Get answers to frequently asked questions about the Immersive Family Program for Selective Eating.

My child has been diagnosed with other mental health problems. Can he or she still participate in your program?

Some of the children who come into the program have a history of anxiety and might present with other issues like OCD, general anxiety, ADHD, or other processing disorders. Selective eating is more common in children with anxiety and other sensitivities. Children presenting with autism spectrum disorders are also more likely to have issues with selective eating.

The Duke Center for Eating Disorders treatment team includes highly skilled clinical psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and other professionals with years of experience treating a variety of mental health conditions.

Our clinicians give families a thorough history assessment before entering the program. If we believe that any of the co-existing conditions your child presents with could negatively impact his or her treatment outcomes, we will discuss this with you and either recommend alternative therapies or explain how your treatment might need to be altered to accommodate your child's needs.

Does your program have an age limit?

Currently, the Immersive Family Program for Selective Eating accepts children who are eight years of age or older.

We have made some exceptions for younger children (ages five to seven), and, therefore, we are still taking information from parents of some younger children and adding them to our waiting list.

We consider younger children on a case-by-case basis only and give priority to older children or children who are experiencing more significant complications from their selective eating.  

Does my child need to “want” to get help for this treatment to be successful?

Whether your child is very motivated to get help or doesn’t seem too motivated at all, our treatment team will guide him or her through this process either building or reinforcing motivation along the way.

Treatment could progress faster when children are motivated for change; however, part of treatment can involve building this motivation in children who are more resistant if they are experiencing any negative outcomes from their selective eating.

Our program is also designed to help you better understand your child’s selective eating and learn skills to help you help your child. If you have questions about whether or not your child will be a good match for our program, ask to speak with one of our intake counselors about your child.  

What type of success has your program had?

Though the Immersive Family Program for Selective Eating is new, the professionals who work within our program have been treating selective eating and other types of disordered eating for many years.

Our goal is to help children and families leave with a “toolbox,” or a set of skills they can use to approach new foods in different ways.

We help children learn more about how their bodies work, and we help them understand some of the reasons that their experience with food is different from other people.

We teach parents skills that allow them to support, encourage, and reinforce their children as they practice changing their relationship with food.

All of our families report feeling increased confidence in their ability to address issues related to selective eating. In this way, we have 100 percent success.

How much does your program cost, and what type of insurance do you accept?

On average, our program costs approximately $800 to $1,000 per day. Because the program is individualized to fit the needs of your family, some services may vary and impact the total cost.

The Duke Center for Eating Disorders is a fee-for-service clinic, and therefore all clinical services (individual counseling, family counseling, parent training, psychological testing, and meal support) must be paid for up front and at the point of service.

After you register for the program, you will receive a packet with an estimate of clinical services we recommend and the total cost. If our treatment team believes that your family could benefit from additional services, we will make this recommendation and explain any additional fees.

Our business office will provide you with the paperwork you need to file for reimbursement with your insurance company. Because we do not file claims, it is necessary for you to contact your insurance company in advance to determine what types of services they will reimburse.

How long does is the waiting list to enter the program?

The Immersive Family Program for Selective Eating accepts patients two weeks out of each month. Our current wait time is six months, and we are actively booking into the 2012 year. Families that have less availability might be waiting longer.

Please complete our waiting list request form (PDF, 98 KB) to let us know the best weeks for your family to participate. After you complete and return this form, we will add you to our waiting list and contact you directly when we have an opening.

You should expect to hear from us about eight to 12 weeks in advance; however, in the case of cancellations, you might hear from us closer to the treatment week.

I know my child won’t be cured after treatment. What type of follow-up treatment do you recommend?

The Immersive Family Program is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment, skill-building for children and their parents, and a “jump start” to treatment.

Families enter our program at very different stages of treatment. Some families come to us having never seen professionals about their child’s selective eating, and some families enter treatment after years of working with various professionals.

Our team will focus on where your child is and help both you and your child develop skills to move forward. How you move forward in the future is often determined during your treatment week.

Some parents might follow-up by having check-in or coaching calls or children may participate in Skype calls after they return home.

Some parents and children might use the skills they learn at Duke and continue working on their own. Still others might get help finding knowledgeable and supportive professionals in their area to help continue the work they started here.

In addition, in the Spring of 2012 we hope to launch our Web-based Parent Training Program. This online community will serve as a wonderful after-care support system.