Responsive Feeding & Reflective Practice with Grace Wong

Grace Wong on inclusive, flexible feeding modalities and how we can bring a more reflective spirit to our work.

In this episode, Grace discusses the ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) umbrella diagnosis and its shortcomings, Responsive Feeding Therapy (RFT); how it was developed. who was part of its curation and its rationale, what each of the 5 interrelated values offers, why moving away from manualised approaches can help more people and how dietitians can use their supervision space well.

 

In conclusion, Fi and Grace each share how they both engage in their own reflective work. 

Here Fi and Grace chat about;

• • What Grace has been up to since her last chat with Fi on TMD podcast (2017).

• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID); Grace explains what the DSM-V diagnosis is, along with its main strength and its shortcomings. 

• Responsive Feeding Therapy (RFT); Grace introduces us to the curated framework developed in collaboration with Dr Katja Rowell, Dr Jo Cormack, and Heidi Moreland and the rationale behind its development.

• • The 5 interrelated values at the core of RFT; Grace provides us with context as to why RFT has been developed in this way.
  • Grace steps us through each value;  
    • Autonomy; why this is first and foremost and how autonomy creates safety.
    • Relationship; the harm which can occur when feeding is taken outside of relationships. 
    • Internal motivation; how it helps behaviour change to be more sustainable and helpful long-term.
    • Individualised care: how centring our client story can guide us as practitioners

• Competence; how this works and is weaved in with RFT

• Moving away from a one-way model and manualised approach; why not being manualised is the best approach for a whole lot of people. 

• How dietitians can use their supervision space well and how we can unpack in supervision to not get in our clients way.
• Reflective work; Fi and Grace both share examples of how they carry out their own reflections and how its okay to do this work individually, collaboratively and in supervision.  

More about Grace: 

Grace Wong MSc, RD, CEDS-S is a registered dietitian specializing in feeding and eating disorders.  She works with all ages and provides medical nutrition therapy from a weight inclusive lens.  Grace is experienced in working with a broad range of eating challenges along with complex co-existing conditions including medical conditions, developmental concerns, mental health concerns, addictions, and trauma.  Besides her clinical practice, she provides training and supervision for health professionals in Canada and overseas.

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