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Hello

I'm Jennifer Urich, owner of East Valley Feeding Therapy, LLC and a licensed occupational therapist. I am a mother of three grown children and one spoiled pup.  I grew up in Oregon but have called Arizona home for over 25 years - long enough to have raised all threee of my children here and to know the East Valley community well.  I received my bachelor's degree in psychology from Arizona State University and later pursued my master's in occupational therapy from A.T. Still University.  I've spent over 30 years working with children, and more than a decade of that as a feeding specialist on multidisciplinary teams at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Over the years I've developed feeding groups and specialized programs at clinics across the Valley, and I've seen first hand how much more progress children make when therapy happens in their own home — at their own table, with their own family around them. That's what led me to focus on in-home therapy. I have seen the magic that therapy can bring to a family struggling with a child who won't eat or refuses to eat foods that provide needed nutrition. I love what I do and I cherish every child that I have had the privilege of sitting at the table with. 

My Approach to Feeding

  

 My approach has been shaped by years of sitting at kitchen tables with families who are exhausted, worried, and desperate for someone to tell them it's going to be okay. I've learned that feeding is never just about food. Feeding challenges are complex and multifaceted, whether a child is receiving enteral nutrition through a feeding tube, requiring formula supplementation, or struggling with severely selective eating. I believe in a holistic approach that considers not only the child but also the entire family system and their unique perspective on feeding. My goal is to help families navigate the many aspects of feeding, providing compassionate guidance and effective strategies that promote progress and confidence. In practice that might look like a child playing with food before ever being asked to eat it, or a family learning to read their child's hunger and stress cues so mealtimes stop feeling like a battle. At East Valley Feeding Therapy, I use a child-led approach that respects each child’s individual pace and comfort level. Every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy food, feel confident in their abilities, and thrive at mealtimes. I am here to support your family on that journey.
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