ARFID - Pioneering Treatment in One Session

17/04/2026

TESTIMONIAL re: Adult ARFID Retreat

I was one of the members of Felix's recent retreat for adults with ARFID (Atlanta, GA). I'm 71 years old. I paid for a zoom session with Felix at least 10 years ago and then chickened out from fear of failure. Felix sent me his videos which I never watched--again, fear of failure.

I ate NO fruits or vegetables from the time I left my forced feeding mother's house. My health was excellent until some time in my 50's. I controlled my weight (and still do) by excessive exercise -- marathons and 100 mile cycling events (centuries).

I was out of town when all of a sudden I got so nauseous, I had to seek help. I called for the hotel van and about the time I got into it, I started vomiting violently. Long story short: I spent the next 7-8 months vomiting several times a day. I was hospitalized several times and underwent every kind of test you could imagine (and let me tell you, some were absolutely humiliating). Finally we found a medication that helped. I've been on it for years, but still I frequently get nauseated.

But I could NOT change my eating habits.

I found a program (one-on-one counseling) for those with eating disorders at a university 2 hours away from home. I went once a week for several months. The best I did was eat a couple of bites of an apple.

I just happened to stumble upon a post on this page that Felix would be having a retreat in the U.S. for adults with ARFID.

Thank God, I went! While there I tried all kinds of new foods -- and I'm still alive 😉. I tried a turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato (didn't like tomato); mango, banana, hummus, shrimp, roasted sweet potatoes, and spinach!!

Since returning home, I've tried at least one new food every day. I've discovered that I really like the taste of grapes and oranges. (I still have a quezy feeling when I think about eating them, but I know that will go away with time.) I've also tried salsa, potato salad, mushrooms, pork chops that were smothered in something suspicious looking (to me), and crab cakes (see photo).

I can't tell you how proud I am of myself! It is quite challenging but I can do it because Felix provided us with the tools we need to perservere.

If you have an opportunity to participate in one of Felix's retreats, DO IT!!!! Don't let your life be ruled by ARFID!

— feeling thankful.

06/04/2026

05/04/2026

Atlanta Retreats Review...
I completed the ARFID intensive retreats with 3 diff age cohorts:
Teens (12 - 17), Young Adults (18-25), Adults (25 plus).
The teens and young adults have 20 people with ARFID plus parents attending. The adults had 7 people with ARFID plus several spouses attending.

Over 2.5 days most teens ate some new foods. A couple were not ready yet / did not feel comfortable doing it during the retreat, so now I am awaiting feedback of the aftermath. But they know it is possible because their peers and all the 12 year olds at new food.
I am already getting feedback about food tried since it ended a few days ago, and same situation with the young adults.

In the adult group, which was slightly shorter at 2 days. everyone ate new food, at least over a dozen new foods, while one member tried everything presented which was in excess of 30 foods. This is despite not liking some foods and spitting them out. Adults tend to be the most successful clients.

Everyone has gone away with a renewed sense of hope about what is possible, a better understanding of the dynamics at play, a better appreciation of the challenges posed by ARFID, more tools and resources, and also hugely important, new friends as part of a supportive community. The clients have their own WhatsApp groups where they check in and encourage each other.

This unique approach is designed to facilitate all the optimal conditions for allowing change to take place.

05/04/2026

I don't know of any other clinical programmes which have a 12 year old eating oysters after a few days.
From what I hear, most programmes are still on the touching, holding, sniffing, licking phase, doing charts. Here is feedback from a delighted mother the day after our 2.5 day retreat for young children finished..

Hi all, Sia and I went to Destin, FL to unwind after the retreat as it’s also her spring break. I had pointed out all the fresh seafood in the area and out of nowhere she says, “Mom, I think I might want to try an oyster, I am curious about them!” 🤯 🤯 This is my bread, cracker and plain pasta girl we’re talking about!

She was scared at first and would pick up the oyster several times and put it back down and she said it felt like a “force field was stopping her,” and then she took a deep breath, closed her eyes and ate it! At first she reacted like initially expected with disgust in her face and then she said “Mom, it’s not that bad” and she drank her lemon water and tried a SECOND oyster! She said it wasn’t the best, but she will try another try later to “give her tastebuds another chance.” She was speaking from a place of curiosity - like the scientist Felix referenced throughout the retreat!

I had also ordered fried crab claws and she tried those too (same reactions like with the oyster) and she ended up eating about 8 of them and said “they weren’t that bad” but she was so proud of herself and also in disbelief that she tried these! I played it super cool and lowkey and said that she can do anything she puts her mind to. Inside I was screaming!!! 😭😭 Another interesting point is that afterwards throughout the day she was so emotionally regulated (she usually has big emotional meltdowns almost daily), and she acknowledged that she didn’t feel overwhelmed and for the first time in a LONG time felt normal hunger and not starvation!
I’m still in shock that happened (I’m sure being in the sun and on vacation helped her relax) but this was a huge milestone! Please know that there is HOPE and why I share this!! 🙏😭

05/04/2026

Atlanta Updates -
It's been very busy in Atlanta, so I haven't had much time to update social media. Most attendees tried new foods either during the retreat or beginning to do so afterwards and build momentum. I am getting updates on the group whatsapp forums. I will post the latest one up.
It's about providing all the optimal conditions - knowledge, techniques, environment, community, support to allow change to happen without pressure.

