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.)