Definition:  Selective Eating Disorder

 

Selective Eating Disorder (SED) is characterized by an extremely limited diet, consuming as few as 10 different food types, intense fear in the presence of new foods, and extreme refusal to try new or non-preferred foods.  Children and adolescents with SED often face social stigma i.e. "Why don't you like pizza.  You're weird!"  So do parents - "I bet if you sent your child to my house for a week, I would get him to eat!"

 

Unfortunately for children with SED, these long standing assumptions that children who refuse new foods are "just being stubborn" and they will eventually "grow out of it" do not happen and parents are often encouraged to force their children to eat non-preferred foods and offer them nothing but liquids until they eat.  One family that attended our program expressed that this led to a 4-day standoff with their 4 year old daughter; it was after this experience that the parents sought treatment in our program.

 

The Immersive Family Program is offered as an alternative model of service delivery and, to our knowledge, is unique through the United States and internationally.  In this program, parents and child come to our Center for five days to receive:

Medical and Occupational Services

Individual Skill Coaching for the Child

Family Education

Meal Coaching

Following the Immersive week, upon request, we offer up to twice monthly phone consultations with one of our therapists during the next 12 months to track progress, coach and encourage parents and children as requested.  The fee associated with this service is $115 per 30 minutes.