Autism and Eating Disorders: Comprehensive Nutrition Approaches

Join us for an enlightening and empowering workshop that will transform your approach to nutrition in autism and eating disorders, ensuring you provide the best care and support for your clients.

This session will allow you to stay ahead with cutting-edge research and save time with practical, expert-led insights.

Who This Is For:

This workshop is designed specifically for Dietitians and health professionals who are committed to expanding their expertise in the specialised fields of autism and eating disorders.

What You'll Achieve:

Understand the Evidence Base: Participants will be able to critically evaluate the current evidence base surrounding the intersection of autism, eating disorders (ED), and nutrition.

Recognise Key Domains for Adaptation: Participants will be able to identify and describe key domains such as executive functioning deficits, sensory sensitivities, and social/emotional challenges, and understand how these might influence nutritional behaviors and interactions.

Screening and Assessment Adaptations: Participants will be proficient in adapting nutritional screening and assessment techniques to accommodate the unique needs of individuals with autism and eating disorders.

Implementing Nutritional Interventions: Participants will be able to design and implement nutritional interventions that are adapted for individuals with autism and eating disorders, including adjustments in communication and practice.

Application through Case Discussion: Participants will demonstrate the ability to apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills to real-life case studies, effectively addressing nutritional challenges in individuals with autism and eating disorders.

What's Included:

Workshop Session Led by Nutirtion Experts: Engage with leading experts in the field to deepen your understanding and enhance your professional competence.

Nutritional Assessment Tool: Gain exclusive access to a modified nutritional assessment tool, ready for immediate use in your clinic, tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals with autism and eating disorders.

Example Meals: Receive practical example meal ideas designed to support and cater to the specific dietary requirements of your clients.

Our Experts:

We will be joined be 3 specialist experts:

1) Sarah Cross

Sarah Cross is a Registered Dietitian and clinical specialist focusing on Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and neurodiversity. Qualified in 2017 from Queen Margaret University, Sarah's passion for eating disorders was ignited during a mental health placement. Currently, Sarah works both within the NHS and privately at the TC Clinic.

Sarah has taken a leading role in implementing the ARFID pathway in her adult eating disorder team. She has been instrumental in the development, review, and implementation of the ARFID severity screening tool and adult sensory guidance for acute wards. Sarah is deeply committed to supporting adults with autism and eating disorders.

Key Work and Contributions:

• Implementation of ARFID pathway in adult ED team
• Development of ARFID severity screening tool
• Creation of adult sensory guidance for acute wards

Read more about her work on the ARFID Severity Matrix.

2) Ursula Philpot

Ursula Philpot is a consultant dietitian with a specialist interest in eating disorders and disordered eating. Ursula has made significant contributions to national programmes and guidelines, including the NICE guidelines for eating disorders, BDA clinical guidelines group, and the Clinical Reference Groups advisory panel. Ursula was the lead author for NHS England’s “Complex Cases Guidance for Eating Disorders with Autism”.

As a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, Ursula educates the next generation of Nutrition Professionals. She also runs a private, neuro-affirmative practice in collaboration with Dr. Suzanne Heywood Everett and Dr. Beckey Hull, supporting patients with concurrent autism and disordered eating. Additionally, she leads ARFID training and service development for NHS England North East and Yorkshire and is adapting Guided Self Help for eating disorders for a neurodiverse population.

Key Work and Contributions:

• Lead author of "Complex Cases Guidance for Eating Disorders with Autism"
• Member of NICE guidelines and standards for eating disorders
• Leader in ARFID training and service development
• Adaptation of Guided Self Help for a neurodiverse population
• Development of ARFID severity screening tool
• Creation of all age’s sensory guidance for acute wards (document attached)
• Development of ARFID resources: https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/resource-library/support-for-avoidant-restrictive-food-intake-disorder-arfid/

3) Paola Falcoski

With over 10 years of clinical experience, Paola Falcoski is an Advanced Specialist Eating Disorder Dietitian and a Somatic Experiencing therapist. Holding a Master’s degree in Public Health and a diploma in Autism and Mental Health, Paola is a recognized expert in her field. She teaches on autism and mental health topics and has contributed to the creation of numerous guidelines and pathways.

Paola excels in delivering high-quality care for individuals and groups of all ages with eating disorders. She is also experienced in sports nutrition, particularly related to disordered eating. Her extensive training includes SOS, CBT-t, CBT-e, FT-AN, Unified Protocol, and Safe and Sound protocol.

Key Work and Contributions:

• Development of guidelines and pathways for eating disorders
• Teaching and contributing to research on autism and mental health
• Active involvement with the National Centre for Autism and Mental Health
• Development of ARFID severity screening tool
• Creation of all ages sensory guidance for acute wards (document available upon request)
• Development of ARFID resources: https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/resource-library/support-for-avoidant-restrictive-food-intake-disorder-arfid/
• Module Clinical lead for Selective Eating vs ARFID at Be Body Perfect. https://bebodypositive.org.uk/about-us/

These experts will bring their extensive knowledge and experience to the workshop, providing invaluable insights into the area of autism and eating disorders.

Why attend?

Stay Current with Cutting-Edge Research

- Ensure your practice is informed by the latest evidence-based research on autism and eating disorders, saving you time on independent study and keeping you ahead in your field.

Learn from Leading Experts

- Gain insights and knowledge from top professionals in the field, enhancing your understanding and professional competence through direct engagement and expert-led discussions.

Practical Tools for Immediate Use

- Access a specially designed nutritional assessment tool that you can implement straight into your clinic, improving the effectiveness and inclusivity of your practice.

Nutritional Strategies

- Receive example meal ideas and personalised nutrition strategies that cater to the unique needs of individuals with autism and eating disorders, providing practical solutions to current nutirtion challenges.

Ultimately, this workshop will equip you with the skills and knowledge to better support individuals with autism and eating disorders to improve their nutritional health.

Extra information:

Please note this session will not be recorded.

If you're not a nutritional professional but are a health professional and would like to join us, you are more than welcome. We do not advise that non health professionals attend any of our events as we cannot look after your emotional, physical and psychological safety and our sessions are not for clinical advice. Please consult your health professional for further support.

Got any questions? Email the team at: hello@saraheldernutrition.co.uk