By Kristen Hopf
Integrating psychology, therapeutic practice, and osteopathic principles to support families facing pediatric feeding challenges.
Why we eat–and why we sometimes struggle to–often has as much to do with the mind as it does with the body. For Morgan Heiser, PsyD ’25, MS/Psy ’20, TLLP, BCBA, LBS, that insight guides her clinical approach. She recently completed a doctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of Michigan’s Mary A. Rackham Institute, where she provided assessments and therapy for autistic individuals while honing her focus on pediatric feeding disorders.
Eating can be a multifaceted process shaped by many factors. For some children, sensory sensitivity, anxiety, oral-motor challenges and behavioral struggles can all influence their ability and desire to eat. Because of this complexity, treatment for pediatric feeding and eating disorders is inherently interdisciplinary—medical professionals, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists and dietitians all play essential roles.
“Food is more than just fuel,” Dr. Heiser says. “It’s comfort and, sometimes, a source of anxiety. That’s why it’s so important to look at eating through a biopsychosocial lens.”
Early signs of disordered eating or feeding issues can emerge in infancy or toddlerhood—gagging, vomiting, food refusal or extreme selectivity are just a few examples of what that can look like. But the signs are not just physical, and behavioral patterns and anxiety around meals can signal deeper issues.
“I always think about behavior as a form of communication. It’s giving us the reason why—we just have to do a little bit of investigating,” says Dr. Heiser. “Our goal as clinical psychologists is to give them tools to create warmth, connection and to make mealtime an easier and more enjoyable experience for everyone there.”
With a background in behavior analysis and extensive experience working with neurodivergent children, Dr. Heiser is building a career at the intersection of psychology, medicine, and human connection. From emotional eating to pediatric feeding challenges, she sees therapy as a crucial starting point for families striving to build healthier, more mindful relationships with food. When these difficulties involve autistic children or those with co-occurring conditions, the strain often affects the entire household. Many caregivers arrive at therapy feeling depleted and unsure of how to move forward.
We’re not just helping a child eat. We’re supporting a family’s well-being, their routines, and their sense of connection.
Dr. Morgan Heiser
“By the time a family comes to us for therapy, the family and also the child might just be exhausted, and mealtime has been a really difficult experience for them to navigate,” she says. “We’re not just helping a child eat. We’re supporting a family’s well-being, their routines and their sense of connection.”
Dr. Heiser’s training at PCOM shaped her integrative, evidence-based approach to behavioral health through a whole-person, osteopathic lens.
“PCOM is really uniquely set up for this work,” she says. “We’re in a holistic setting that values interdisciplinary collaboration.”
Dr. Heiser will soon begin a postdoctoral fellowship at CHOP, focusing on pediatric feeding disorders. Ultimately, she wants families to know they’re not alone.
“It can feel isolating, especially when you’ve tried everything and it’s still not working,” she says. “But the right therapy and the right provider can make all the difference.”
© 2025 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
