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arfid Dietitian in Fairfax, VA

Pressure-free, weight-inclusive nutrition therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Supporting teens, young adults, and families in Northern Virginia in-person and via telehealth.

Submit an inquiry with this form and I will get back to you in 1-2 business days!
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  • Registered Dietitian (RD/LD)
  • Eating Disorder Specialist
  • Pressure-Free, No-Fear Approach
  • Teens (16+), Young Adults & Families

ARFID is so much more than "picky eating" and your child or teen deserves more than being told to just try a bite.

If you're in Fairfax, VA or the Northern Virginia area and searching for an ARFID dietitian who leads with patience over pressure, you're in the right place.

I'm Katrina Crichton, a Registered Dietitian with over a decade of experience helping people find peace with food, including clients navigating the very specific, very real challenges of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
ARFID is a recognized eating disorder, not a phase, not a parenting failure, and not something that simply gets better by forcing exposure. Recovery, real, lasting recovery, is built on trust, compassion, and a genuinely pressure-free environment.
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My office is at 10560 Main Street, Suite 410C, Fairfax, VA 22030, easily accessible from I-66 and Route 50.

I also offer secure telehealth sessions throughout Virginia, including Ashburn, Leesburg, Reston, Herndon, Arlington, and Alexandria.

What Is ARFID?

ARFID — Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, is an eating disorder characterized by significant food avoidance or restriction that isn't driven by body image concerns or a desire to lose weight. It tends to show up in one of three ways:

Sensory Sensitivities

Strong aversions to certain textures, tastes, smells, colors, or temperatures of food, making mealtimes overwhelming rather than enjoyable.

Fear of Aversive Events

Avoidance driven by fear of choking, vomiting, pain, or allergic reactions, often following a traumatic eating experience.

Lack of Interest in Eating

Low appetite, little interest in food, or forgetting to eat — leading to nutritional deficits and unintentional restriction without distress about body weight.
Many clients who come to me have been dismissed as "just picky" for years, by pediatricians, well-meaning family members, or even previous providers.

ARFID is a legitimate clinical diagnosis that deserves specialized, compassionate care.
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CLIENT LOVE

I can't believe how far I've come! I went from being afraid of eating a single bite of food outside of my rules, to enjoying fun foods with friends and family! I feel so much freedom.

Christina

ARFID Recovery: What the Process Looks Like

There's no one-size-fits-all timeline for ARFID recovery, and there's definitely no "just try it" shortcut. Here's how we build toward food flexibility together, at your pace, without pressure.

Understanding Your Unique ARFID Profile

We start by understanding what's driving your food avoidance, sensory sensitivities, fear-based avoidance, low appetite, or a combination. No two people with ARFID experience it exactly the same way, and your support plan shouldn't be one-size-fits-all either.

Addressing Nutritional Adequacy First

Before we ever talk about expanding your diet, we make sure your body is adequately nourished. Nutritional deficiencies affect mood, energy, and the capacity to engage in recovery, so this foundation matters.

Building Safety Around Food

We work to reduce the anxiety and avoidance behaviors that make mealtimes stressful, using gradual, evidence-based strategies that create safety rather than more fear.

Gentle Food Flexibility — On Your Terms

Expanding your food repertoire is possible, but it happens through curiosity, not coercion. We explore new foods at a pace that feels manageable, using strategies grounded in your sensory preferences, not against them.

Supporting the Whole Picture

ARFID doesn't just affect eating , it affects social situations, family meals, travel, and quality of life. We address the real-life impact alongside the nutritional piece, and I collaborate with your therapist, pediatrician, or care team as needed.

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This is client-centered, collaborative care. You set the pace.

A Note for Parents and Families

If you're a parent searching for an ARFID dietitian in Fairfax for your teen or young adult, I see you.

Watching your child struggle with food is exhausting and heartbreaking, especially when past approaches (begging, bargaining, forcing) haven't worked.

ARFID is not a reflection of your parenting. And "just try it" is genuinely not the solution. What actually helps is a safe, non-coercive environment where the person with ARFID feels in control of the process.
Who I Work With
  • Older adolescents (16+)
  • College students
  • Young adults with ARFID

How Nutrition Therapy Works

Getting started is straightforward, and there's no pressure at any stage.

