Therapy for Body Image
It can be very difficult to have a good relationship with your body and with food when you do not fit into the VERY narrow and unrealistic beauty standards of our culture.
Eating concerns fall on a spectrum of disordered eating behaviors and beliefs that may be disruptive to everyday living, but are not diagnoseable from mental health professionals, such as a Binge Eating Disorder. Individuals who have body image concerns and/or struggle with disordered eating can experience a number of different emotional and physical responses to food, their weight, and the way they look. Some common experiences for people with body image concerns and disordered eating include:
Cutting out entire food groups such as gluten, carbs, sugar, etc.
Thinking you will be happier if you lose X amount of pounds
Waiting to pursue a dream job, hobby, or relationship until you lose weight or look “your best”
Not wanting to buy new clothes to fit into the body you have
Feeling anxious about eating in front of others or dining out
Judging foods as “good” or “bad” and judging days as “good days” or “bad days”
Have food rules
Feel guilt or shame over eating “bad” or “forbidden” foods
Cyclical patterns of starting diets
Feeling like a failure for not being able to lose the weight, or keep it off
Therapists at Nashville Collaborative Counseling Center can help you to develop a positive relationship with your body and food, as well as find liberation from toxic diet culture.
When You Seek Counseling with Nashville Collaborative Counseling Center:
You will reconnect with your inner cues of hunger and fullness
You will help you form a relationship to food is pleasurable, satisfying, and nourishes your body
You will be find enjoyment over eating foods without anxiety, guilt, shame, or obsessing
You will create a healthy, balanced relationship with your body
You will learn intuitive eating according to your hunger, preferences, and culture
You will find joyful movement habits that are good for your body and mind
You will recognize the harmful effects of diet culture and fight back
You will treat your body with kindness, respect, and care
Body acceptance counseling is best for those who understand they engage in disordered eating patterns, that these a significant negative impact on their life, and they are ready to find a path to healing. This type of therapy helps you to understand the complexities of your disordered eating patterns and learn to accept yourself as you are- creating a positive, joyful experience with eating and your body.
What to expect:
WEEK ONE- Intake
During the first session, you will meet with your therapist to define the counseling relationship, discuss details of informed consent, and practice policies. Your therapist will gather information about you and your biological, psychological, and social history and how this is impacting your current situation. You will also discuss the goals that you have going forward together.
WEEK TWO & BEYOND- Body Acceptance Therapy
Together, you and your counselor, will utilize evidenced based psychotherapy models to treat the struggles you are experiencing after your traumatic event. This therapy includes perspectives such as Health At Every Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating.
Each session is designed to discover how the factors contribute to your current distress. Together we will process the current state of your experience with disordered eating, how it is affecting your current lifestyle, and build in coping skills to support you with management of any distress.
TERMINATION- 1/2 Final Sessions
In your final sessions, you will review your goals to ensure you are satisfied with your counseling experience and that your work with your therapist has met your expectations. You will also outline a plan going forward to ensure that you are able to retain what you have learned and implement all of your new skills outside of session.
What will you pay for help with your body acceptance?
Body Acceptance counseling is a fee for service program at Nashville Collaborative Counseling Center. We accept all major forms of payment.
Session fees are $125 per hour and we recommend a minimum of an 8 week commitment.
Your Next Steps
It is possible to move into a life that is free of fear, shame, guilt, and anxiety around your disordered eating patterns. You can claim freedom and not feel as if you have to look over your shoulder or doubt yourself or others. You will feel a sense of pride knowing that you have taken back your power and created a life on your own terms.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY