Body Image Issues

Body image is how you see yourself when you picture yourself in your mind or when look in the mirror. Most people worry about how we look occasionally or see at least one aspect of our physical appearance we don’t like. But for some, these occasional thoughts can become frequent and disruptive. People with negative body image issues may avoid social situations and experience problems in relationships, depression, anger, anxiety, isolation, self-loathing and/or an obsession with weight loss. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (or BDD) is one example of a body-image disorder, characterized by persistent and intrusive preoccupations with an imagined or slight defect in one's appearance. The good news is that body image can be changed and BDD can be treated. Contact one of TherapyDen’s body image issues experts for help today!

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Meet the specialists

 

I am a fat liberationist which has meant significant client work and training on issues around bodies and how we can all come to love our own bodies.

— Meg Higgins, Clinical Social Worker in ,

You are tired of hating your body and the rollercoaster of dieting and weight loss. There is a different way. Let’s work together to heal your relationship with your body and food and start your journey toward radical self-love and acceptance.

— Dana Lawson, Licensed Professional Counselor in Tigard, OR
 

Healthy Body Image is not popping out of bed to wink at yourself in the mirror with a narcissistic grin. Just like feelings about anything else, how we feel about our size/shape/body parts fluctuates, for better or for worse, due to lots of factors. But how able are you to ACCEPT yourself physically right now? Your body IS what it is right now- whether that's optimal in your opinion or not. It is much easier to change, grow, and improve, when we can accept what currently exists.

— Kathryn Gates, Marriage & Family Therapist in Austin, TX

Everyone has issues with their body image, to some extent. I am curious about where and when this belief first started, and what role it plays in your life today.

— Caroline Burke, Therapist in New York, NY
 

Imagine spending your life with the people and things you love, without worrying about what you ate or how long you worked out today. Imagine feeling fulfilled, like you deserve to be happy: that you're good enough just as you are. Through therapy, you can feel at ease in your body, make peace with food, and live a life that reflects your true values.

— Sabrina Samedi, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in Westlake Village, CA

Most of us have felt, at one point or another, that our body's size or shape is somehow wrong. For those of us who identify as fat, or whose bodies are otherwise considered atypical, it can feel impossible to distinguish our authentic feelings about our bodies from the forces that profit off of our self-criticism. I approach our work from a fat-positive, all-bodies-are-good-bodies perspective that prioritizes individual bodily autonomy and experience.

— Abby Weintraub, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in ,
 

I am completing my certification in the Be Nourished program- one of the only training programs on disordered eating that centers anti-opppression curriculum! And I have been working in fat liberation spaces for the last 10 + years.

— Maria Turner-Carney, Clinical Social Worker in TACOMA, WA

Most of us have felt, at one point or another, that our body's size or shape is somehow wrong. For those of us who identify as fat, or whose bodies are otherwise considered atypical, it can feel impossible to distinguish our authentic feelings about our bodies from the forces that profit off of our self-criticism. I approach our work from a fat-positive, all-bodies-are-good-bodies perspective that prioritizes individual bodily autonomy and experience.

— Abby Weintraub, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in ,
 

Too often we are told we are not good enough and we need to change how we look, sound, move etc. Entire businesses run on making us feel less than. In such a cultural environment, being ourselves fully and unapologetically is the best revolution we can engage in. I work with clients using tenets of HAES and Intuitive Eating to create tailored programs of radical self love and body diversity.

— Neil Panchmatia, Counselor in Portland, OR

I've always enjoyed working with clients seeking to understand and/or improve their relationship with food and their bodies. My experience is with behavioral visits in a medical/surgical weight loss setting, as well as a multi-disciplinary eating concerns team in a college counseling setting. I believe that comfort within our bodies is essential to self worth and that there can be value in understanding the stories we have been conditioned to tell ourselves about the space we occupy in the world

— Kristen Batchelor, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in Kannapolis, NC
 

We will deconstruct myths and perceptions about bodies and work toward removing value, stigma, and judgment from your relationship with your body. Accepting and working with the body you have today. Learn how to do no harm, but take no shit! Feel empowered to live your truth! Your body is the least exciting thing about you.

— Angel Whitehead, Psychotherapist in Blacksburg, VA

Do you find yourself spending hours in front of the mirror? Have you ever felt that wave of anxiety when your go-to pair of jeans fits a little different than they did yesterday? Your body image is not a superficial problem. Your body is your home, a place in which you deserve to feel safe, peaceful, and connected. When you're at war with your body, its exhausting, frustrating, and maybe even intolerable. It's time for you and your body to get on the same page. Let's talk about it.

— Chloe Cox, Psychotherapist in Irvine, CA
 

For over five years, I've supported clients in enhancing their body image. My approach integrates a Health At Every Size, Feminist, and Anti-Racist perspective, prioritizing weight-neutral care, fostering body acceptance, encouraging joyful movement, and elevating self-worth.

— Christina Arceri, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York, NY

HAES practitioner Intuitive Eating Looking through a social justice lens Fat positive, I live in a bigger body myself

— Miranda Mulcrone, Clinical Social Worker in Chicago, IL
 

You are tired of hating your body and the rollercoaster of dieting and weight loss. There is a different way. Let’s work together to heal your relationship with your body and food and start your journey toward radical self-love and acceptance. I practice therapy from a Health at Every Size (HAES), intuitive eating, and anti-diet approach.

— Dana Lawson, Licensed Professional Counselor in Tigard, OR

Using evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and self-compassion techniques, I work with clients to explore the root causes of their body image concerns and develop new, empowering perspectives. Together, we address the emotional and psychological factors contributing to body dissatisfaction and focus on building a more balanced and compassionate view of yourself.

— Marcia Keesee, Licensed Professional Counselor in Tulsa, OK
 

We all deserve to feel good about our bodies- but for many of us, that's complicated by years thinking or hearing that there's one right size or shape that we need to attain. I support you in sorting out diet culture programming from what's right for your health and well-being, and developing confidence and healthy habits that do not require a certain size.

— Abigail Thompson, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in New York, NY

Stuck in the cycle of trying to change, fix or control your body? Exhausted from patterns of dieting, an inner critic, and difficulty feeling comfortable as you are? Together we can explore your relationship to your body and start creating more inner peace.

— Carina Hartley, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor in , CA
 

I extensive experience in working with individuals who struggle with body dysmorphic issues.

— Francine Way, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Long Beach, CA