APG’s Multidisciplinary Feeding Program

What does this approach involve?

• You and your child will participate in a comprehensive dual evaluation with a feeding therapist and a psychologist. This will involve an interview to get to know your family, talking with you about your child and understanding what your goals for therapy will be, and observing you eat with your child.
• Weekly therapy sessions with you, your child, and a feeding therapist, where they will work on learning how to get more comfortable with new foods in a systematic and fun way without pressure.
• Biweekly parent sessions with a psychologist to help reinforce information and strategies learned in feeding sessions and tips for how to implement them at home, including:
  • Supporting parents and caregivers in setting boundaries around foods and mealtimes while maintaining the child’s bodily autonomy.
  • Helping caregivers understand what language to use around food to support nutritional eating and positive body image.
  • Coping skills for their own stress around their child’s eating.
• Active home practice is required — families are expected to practice feeding skills and activities at least 4 days per week (approximately 30 minutes per day), following strategies discussed in therapy sessions. Progress or specific behaviors may also be tracked as part of your child’s treatment plan
• The program runs for approximately 6 months, with the goal of equipping families with the strategies and confidence to support their child’s feeding development independently at home, after which progress will be reviewed collaboratively to determine whether goals have been met or if additional therapy is recommended.

Why does this work better than just 1-on-1 therapy sessions with the child?

A pediatric feeding therapy program that includes sessions for both children and parents is more effective than treating the child alone for several key reasons:

1. Holistic Approach: Including parents ensures that the entire family is involved in the therapy process, addressing not just the child’s feeding issues but also the family’s dynamics and routines around mealtimes.
2. Consistent Support: Parents learn strategies and techniques during their sessions, which they should consistently apply at home. Having this extra reinforcement helps with accountability, which then makes therapy more effective.
3. Improved Communication and Parent-Child Bond: Parents receive guidance on how to talk about food in a positive way, supporting a healthy relationship with food and body image for the child. This can then foster a better understanding and stronger bond between parents and their child, as they work together towards common goals in a supportive environment.
4. Reduced Anxiety: Parents often feel stress and anxiety around their child’s eating habits. By participating in therapy, they gain coping skills and confidence, which creates a more relaxed and positive mealtime environment.
5. Empowerment: Parents become empowered with knowledge and tools to support their child’s progress, leading to better long-term outcomes and independence.

By involving both children and parents, the therapy program creates a comprehensive support system that addresses the root causes of feeding issues and promotes lasting, positive change.