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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: An Online Introduction (March 2025)
Registration Deadline: March 17, 2025
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) was recently added to the Feeding and Eating Disorders section of DSM-5 to describe children, adolescents, and adults who do not eat enough food (by variety or volume), typically because of sensory sensitivity, fear of aversive consequences (e.g., choking, vomiting), and/or apparent lack of interest in eating or food. Although there is a robust literature on pediatric feeding disorders in very young children, ARFID itself is so new that there is currently no evidence-based treatment for older children, adolescents, or adults. Thus, our online course will fill an important gap for our colleagues who are already seeing such patients in clinical practice by providing specialized training in a new form of cognitive-behavioral therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR) that we have developed and refined at Massachusetts General Hospital for patients ages 10 through older adults. Early data from our preliminary efficacy studies indicate that, on average, patients who receive CBT-AR incorporate many novel foods into their regular diets, gain significant weight (if underweight), and significantly reduce both ARFID symptom severity and food neophobia. Our 6-week course will cover the assessment of ARFID and determining patient appropriateness of CBT-AR, as well as the implementation of all four stages of this flexible, modular treatment. Material will be drawn from our recently published books (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: Children, Adolescents, and Adults, Cambridge University Press, 2019; and The Picky Eater’s Recovery Book: Overcoming Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, Cambridge University Press, 2021), cases we have seen in our clinical practice, and our ongoing research studies on the neurobiology and treatment of ARFID.
Course materials are available beginning on March 3, 2025 and all online course work must be completed by April 21, 2025.
Pricing
Registration Deadline: March 17, 2025
Physicians and Doctoral-level Professionals: $445.00
Other Professionals: $345.00
Cancellation Policy
Refunds will be issued for cancellation requests made during the first week of the course, but an administrative fee of $25.00 will be deducted from your refund. Cancellation requests made during the second week will receive a credit toward a future offering of the same course. No refunds or credits will be granted after March 17, 2025.
Q&A Schedule
Week Start Date | Date of Q&A | Time of Q&A | Faculty Name |
Week 1: 3/3/2025 | 12:30-1PM EDT | Jennifer J. Thomas, Ph.D. | |
Week 2: 3/10/2025 | 9:00-9:30AM EDT | Kendra R. Becker, Ph.D. | |
Week 3: 3/17/2025 | 10:00-10:30 AM EDT | Kamryn T. Eddy, Ph.D. | |
Week 4: 3/24/2025 | 12:30-1PM EDT | Jennifer J. Thomas, Ph.D. | |
Week 5: 3/31/2025 | 10-10:30AM EDT | Kamryn T. Eddy, Ph.D.. | |
Week 6: 4/7/2025 | 9:00-9:30AM EDT | Kendra R. Becker, Ph.D |
Restriction on Use of Materials
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Target Audience
This program is intended for health professionals who may encounter patients with ARFID (of all ages) in their clinical practice. In our experience, this includes a wide range of clinicians including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, other mental health workers, dietitians, primary care physicians, pediatricians, nurses, nurse practitioners, speech/language pathologists, and occupational therapists.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this program, participants will be able to:
• Discuss how to confer a diagnosis of ARFID based on DSM-5 criteria and describe the assessments (e.g., interviews, self-report questionnaires) that can be used to assess severity.
• Describe the type of patients with ARFID for whom cognitive-behavioral therapy is appropriate.
• Describe the basic structure, goals, and session format of cognitive-behavioral therapy for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (CBT-AR).
• Use all four stages of this flexible, modular treatment
• Use Stage 1 of CBT-AR including psychoeducation and early change to volume and/or variety of food.
• Use Stage 2 of CBT-AR including treatment planning and selection of modules to utilize in Stage 3.
• Design a program in Stage 3 to address sensory sensitivity by implementing the 5 steps of learning about new foods and utilizing strategies for moving new foods from tasting to incorporation.
• Design treatment strategies in Stage 3 that will address fear of aversive consequences by developing and working through a fear and avoidance hierarchy.
• Design a program in Stage 3 to address lack of interest in eating or food by increasing exposure to highly preferred foods, enhancing awareness of hunger cues through self-monitoring, and conducting interoceptive exposures.
• Use Stage 4 of CBT-AR including relapse prevention and planning for the future.
• Discuss how to end the therapy on time as planned.
• Describe how to trouble-shoot common clinical challenges in CBT-AR.
Participants must complete each week sequentially and while completing all components of each week to receive credit, including:
- Activity Overview
- Video Lecture
- Reading and Resources (required and optional)
- Q&A with Faculty
- Discussion Board
- Case Assessment
Week 1 — Assessment of ARFID and introduction to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR)
- Discuss how to confer a diagnosis of ARFID based on DSM-5 criteria and describe the assessments (e.g., interviews, self-report questionnaires) that can be used to assess severity.
- Describe the type of patients with ARFID for whom cognitive-behavioral therapy is appropriate.
- Describe the basic structure, goals, and session format of CBT-AR.
Week 2 — CBT-AR Stage 1-2
- Implement Stage 1 of CBT-AR including psychoeducation and early change to volume and/or variety of food.
- Utilize the therapeutic meal for patients who are underweight.
- Implement Stage 2 of CBT-AR including treatment planning and selection of modules to utilize in Stage 3.
Week 3 — CBT-AR Stage 3: Sensory sensitivity
- Design a program to address sensory sensitivity by implementing the 5 steps of learning about new foods and utilizing strategies for moving new foods from tasting to incorporation.
