About Thrive! Pediatric Feeding & Therapy

Elizabeth Clawson

Dr. Elizabeth Clawson, MS, PhD, LCP, HSPP, is a highly respected pediatric clinical psychologist renowned for her contributions to the field of pediatric psychology. She is the co-founder of the Pediatric Feeding Institute and the owner of Thrive! Pediatric Feeding Therapy.

With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Clawson specializes in treating children with feeding disorders. She is dedicated to utilizing the TR-eat® model (Transdisciplinary Effective Assessment and Treatment) to address feeding problems in children. Her expertise is evident through her numerous research publications, presentations, and consultation contracts in the areas of child clinical psychology and pediatric feeding therapy.

Dr. Clawson attended Washington & Lee University and Randolph Macon Woman’s College. She obtained her MS and PhD degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine allowed her to gain experience in pediatric feeding therapy and hospital consultation/liaison intervention. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents, where she worked with children and adolescents with brain injury, chronic illness, and neurobehavioral disorders. Throughout her career, she has worked at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. 

Dr. Elizabeth Clawson

As the Co-Founder of the Pediatric Feeding Institute, Dr. Clawson is a knowledgeable clinician and an engaging speaker. She seamlessly integrates her clinical expertise with research-based outcomes to support the intervention strategies taught in the highly acclaimed Mealtime Miseries training course. The Pediatric Feeding Institute also provides training in treatment interventions through workshops, seminars, and on-site consultation. Dr. Clawson has been co-conducting the Mealtime Miseries workshop since 2007 and has had her research on pediatric feeding disorders published in professional publications and peer-reviewed journals.

Click here to access online courses and stay updated on upcoming live training events. 

Licensed Clinical Psychologist: 

Affiliations, Certifications and Memberships: 

  • National Register of Health Service Providers 
  • Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, APA Div 53 
  • Society of Pediatric Psychology, APA Div 54 
  • Pediatric Rehabilitation Psychology, APA Div 22 
  • Feeding Matters 
  • International Association of Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing 
  • Zero to Three 
  • First Steps of Indiana 
  • Newburgh Buddy Ball 

Rick Clawson

Rick Clawson, MBA, is a highly experienced and respected business and marketing professional. He possesses a deep understanding of strategic development, operations and management.

Rick earned a degree in economics from Washington and Lee University and obtained his MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has a strong marketing, communications and project management background, having previously worked at Siddall, Inc., and Mumford Marketing.

During his nearly decade-long tenure as a program manager at the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Rick oversaw grants management, public relations, special projects, marketing, and research across various programs.

At the Southeastern Institute of Research, he managed customized market research to support strategic business decisions for clients. Currently, Rick dedicates his efforts to supporting the Basic Utility Vehicle, an initiative that provides low-cost, affordable transportation solutions and positively impacts lives in 33 countries around the world.

At Thrive! Pediatric Feeding & Therapy and Pediatric Feeding Institute, Rick manages day-to-day operations and oversees all business affairs including client liaison functions, course management, logistics, business development, marketing, human resources, and accounting.

Charitable Missions Rick works with: 

Rick Clawson