Schedule a discovery call

This is a free 15 minute call for me to learn a bit more about you, answer your questions, and ensure we are a good fit for your nutrition needs.

Schedule an initial assessment

During this initial session, we will do a deep dive into your relationship with food and how it affects your life.

Attend follow up sessions

We will work together towards your big-picture goals by breaking them down into small, specific, measurable steps, that add up to food freedom.

Sessions are available in-person in Fairfax, VA or via secure telehealth throughout Virginia. All services are private pay; superbills are provided upon request for possible insurance reimbursement.

Serving Fairfax, Ashburn, Leesburg & Northern Virginia

My Fairfax office serves clients from across Fairfax County and the surrounding communities.

Telehealth makes specialized ARFID support accessible to clients throughout Northern Virginia, including areas where ARFID-specialized dietitians are harder to find.

In person (Fairfax, VA): 

  • Fairfax City
  • Fairfax County
  • Vienna
  • Oakton
  • Centreville
  • Reston
  • Herndon
  • Chantilly

Telehealth (Virginia-wide):

  • Ashburn
  • Leesburg
  • Sterling
  • Loudon County
  • Arlington
  • Alexandria
  • Falls Church
  • McLean
  • Tysons
  • Manassas
Telehealth clients must be located in Virginia at the time of their session. If you're outside Virginia, feel free to reach out, I'm happy to provide referrals to trusted colleagues.
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CLIENT LOVE

Food no longer controls my every thought! I live my life, and food is just part of it.

Emma

Frequently asked questions

My office is at 10560 Main Street, Suite 410C, Fairfax, VA 22030, easily accessible from I-66 and Route 50, with parking available nearby. Telehealth sessions are also available throughout Virginia if you prefer to meet remotely.

My office is at 10560 Main Street, Suite 410C, Fairfax, VA 22030 — convenient to I-66 and Route 50. I also offer telehealth sessions throughout Virginia for clients who prefer to meet virtually or who are located in Ashburn, Leesburg, Arlington, or other areas of Northern Virginia.

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is a diagnosable eating disorder that goes well beyond typical picky eating. It involves significant food avoidance driven by sensory sensitivities, fear of aversive events (like choking or vomiting), or a lack of interest in eating — causing nutritional deficits and real interference with daily life. Unlike picky eating, ARFID doesn't tend to resolve on its own and benefits greatly from specialized support.

Never. My approach to ARFID is entirely pressure-free. Coercion creates more anxiety, not less. We build toward food flexibility through curiosity and safety — at a pace the client controls. The goal is to reduce fear around food, not increase it.

Yes. Telehealth sessions are available for ARFID clients throughout Virginia, including Ashburn, Leesburg, Reston, Herndon, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and beyond. This is especially helpful for clients whose anxiety around food also extends to new environments.

No formal diagnosis is required to reach out. If you or your teen are experiencing significant food avoidance, nutritional deficits, or mealtimes that feel overwhelming — that's enough reason to start a conversation. I can help determine what level of support is appropriate.

It means I don't use weight loss as a treatment goal or measure of success. Rooted in Health at Every Size (HAES) and intuitive eating, weight-inclusive care focuses on restoring your relationship with food and body trust — not changing the size of your body.

Absolutely. I welcome collaboration with therapists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and other providers who are part of your child's care. ARFID often benefits from a multidisciplinary team approach, and I'm experienced in coordinating care.

All services are private pay. I provide superbills upon request, which you can submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement. It's worth checking with your insurer — many plans include partial coverage for nutrition counseling related to eating disorders.

I primarily work with older adolescents (16+), college students, and young adults. For children under 16, I'm happy to provide referrals to trusted pediatric specialists in the Northern Virginia and DC Metro area.

"Registered Dietitian" (RD/RDN) is a protected credential in Virginia, requiring a bachelor's degree, supervised clinical practice, a national licensing exam, and ongoing continuing education. "Nutritionist" is not a regulated title in Virginia — anyone can use it. When you're seeking eating disorder support, working with a credentialed RD matters.

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Ready to work with an ARFID Dietitian?

katrina crichton nutrition dc metro

10560 Main Street, Suite 410C Fairfax, VA 22030

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