Week 4 — CBT-AR Stage 3: Fear of aversive consequences
- Design a treatment that will address fear of aversive consequences by developing and working through a fear and avoidance hierarchy.
Week 5 — CBT-AR Stage 3: Lack of interest in eating or food
- Design a program to address lack of interest in eating or food by increasing consumption of highly preferred foods, enhancing awareness of hunger cues through self-monitoring, and conducting interoceptive exposures.
Week 6 — CBT-AR Stage 4, CBT-AR Efficacy
- Implement Stage 4 of CBT-AR including relapse prevention and planning for the future.
- Discuss how to end the therapy on time as planned.
- Describe how to trouble-shoot common clinical challenges in CBT-AR.
- Describe the preliminary evidence of efficacy for CBT-AR.
Available Credit
- 13.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of McLean Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. McLean Hospital is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
McLean Hospital designates this Live activity for a maximum of 13.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 13.50 Nursing Contact Hours
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 13, sections 13, 14, 14A, 15 and 15D and Chapter 112, sections 74 through 81C authorize the Board of Registration in Nursing to regulate nursing practice and education.
This program meets the requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (244 CMR 5.00) for 13.50 contact hours of nursing continuing education credit. Advance practice nurses, please note: Educational activities which meet the requirements of the ACCME (such as this activity) count towards 50% of the nursing requirement for ANCC accreditation.
- 13.50 Social Workers
The Collaborative of NASW, Boston College, and Simmons College Schools of Social Work authorizes social work continuing education credits for courses, workshops, and educational programs that meet the criteria outlined in 258 CMR of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers
This program has been approved for 13.50 Social Work Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. Collaborative of NASW and the Boston College and Simmons Schools of Social Work Authorization Number D 91121
- 13.50 Participation
This course allows other providers to claim a Participation Certificate upon successful completion of this course.
Participation Certificates will specify the title, location, type of activity, date of activity, and number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ associated with the activity. Providers should check with their regulatory agencies to determine ways in which AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ may or may not fulfill continuing education requirements. Providers should also consider saving copies of brochures, agenda, and other supporting documents.
- 13.50 Psychologists CE Credit
The Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
This offering meets the criteria for 13.50 Continuing Education (CE) credits per presentation for psychologists.
Price
Expiration Date: January 30, 2027
Course Director(s)
Jennifer J. Thomas, Ph.D
Kendra R. Becker, Ph.D.
Kamryn T. Eddy, Ph.D.
Planners
David H. Rubin, MD, content reviewer
Jane Pimental, MPH
Susan E. Sprich, PhD, psychologist reviewer
Jennifer J. Thomas, Ph.D
Kendra R. Becker, Ph.D.
Kamryn T. Eddy, Ph.D.
Disclosure Information
In accord with the disclosure policy of McLean Hospital as well as guidelines set forth by the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education, all people in control of educational content, including speakers, course directors, planners, and reviewers, have been asked to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies for the past 24 months, as defined below:
Ineligible Companies
The ACCME defines an “Ineligible company” as “those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.” For more information, visit
Financial Relationships
Financial relationships are those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected.
Mitigation of Financial Relationships
All financial relationships are reviewed to determine which ones are relevant, and then measures are taken to mitigate all relevant financial relationships and ensure that they do not insert commercial bias into the content of the education.
The following planners, speakers, content reviewers, and others in control of educational content have reported financial relationships with ineligible companies over the past 24 months. Measures have been taken to mitigate the impact of these financial relationships on the educational content and ensure that they do not insert commercial bias into the content of this education.
Kendra Becker, PhD
Therapist: Kendra R Becker Private Practice
Research Scholar: Global Foundation for Eating Disorders
Royalties: Cambridge University Press
Kamryn Eddy, PhD
Author: Cambridge University Press
Jennifer Thomas, PhD
honorarium for Associate Editor of International Journal of Eating Disorders: John Wiley and Sons
honorarium for travel to conference as member of the Board of Directors: Academy for Eating Disorders
Royalties: Harvard Health Publications/Hazelden; Cambridge University Press
Susan Sprich, PhD (Psychologist Reviewer)
Royalties: Oxford University Press; Springer
honorarium for being the associate editor of a journal: Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
No disclosures
Riley Atkinson
Hayden Chancellor
Mary Ferrara
Anisa Khadraoui
Jane Pimental
David Rubin, MD
All other individuals in a position to control the content of this educational activity have reported no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Hardware/Software Specifications
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using Internet Explorer 8+, Mozilla Firefox 3+, Safari 4+. This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Flash, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration
Flash Player: Adobe Flash Player 10.1+
Browser: Firefox 3+, Internet Explorer 8.0+, Safari 4.0+, or Google Chrome 7.0+
Operating System: Windows XP+ or Mac OS X 10.4+
Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements
Windows PC:500-MHz Pentium II; Windows XP or higher; 128 MB RAM; Video Card at least 64MB of video memory; Sound Card at least 16-bit; Macromedia Flash Player 10 or higher, audio playback with speakers for programs with video content; Firefox 1.1+, Internet Explorer 7.0+, Safari 1.0+, Google Chrome, or Opera
Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.3 or higher with latest updates installed; 1.83MHz Intel Core Duo or faster; RAM: 128MB or more; Video Card: at least 64MB of video memory; Sound Card: at least 16-bit
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