30/03/2026

Day 3 Updates - Atlanta Intensive ARFID Retreat for young adults (18-24)

Just finished the young adults cohort

When you compare the day 1 - meet and greet social at 8pm vs 3 days later. On day 1, most if not all the young adults were anxious and worried about meeting new people. Most had never met another ARFID person their age. I told them 'Look around, you will be making best friends with people here pretty soon'. I do an ice-breaker event to get them to know each other.

Fast forward to the group social on day 3 - we all went out to a virtual golf/hockey/soccer place - by now young adults bonding like crazy, informing parents 'I have met my people... these are people my age who have the same thoughts and feelings'.

At the social, they are all hanging out, ordering NEW FOOD from the bar and tasting it and discussing it. One young adult who had never eaten a solid food asks his friend to tape him eating a pizza slice to send to his parents back at the hotel. Young adults are calmly telling me what they liked and didn't like. We are all fist-bumping and encouraging each other.

I keep telling parents and attendees, this retreat is like nothing you have ever tried before. I heard several stories here alone of young adults being the only ARFID kid, everyone else had anorexia or bulimia, being pressurised to eat food, medicalising the problem by having sessions with psychiatrist. Most paid a lot of money to feel worse than before. Compare this retreat...

The attendees repeatedly tell their parents 'Felix gets it'.. I'm bantering with them, joking around with them, making learning fun.

One exercise is young adults pair up, one is ARFID therapist, one is ARFID client and just have fun and 'channel Felix', just do anything that comes to mind. They loved it. One young shy adult said 'this is the best thing we've done so far... it's just so strange to hear the things I know coming out of someone else's mouth'. Makes a person take stock of things and think about them differently.

I have parents role-model their ARFID kids and the ARFID kids act as their ARFID therapists. It is eye-opening because learning needs to be fun, creative and useful. Not long drawn out graded exposure clinical programmes.

Parents have made friends with other parents, and their kids have made friends, the power of support and community cannot be underestimated. In a community people support and encourage each other. People feel understood, validated and cheered on.

This is a unique one-of-a-kind therapy retreat, there is nothing remotely similar.

26/03/2026

Day 2 Atlanta - one -one updates

24/03/2026

It's a good start to my USA ARFID trip!

Cooper 12 years old and my first ever face-face client in Atlanta! This is the aftermath of today’s single session.
Mom is a FB member and will keep us updated

24/03/2026

I tried a lasagna pizza today in Atlanta - not a bad way to introduce kids who like pizza but not tried lasagna

17/03/2026

8-year-old Morgan walked in feeling unsure about food… and walked out trying fruits, tasting new textures, and even finishing a full serving of lasagna.

In just one session. Making a shift in mindset.

From carefully peeled apple being her only “safe” fruit… to confidently trying watermelon, grapes, melon, raspberries, blueberries and discovering what she actually likes.

And then something even bigger happened…

“I don’t like lasagna” turned into “I realy like lasanga.”and she could not stop eating!

That moment when hesitation turns into curiosity and curiosity turns into enjoyment is where real change begins.

This is how progress looks:
✔ Voluntary
✔ Calm
✔ Step-by-step
✔ Built on trust

For parents watching this is what’s possible when fear is removed and confidence is built the right way.

And for children… it’s not about being forced to eat.
It’s about discovering that they can.

If your child struggles with food, send me a message or comment “HELP” below and I’ll guide you on the next steps. Or share this with a parent who needs to see what’s possible.

27/02/2026

FAO: USA Parents or adults with ARFID.

Just to let you know when I am arriving in Atlanta for the ARFID Intensive Retreat, I have two slots available for one-one sessions.

They are:
Wed 25th March 2.00 - 4.00pm and
Thurs 26th March 1:00 - 3:00pm.

This is a rare chance for US parents or adults to see me on your soil rather than you coming all the way to the UK to see me!

If interested, do PM me for more details

21/02/2026

I usually post these on my dedicated YouTube channel (FelixEcoPsych) but thought it's useful to post some case studies on other platforms too if they can inspire learning. Occasionally I remember to ask the client is they want their results filmed live. The client was happy to have the results shown, just as she was inspired by other videos of other clients to seek help.

The video below is the live aftermath of the disgust-aversion form of ARFID with FB forum member Elisha. Elisha lived off pepperoni sticks and McDonalds nuggets and fries. She recalls being this way as long as she can remember with no obvious cause. Her main fear was feeling grossed out by new foods.
At the end of the session she is in shock at the changes because all these years her mind kept telling that new tastes would be overwhelming and she could not cope. This clip illustrates the difference between beliefs and reality.

She had heard about me years ago but chose this time to see me because she was getting fed up of her diet.
These are the results after just over an hour.