Feeding and eating challenges can be frustrating, anxiety-inducing, expensive, and time-consuming, in addition to having a negative impact on overall nutritional health and emotional well-being.  

Eating is one of the most complex activities we engage in – it involves our organs, muscles, swallowing coordination, and ALL of our sensory systems. Eating is something that we do volitionally (voluntarily), but it is based on a LOT of developmental skills! Few of us realize that when we ask a child to sit down and eat a meal we have prepared for them – they may not have all the skills required to do so. Few people understand how difficult it can be for adults with eating challenges to navigate, say, a party or eating with friends at a restaurant.  

Feeding therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Therapy at STAR is tailored to the individual's age, underlying challenges, and goals – and may address sensory sensitivities, motor skills, anxiety around food, or the social dimensions of eating. Whether your needs call for gradual food exposure, sensory integration strategies, or support navigating mealtimes in social settings, a qualified feeding therapist can help develop a plan that works for your life. 

We work with children, adolescents, and adults – meeting each client where they are and building toward mealtimes that feel manageable, nourishing, and even enjoyable. Relief is possible, and it starts with a single conversation. 

Ready to take the first step? Schedule an intake call today to talk with one of our therapists about what you or your child is experiencing and explore whether our services are the right fit. 

How to Know if You or Your Child Has a Feeding/Eating Problem 

Recognizing a feeding or eating challenge is the first step toward getting the right support. Whether you're a caregiver watching your child struggle at mealtimes or an adult who has quietly navigated eating difficulties for years, understanding when a concern goes beyond typical variation can open the door to meaningful help. It may also surprise you to learn how many common assumptions about eating turn out to be myths – for example, not all people will eat when they are hungry, regardless of how hungry they are. Read more about this and other widely held misconceptions here.  

Pediatric: Feeding toddlers, children and adolescents can be tricky. However, caregivers often hear the message that we should wait until our children are older because “all kids are picky” and “all kids outgrow their pickiness”.  In reality, neither of these statements are true. Research shows that about 20% of all children will struggle with some type of feeding challenge at one point or another from birth to 5 - 7 years of age. The research also shows that only about ½ of these children will completely “outgrow” their feeding difficulties.  If you are noticing persistent mealtime struggles, food refusal, limited variety, or signs of stress around eating, these are worth taking seriously rather than waiting out. 

Adult: You may be one of the 20% of children with feeding challenges who has now grown up to be an adult with eating challenges! If you remember difficulties with eating when you were growing up and if you currently struggle to eat due to lack of motivation, the sensory properties of foods, or fear of eating certain foods, you are not alone! Eating as an adult can be even more complex than eating as a child, because now you have years of feeling like foods/mealtimes/restaurants cannot work for you. Those layers of history, avoidance, and anxiety are real, and they respond well to the right therapeutic approach. 

Therapeutic Approach 

Feeding therapy sessions integrate strategies to support postural challenges, oral motor delays, and sensory/sensory motor differences. We approach feeding from a developmental, “whole-child” perspective, and work in collaboration with the caregivers and other providers when appropriate. Therapy emphasizes relationships, games, fun, trust and felt safety as crucial tools to drive progress. We follow the interests of the client and create a collaborative therapeutic environment.  

At STAR, we use the following approaches:  

• SOS Approach to Feeding  
• Sensory Integration Therapy 
• SOFFI  
• DIR/Floortime 

Therapeutic Options 

Finding the right support begins with understanding where you or your child is starting from. That is why our therapeutic process begins with assessment – a dedicated opportunity to look closely at feeding skills, sensory systems, and the broader context of how eating is showing up in daily life. Assessment gives us the information we need to make meaningful, individualized recommendations and, where appropriate, to move into a therapy program designed around your specific goals and needs. Below you will find an overview of our assessment and therapy options. 

Developmental Feeding Assessment:  

• Multi-disciplinary (Mental Health and Occupational Therapy) or Single Discipline Feeding Assessment 
  Developmental and systems-based feeding evaluation to assess feeding skills (sensory systems, sensory motor systems, oral motor skills, family system supports). Includes 1-hour review of records and parent report measures, 50-minute assessment, written report with recommendations and 50-minute feedback. (note – offered both virtually and in-clinic) 

• Extended Feeding Therapy Assessment  
  A "deep dive" assessment that includes clinical observation of sensory systems, sensory motor systems, oral motor systems, and family system supports; standardized report measures; and 4 – 6  Feeding Therapy sessions to trial strategies at the table. The assessment ends with written strategies/report and a feedback meeting. The focus is on exploring strategies in sessions to offer recommendations for other providers, as well as next step recommendations.  

Feeding Therapy: 

We offer both virtual and in-clinic services (therapy, education sessions, etc.). In-clinic services are offered at our location in Centennial, Colorado. Virtual therapy is offered for clients in Colorado, Kansas and Washington.  

Virtual & In-clinic Feeding Therapy Packages:  

Following assessment, feeding therapy is offered in packages of 12, 16, or 24 sessions. Packages include the therapy sessions, a goals setting meeting, education/collaboration sessions, feedback, and one follow-up meeting. However, these packages are our standard guidelines – an individualized program can be built for you or your family’s needs.  

Not sure what the right therapeutic approach is for you? Set up a free intake with one of our feeding specialists. Get started by filling out this inquiry form. 

Signs You or Your Child May Need Help 

Every individual and family's experience with food is different, and there is no single line that separates "typical" from "needs support." Some signs that a feeding evaluation may be beneficial are subtle, while others are more obvious – and no two people experience feeding challenges in exactly the same way. The red flags list and resources below can help you reflect on what you are seeing and offer a starting point for recognizing when support may be worthwhile. Keep in mind that these are not exhaustive lists – if something feels off, trust that instinct even if you don't see it named here. 

Red Flags for Feeding Difficulties 
Problem Feeder v Picky Eater
Am I at Your Table?