Pediatric psychologists who specialize in feeding disorder are rare — and even rarer in outpatient or home-based settings. In this episode of Coral Currents, Dr. Laura Austin breaks down how psychology fits into an interdisciplinary feeding therapy team: supporting caregiver acceptance, helping families implement home programs, navigating ABA involvement, and knowing when to refer for further medical screening.
This course is designed for SLPs, OTs, and other feeding therapy providers who want to understand when and how psychology can improve outcomes for children with PFD and their families — and how to talk to families about it.
This course includes two components: the Coral Currents podcast episode (~50 minutes) and a bonus pre-recorded office hours session (~45 minutes) featuring a live case consultation and provider Q&A with Dr. Austin. Both components are required for course completion.
Upon completing this course, learners will be able to:
- 1 Describe at least 3 ways a pediatric psychologist can support families and feeding therapy teams working with children with PFD
- 2 Explain the physical basis of PFD and why strength, sensory, and coordination challenges — not willfulness or hunger — are the primary drivers of feeding difficulty
- 3 Describe how fear, anxiety, and maladaptive feeding patterns develop as secondary effects of PFD rather than causes
- 4 Identify at least 2 clinical indicators that suggest a referral to psychology or further medical screening may be warranted for a child in feeding therapy
- 5 Describe considerations for navigating ABA involvement in feeding therapy using a collaborative, feeding-therapist-led approach
- 6 Explain the principle that sensory readiness precedes motor skill development in feeding therapy and describe how this shapes clinical decision-making
- 7 Identify at least 2 ways providers can support families in understanding and accepting a PFD diagnosis
| Time | Topic | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00–2:00 | Introduction — host and guest overview | |
| 2:00–10:00 | The role of psychology in PFD: why it is underrepresented and why it matters | 1, 2 |
| 10:00–18:00 | What psychology looks like in practice: parent support, provider collaboration, cultural considerations | 1, 2 |
| 18:00–24:00 | Pacing, timelines, and helping families with acceptance | 2, 3 |
| 24:00–30:00 | Provider Q&A: navigating ABA involvement in feeding therapy | 4, 5 |
| 30:00–39:00 | Provider Q&A: food as motivator — when and how to use external reinforcement | 4 |
| 39:00–47:00 | Provider Q&A: when a child is stuck — ruling out medical and oral motor factors before addressing fear and anxiety | 4 |
| 47:00–50:00 | Wrap-up and resources |
| Time | Topic | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00–2:00 | Introduction and case context | |
| 2:00–16:00 | Live case consultation: interdisciplinary clinical reasoning for a complex pediatric feeding patient, including medical red flags, sensory-motor principles, and flavor expansion | 1, 4, 6 |
| 16:00–20:00 | Reflection: what the case teaches us about interdisciplinary collaboration | 1, 6 |
| 20:00–22:00 | Provider Q&A: drooling — when and how to address it clinically | 6 |
| 22:00–24:00 | Provider Q&A: drooling — bandana use and cueing with a four-year-old | 6 |
| 24:00–31:00 | Provider Q&A: tethered oral tissues — navigating surgical decisions with families | 4, 5 |
| 31:00–36:00 | Provider Q&A: when a child won't take the last leap — balancing fear, motor, and medical considerations | 4, 6 |
| 36:00–43:00 | Provider Q&A: hunger and satiety as learned behaviors — the myth of "just get them hungry enough" | 2, 3 |
| 43:00–45:00 | Naming PFD: why saying it out loud is one of the most powerful things a provider can do | 7 |
Total instructional time: approximately 95 minutes across both episodes = 0.15 ASHA CEUs.
To complete this course, all learners must:
- Listen to both the podcast episode (~50 min, available on Spotify) and listen to pre-recorded office hours session (~45 min, available to registered learners only)
- Complete and pass a 10-question multiple choice post-course quiz with a score of 80% or higher. Unlimited retakes are permitted. Each question corresponds to one learning outcome.
- Submit the course evaluation
This course is designed for:
- Speech-language pathologists working with pediatric clients with feeding disorders
- Occupational therapists working with pediatric clients with feeding disorders
- Other members of interdisciplinary feeding therapy teams, including dieticians and early intervention providers
Prerequisites: No prerequisites required beyond basic familiarity with pediatric feeding therapy practice.
Required materials: No additional materials required beyond a device capable of audio playback.
This course is available on demand through the Coral Currents podcast on Spotify. Access begins upon course registration. This course is available for ASHA CEUs starting June 10, 2026, and will no longer be available for ASHA CEUs after June 10, 2027. Registered learners will be notified by email if the course is updated or retired.
Dallas, TX
Dr. Laura Austin is a pediatric psychologist with over 23 years of specialization in pediatric feeding disorder. She spent 21 years working in an inpatient intensive feeding program in Dallas, TX, collaborating side-by-side with SLPs, OTs, dieticians, and physicians. She now operates Austin Petrie Psychology, an outpatient practice focused on children and families with PFD and ARFID. Dr. Austin is licensed to see clients via telehealth in 43 states through SPAC certification and is paneled with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna in Texas.
Lindy is a pediatric speech-language pathologist and Clinical Lead at Coral Care, overseeing a team of pediatric therapists across multiple states. She specializes in natural environment intervention, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) implementation, and caregiver coaching across early childhood through adolescence — with a focus on strengthening generalization and participation in real-life communication contexts. Outside of work, Lindy loves running, jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with her husband, children, and two very energetic dogs.
To request accommodations prior to this course, email support@joincoralcare.com with subject line "CE Accommodation Request."
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