering advanced therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents across all levels of care.
Postdoctoral Fellow, UCSD Eating Disorders Center (2013–2015)
Dr. Menzel honed her clinical and research skills through specialized training in eating disorder treatment, focusing on family-based therapy and interventions for OCD and anxiety disorders.
Contributions and Thought Leadership
Dr. Menzel is a recognized leader in the eating disorder field and has contributed extensively to the understanding of body image issues, interoception, and treatment interventions. She is a frequent speaker on ARFID and other eating disorders and regularly delivers educational presentations for healthcare providers and families.
Personal Life
Dr. Menzel resides in San Diego, California, where she enjoys spending time with her family. Her work reflects her deep commitment to empowering patients and their families to achieve recovery through compassionate, evidence-based care.
Dr. Jessie Menzel is a licensed clinical psychologist and a distinguished leader in eating disorder treatment and research. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Menzel specializes in developing innovative, evidence-based programs for patients of all ages. As Vice President of Clinical Programs at Equip, she oversees the creation and implementation of comprehensive, virtual care designed to transform eating disorder treatment.
Dr. Menzel's career includes founding the Pediatric Eating Disorder Program at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, where she also served as an Associate Clinical Professor. Her expertise encompasses treating Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), anorexia nervosa, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using evidence-based modalities such as family-based treatment, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure and response prevention (ERP).
Professional Experience
Vice President, Program Development, Equip (2023–Present)
Dr. Menzel leads Equip’s strategic initiatives to design and enhance innovative, patient-centered eating disorder programs. Her work ensures that Equip continues to deliver accessible, effective, and comprehensive care.
Senior Director of Program Development, Equip (2022–2023)
In this role, Dr. Menzel was instrumental in refining clinical programs to meet the diverse needs of Equip’s patients and families, driving outcomes through research-informed practices.
Director, Pediatric Eating Disorder Program, UCSD Eating Disorders Center (2014–2021)
As program director, Dr. Menzel built one of the nation’s most comprehensive pediatric eating disorder treatment programs, offering advanced therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents across all levels of care.
Postdoctoral Fellow, UCSD Eating Disorders Center (2013–2015)
Dr. Menzel honed her clinical and research skills through specialized training in eating disorder treatment, focusing on family-based therapy and interventions for OCD and anxiety disorders.
Contributions and Thought Leadership
Dr. Menzel is a recognized leader in the eating disorder field and has contributed extensively to the understanding of body image issues, interoception, and treatment interventions. She is a frequent speaker on ARFID and other eating disorders and regularly delivers educational presentations for healthcare providers and families.
Personal Life
Dr. Menzel resides in San Diego, California, where she enjoys spending time with her family. Her work reflects her deep commitment to empowering patients and their families to achieve recovery through compassionate, evidence-based care.
