Body image issues can stem from a variety of places - but most commonly from family messages (implicit or explicit), cultural messages (social media, TV, movies, magazines), sexual or relational abuse, bullying, or direct body shaming. Body image issues are extremely common, yet vary in severity from occasional negative self-talk to more severe experiences of eating disorders or depression.
Here at Denver Wellness Counseling, treatment for body image and self-esteem, often includes EMDR on life experiences connected to the negative body image and/or received messages - such as experiences of bullying, critical statements from a family member, witnessing body shaming from media sources, or any direct negative belief system related to body image or a specific body part (ex. I hate my stomach). Therapy for body image issues will also typically include a resourcing component, which involves strengthening or building adaptive neural networks and messages regarding identity and body image, such as "I am valuable," "My body is strong," "My body has created life."