Eating is something most people take for granted — but for those living with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), every meal can feel like a challenge. ARFID goes beyond being a “picky eater.” It can involve deep fears around food, sensory sensitivities, or anxiety that makes eating stressful and exhausting.

For NDIS participants in Adelaide and across South Australia, ARFID can impact not just nutrition but also social life, independence, and emotional wellbeing. The good news is that the NDIS can provide funding for counselling support, especially if you are self-managed or plan-managed. Counselling can play a key role in reducing fear around food, building emotional resilience, and creating confidence in daily life.

What Is ARFID?

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a recognised eating disorder where people avoid certain foods, restrict how much they eat, or experience intense fear or discomfort with food. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not about body image — it is often linked to:

Sensory sensitivities (taste, texture, smell, or appearance of food)
Fear of choking, vomiting, or illness from eating
Anxiety or trauma related to food or mealtimes
Longstanding habits of food avoidance that lead to restricted diets

ARFID can affect children, teens, and adults, and it often co-exists with other conditions such as autism, ADHD, or anxiety disorders.

How ARFID Impacts Daily Living

Living with ARFID can create many challenges that fit within the NDIS focus on daily function:

Nutritional issues – eating a very limited range of foods can affect health and energy.
Social isolation – avoiding family meals, eating out, or social events where food is involved.
Anxiety at mealtimes – stress before, during, or after eating.
Reduced independence – needing support to prepare or eat safe foods.
Emotional strain – frustration, grief, or low confidence due to struggles with food.

Because ARFID can significantly impact daily living, counselling support often fits under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living in an NDIS plan.

How Counselling Can Help with ARFID

Counselling for ARFID is not about forcing someone to eat new foods. Instead, it provides a gentle, supportive space to work on the underlying fears and anxieties that make eating difficult.

Areas where counselling can help include:

Reducing fear and anxiety – calming the nervous system so mealtimes feel less overwhelming.
Building emotional resilience – learning coping tools to handle stress and fear responses.
Working with trauma – processing past experiences that may have triggered food avoidance.
Improving confidence – creating a sense of safety and control around food choices.
Supporting families and carers – giving loved ones strategies to provide encouragement without pressure.

For many participants, even small changes — like reducing mealtime panic or being able to add one new safe food — can create a big improvement in quality of life.

Why the NDIS Funds Counselling for ARFID

The NDIS is designed to support people with significant, long-term challenges that affect their ability to participate in everyday life. ARFID fits into this when:

Food avoidance limits independence (e.g., needing support with meals).
Emotional and behavioural challenges create barriers in daily living.
Anxiety around food leads to reduced community participation or social isolation.

Counselling is recognised as a legitimate support under the NDIS because it helps participants build skills, manage emotions, and increase participation in life activities.

Using Self-Managed NDIS Funding for ARFID Counselling

If you are self-managed, you have the flexibility to choose your counsellor — even if they are not NDIS-registered. This means you can work with a professional who specialises in ARFID, anxiety, and trauma without being restricted to a registered provider list.

Here’s how it works:

Book your counselling session with your chosen provider.
Receive an invoice with all the details needed for NDIS claiming (participant name, NDIS number, session date, category: Improved Daily Living).
Pay the invoice directly.
Claim reimbursement through the NDIS myplace portal.

This process gives you full choice and control, a key benefit of self-management.

Choosing the Right Counsellor for ARFID

When looking for ARFID counselling under the NDIS, consider:

Experience in anxiety, trauma, or eating-related issues.
Approach that is gentle, supportive, and non-judgmental.
Flexibility – do they offer online sessions, face-to-face, or both?
Understanding of NDIS invoicing – so claims are simple and stress-free.
Ability to work with families and carers, where needed, to support progress.

My Approach to ARFID Counselling

I work with self-managed NDIS participants in Adelaide and South Australia who are living with ARFID, anxiety, and trauma. My approach is:

Gentle and supportive – building trust at your pace.
Focused on emotional wellbeing – addressing the fear and anxiety that fuel ARFID.
Practical and outcome-driven – helping you feel calmer at mealtimes, more confident, and better supported in daily life.
Aligned with NDIS funding – clear invoicing under Improved Daily Living, simple for participants to claim.

