Body Acceptance — Health at Every Size
In my practice I am committed to creating a body-compassionate and weight-inclusive environment. I gently support clients who are ready to explore what life could be like if they were able to stop dieting, challenge societal views of body image, address unrealistic body standards, and learn how to build confidence and accept their bodies.
The unrealistic body standards of our culture are having a negative impact on our mental health. Poor body image is known to increase depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and eating disorders. My Health at Every Size (HAES) approach supports people of all sizes in adopting healthy behaviors (for the mind and spirit, not just body) that fit their lifestyle and improve their quality of life. I believe that all people deserve to have a positive body image, regardless of how society views ideal shape, size and appearance.
HAES & Intuitive Eating are not weight loss or diet programs. In fact, the first principle of Intuitive Eating invites us to “Reject the Diet Mentality.” Diet mentality is the idea that in order to be happy, one must conform to unrealistic beauty standards that are often misguided attempts to increase self-esteem and decrease anxiety. My goal is to help clients free themselves from the painful cycle of the diet mentality and learn how to achieve a sense of peace and acceptance of self that is not connected to weight or size.
Possible areas of focus in HAES therapy:
- Introduce the concept of intuitive eating.
- Learn and understand the impact fatphobia has had on body image and self-esteem.
- Increase body respect and acceptance.
- Feel relaxed and at peace around food.
- Let go of “diet mentality.”
- Untangle the connection between body weight and worthiness.
