Beyond Cravings: Understanding and Treating Pica: A Clinical and Practical Guide to Pica Behavior

Beyond Cravings: Understanding and Treating Pica
By Dr. Dan Boynton, Ph.D.

Why would someone crave and eat chalk, dirt, paper, or soap?

Pica is the persistent urge to eat non-food items. Often misunderstood, overlooked, or casually dismissed as a strange habit. But for many individuals, from children with autism to adults coping with trauma, pica is a serious behavioral and medical issue that demands deeper understanding.

In Beyond Cravings, clinical psychologist Dr. Dan Boynton, Ph.D., shines a compassionate and research-driven light on this hidden struggle. Through real-world case stories, clear explanations, and practical treatment insights, he unpacks what makes pica so complex and what can be done to help.

Inside, you’ll discover:
• What drives the urge to eat dirt, ice, chalk, soap, or other non-food substances
• How pica shows up in children, teens, and adults, especially those with autism or intellectual disabilities
• The sensory, psychological, cultural, and nutritional roots behind the behavior
• How to distinguish pica from OCD, self-harm, or attention-seeking behavior
• Effective, evidence-based interventions that bring real relief
• Tools for parents, therapists, educators, and caregivers to respond with confidence and care

Whether you’re a clinician, teacher, parent, or simply curious, this book offers a rare blend of science, empathy, and practical solutions.

Don’t miss this opportunity to understand one of the most overlooked behaviors in mental health and developmental care.