I have borrowed Andrew Seuber's approach to working with a negative body image, that is from the inside out.
He suggests that "The negative image is understood as a dissociated and shame-based “part” of the personality in need of understanding and compassion, achieved via mindful awareness, “parts” dialogue and trauma processing.
The first step is to create healthy separation between the "observing" or aware Self and the part(s) absorbed in the eating disorder via mindful awareness.
Once this separation between the "whole" self and part of self is established, the Gestalt polarity tradition (empty chairs) is utilized to develop understanding of the shame-based part.
Understanding leads to compassion for the eating disordered part from a non-enmeshed state of consciousness, aka the aware self, the experiencing self, the observing self.
Healing of the eating disordered part occurs when that part no longer feels exiled as a "not-I" and is assisted in processing the traumatic roots of the disorder."
I believe the path to healing body image issues involves understanding the root of how our current relationship with our bodies developed, as well as setting a new foundation based in a new narrative about our bodies that is firmly planted in acceptance and values-based self-knowledge, self-care, enhanced self-esteem, and loving kindness.
Body Image issues often go hand-in-hand with eating disorders and obesity and weight issues. People can judge their body harshly or have a negative relationship with it. Body image issues are often one of the latter topics that get discussed in therapy, because they are often so personal, and in some cases they may even be unknown to the client. There are a significant number of ways to address body image issues, but one that always is effective somewhat is to say to clients "Your body doesn't have a mouth. If it did, what would it say, and how would it say it?" Putting these words to one's body is a great and refreshing start to dealing with these important issues.
I have specialised in body positivity and have worked to address how bodily concerns and eating distress can impede or take over everyday life, and affect one's relationship with themselves and others.
Dr. Burgess has experience providing therapy for body image concerns. She has extensive experience providing evidence-based treatment for body image concerns using therapy modalities such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness and self-compassion approaches, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Moonsun Jang is a therapist with Grounded Minds who specializes in body image, self-esteem and eating disorders. Please reach out today to schedule a free 15 minute consultation call with Moonsun to learn how she can support you.
Discovering the path to your authentic self can feel overwhelming, especially when you constantly battle with low self-esteem and feeling like you are "not enough". My goal is to empower you to lead a life that is truly authentic and deeply fulfilling. You have already taken the courageous step of seeking help, and that alone is a testament to your strength and resiliency.
How you perceive and feel about yourself is a key indicator of how happy and emotionally stable you are. You may be feeling insecure, critical, helpless, incompetent or unlovable. I work with clients to explore the root of these beliefs and challenge them. This allows my clients to unlearn thoughts and beliefs that are harmful and limiting while learning to genuinely love and appreciate themselves and the value that they bring to the world. I would love to hear from you to determine if I can help you re-imagine how you see yourself. Reach out to book a free consultation.
The way we think and feel about our body can impact our sense of confidence and self-worth. It can feel almost impossible to improve our body image, especially if we are often faced with others’ expectations. Therapy can provide a supportive space where we can begin to explore the factors that influence our body image and ways to move towards self-acceptance and kindness. Reach out today to learn more about my approach and your journey to healing.