Final Thoughts

ARFID can feel isolating and overwhelming, but with the right counselling support, it is possible to reduce fear, improve confidence, and make mealtimes less stressful. For self-managed NDIS participants in Adelaide and South Australia, counselling is a powerful way to use your plan funding for both better eating and improved emotional wellbeing.

📞 Contact me today to find out how ARFID counselling under the NDIS can support you or someone you care for.

What is ARFID?

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder where a person avoids or restricts food due to fear, anxiety, or sensory sensitivity, rather than concerns about weight or body image.

Can the NDIS fund counselling for ARFID?

Yes. The NDIS can fund counselling for ARFID under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living when food-related anxiety, avoidance, or emotional distress affects daily functioning, independence, or participation.

How does counselling help people with ARFID?

Counselling helps by reducing fear around food, calming the nervous system, addressing anxiety or trauma linked to eating, and building confidence and emotional resilience around mealtimes.

Can self-managed NDIS participants choose any counsellor for ARFID?

Yes. Self-managed NDIS participants can choose non-registered counsellors, allowing access to specialists in ARFID, anxiety, and trauma without long waitlists.

Is ARFID only a childhood condition?

No. ARFID affects children, teens, and adults. Many adults live with long-standing ARFID patterns that impact health, social life, and independence.

Frequently Asked Questions About ARFID Counselling and NDIS Funding

What makes ARFID different from picky eating?

ARFID involves intense fear, anxiety, or sensory distress around food that significantly limits eating and impacts daily life. Unlike picky eating, ARFID can affect health, independence, and emotional wellbeing.

Is ARFID related to body image or weight concerns?

No. ARFID is not driven by body image or a desire to lose weight. It is usually linked to sensory sensitivity, fear of choking or vomiting, anxiety, or past negative food experiences.

How does ARFID affect daily living?

ARFID can lead to restricted nutrition, anxiety at mealtimes, social avoidance, reduced independence with food preparation, and emotional distress. These impacts often align with NDIS goals around daily functioning and participation.

Why does ARFID often co-exist with autism, ADHD, or anxiety?

People with autism, ADHD, or anxiety often have heightened sensory sensitivity or nervous system reactivity. This can make certain foods feel overwhelming or unsafe, reinforcing avoidance patterns over time.

Does counselling force people to eat new foods?

No. ARFID counselling is gentle and non-pressured. The focus is on reducing fear, increasing a sense of safety, and building confidence. Food expansion happens gradually and only when the person feels ready.

How does counselling reduce fear around food?

Counselling works with the nervous system and emotional responses linked to food. By calming anxiety and addressing underlying fears or trauma, mealtimes begin to feel safer and less overwhelming.

Can counselling help adults who have had ARFID for many years?

Yes. ARFID patterns are learned responses, and learned responses can change. Even long-standing food avoidance can improve when the nervous system learns safety and confidence around eating.

Why does the NDIS fund counselling for ARFID?

The NDIS funds counselling because ARFID can significantly affect independence, emotional regulation, social participation, and daily routines. Counselling helps build capacity rather than simply managing symptoms.

Which NDIS support category covers ARFID counselling?

Counselling for ARFID is typically funded under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living, as it supports emotional wellbeing and daily functioning.

How does self-managed NDIS funding work for counselling?

Self-managed participants pay the counsellor directly, receive an invoice, and then claim reimbursement through the NDIS myplace portal. This allows greater choice and flexibility.

Do counsellors need to be NDIS registered?

No. If you are self-managed or plan-managed, your counsellor does not need to be NDIS registered. This allows access to specialised ARFID support without provider restrictions.

Can counselling involve family members or carers?

Yes. With consent, counselling can support families and carers by providing education, communication strategies, and guidance on reducing pressure and increasing safety around meals.

How long does counselling for ARFID take?

Progress varies for each person. Some notice reduced anxiety and improved confidence within a few sessions, while others benefit from ongoing support. Small changes often lead to meaningful improvements over time.

What improvements do people usually notice first?

Common early changes include less panic around meals, reduced anticipatory anxiety, increased tolerance of food-related situations, and improved emotional regulation.

Is online counselling effective for ARFID?

Yes. Online counselling can be very effective, especially for participants who feel safer in their own environment or live in regional or rural South Australia.

What is the first step to accessing ARFID counselling under the NDIS?

The first step is confirming that your plan includes Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living funding. From there, you can choose a counsellor, book a session, and begin using your funding.