Therapy
for individuals with disordered patterns of dietary intake.
"There are seven major steps to eating. Eating doesn't begin at the mouth!"



When children don't eat...
Having a child who is a fussy eater, or refuses food presents an emotional and logistical challenge for parents and caregivers. An interplay of concerns arises including worries about the child achieving adequate nutritional intake to support the significant growth and development that occurs in the early years.​
Relationship difficulties can also present, as mealtimes become battlegrounds between exasperated caregivers and their young charges.​
Even discerning between a picky eater and a problem feeder can be difficult. It is hard to know if perhaps food refusal is a change in your child's developing tastes, a developmental leap as they begin to assert some of their independence, a phase that will pass, or if there is something more occurring.
Dr Bujtor's approach

Dr Bujtor is an expert in paediatric feeding, specialising in all aspects of child feeding, including paediatric feeding and eating disorders and is a trained feeding therapist.
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She also personally understands first-hand the anxiety, stress and worry that comes with a child who won't, or can't eat, having a son of her own who experienced significant feeding difficulties and restrictive eating practices for many years of his early childhood, owing to anaphylaxis associated trauma.
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These experiences and her clinical training have helped to inform Dr Bujtor's empathic, yet entirely professional approach to therapy. She is personable, friendly, and above all else fun! This culminates to create an atmosphere in her therapy sessions that ensures the children she works with remain relaxed and open to tackling their food challenges.
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Dr Bujtor also deeply understands the importance of supporting the parents, caregivers and other family members, along with the patient, in the food therapy journey. It is important to recognise that feeding issues affect more than just the little one who is struggling to eat.
She takes a collaborative approach, that involves the whole family at different stages, and she works proactively with families and their unique personal circumstances to personalise their feeding therapy journey.
Therapeutic Approaches
Dr. Bujtor utilizes a comprehensive and individualized approach when working with children and adolescents who experience feeding and eating difficulties. Recognizing that each child is unique, Dr. Bujtor carefully tailors therapy to meet the specific needs of each patient. This often involves integrating a variety of therapeutic modalities to address the physical, sensory, and behavioural aspects of feeding.
Whether it's the play-based Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) approach, the supportive environment fostered by Family-Based Therapy, or the skill-building focus of Oral-Motor Therapy, Dr. Bujtor’s method is flexible and adaptive. By combining different therapies, she ensures a holistic and effective treatment plan that promotes healthy eating habits and a positive relationship with food. Below are some of the key approaches used in Dr. Bujtor’s practice:
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Sequential-Oral_sensory (SOS) Approach:
One of Dr Bujtor's preferred therapy approaches with younger children is the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding. This is an evidence-based program, grounded in the normal developmental steps, stages and skills of feeding that are identified in typically developing children.​ ​The program focuses on increasing a child's comfort level through play with a purpose in a non-stressful way, beginning with the ability to tolerate the food in the room and in front of the child, then moving on to managing touch and smell and finally enjoying the taste. Most of all, it is steeped in fun! Helping children to move beyond their individual barriers that prevent them from having an age-appropriate dietary intake, and discover the joyous world of food.
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Family Therapy
Family-Based Therapy involves the active participation of the entire family in the feeding process, fostering a supportive and nurturing eating environment. This approach emphasizes the importance of educating parents and caregivers on effective strategies to encourage healthy eating habits at home, ensuring that positive changes in feeding behaviors are sustainable and reinforced in the child’s daily life.
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Responsive Feeding Therapy
This therapy promotes a child-led approach to eating, empowering children to listen to and trust their own hunger and fullness cues. This method focuses on fostering a positive and stress-free relationship with food, where children are encouraged to eat at their own pace and make choices based on their internal cues rather than external pressures. By respecting the child's natural signals, Responsive Feeding Therapy aims to create a healthy and balanced approach to eating that supports long-term well-being.
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Oral-Motor Therapy
Designed to enhance the development of essential oral-motor skills required for safe and effective eating, including chewing, swallowing, and managing food within the mouth. This therapy involves targeted exercises and activities that strengthen the muscles used in feeding, helping children improve their ability to handle a variety of textures and consistencies. By focusing on these foundational skills, Oral-Motor Therapy supports the development of efficient and comfortable eating patterns, crucial for overall feeding success and safety.
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Sensory Integration Therapy
Aimed at addressing sensory processing challenges that can impact a child's ability to eat a wide range of foods. This approach focuses on gradually helping children become more comfortable with various textures, temperatures, and flavors through controlled exposure and sensory play. By desensitizing children to the sensory aspects of eating, Sensory Integration Therapy helps them expand their food preferences and enjoy a more diverse and balanced diet, making mealtime a more positive and less stressful experience.