SPACE-ARFID Treatment in Calgary

What is ARFID?

A restrictive eating disorder not linked to body image concerns.

• Subtypes:
  • Sensory-based avoidance (taste, texture, smell)
  • Fear-based avoidance (e.g., choking, vomiting)
  • Low interest in food or eating
• Impacts: Nutritional deficiencies, social withdrawal, anxiety

Therapeutic Approaches (Intervention Tile)

• CBT-AR: Exposure + cognitive restructuring
• Family-Based Therapy (especially for youth)

Feelings & Food (Emotional Regulation Tile)

• Use feelings charts and mood wheels to express food-related anxiety
• Practice mindfulness and calming routines during meals

Family & Social Support (Connection Tile)

• Educate caregivers and involve family
• Support in school/social environments
• Promote shared, pressure-free meals

Statement about ARFID and what it is:

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a relatively new diagnosis in the category of eating disorders. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not about body image or weight concerns. Instead, it involves an extreme restriction of food intake—either in the amount or variety of food eaten.

Children with ARFID may:

• Eat only a very limited selection of foods
• Show little interest in eating
• Avoid eating due to fear of negative experiences (like choking or vomiting)

These patterns can lead to poor growth, nutritional deficiencies, and significant disruption in daily life.

Who Is Affected?

• ARFID typically starts in childhood, often earlier than other eating disorders
• It is more common in boys than in girls
• Many children with ARFID have co-occurring conditions, such as:
  • Anxiety disorders or OCD
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ADHD
  • Difficulties at home, school, or in social situations related to food and eating

Signs of ARFID

Children with ARFID usually fall into one or more of the following three categories:

1. Highly Selective Eaters

• Strong negative reactions to specific smells, textures, colors, or tastes
• May resist trying new foods (food neophobia)
• Fearful of unfamiliar foods and the possibility of a negative experience

2. Low Appetite or Interest in Eating

• Rarely express hunger
• May find eating unrewarding or unpleasant
• Eat very small amounts even when food is available

3. Fear of Aversive Consequences

• Avoid food due to fear of choking, vomiting, or pain
• May develop intense anxiety around meals and eating situations

Impact of ARFID

• Some children may be underweight or fail to grow as expected
• Others may maintain a normal weight but still have significant nutritional deficiencies
• Eating behaviors often interfere with school, home life, and social relationships

SPACE Treatment ARFID

• SPACE is a parent-based intervention that focuses on changing parental behaviors rather than directly treating the

• Your child does not need to be motivated to attend therapy or be interested in changing. It is ideal for families that have tried feeding therapy without

• SPACE helps parents and caregivers learn to support their child’s capacity to handle anxiety independently and reduce accommodating behaviours that have been reinforcing avoidance.

What is SPACE-ARFID?

SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a ground-breaking treatment that empowers parents and caregivers, rather than placing the burden on the child. Unlike traditional approaches, SPACE doesn’t require you to change your child’s behaviour directly—no fighting, bribing, or pressuring—yet still helps your child make real progress.

SPACE-ARFID: Adapting SPACE for Eating Challenges

SPACE-ARFID adapts this approach to support children with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). The focus is on flexibility in eating and managing food-related situations, not on forcing your child to eat certain foods or finish meals.

The primary goal is to help parents reduce accommodations—like preparing only “safe” foods or avoiding mealtimes altogether—and instead offer supportive responses that gently encourage your child to face their food-related fears.

With SPACE-ARFID, you’ll learn to:

• Recognize unhelpful accommodations
• Replace them with supportive, non-coercive responses
• Foster long-term, healthy eating behaviors

Evidence from clinical experience and early research shows promising outcomes: families feel more empowered, and children gradually develop more positive and flexible eating patterns.