SPECIALTY · BODY IMAGE DISTRESS
You deserve to feel
at home in your body.
For many people, struggles with body image have been there so long they feel like just a part of who they are. The critical inner voice that comments on how you look, what you ate, or how you compare to others can be exhausting to live with. Whether you are a teen, an adult, or a parent concerned about someone you love, this is a space where you can finally begin to find some peace.
YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE THIS
What body image distress feels like from the inside
The critical voice about your body has probably been there for a long time. It can feel like everyone else has figured out something you haven't.
You spend significant time and mental energy thinking about how your body looks, checking mirrors, or avoiding them, or both.
Getting dressed can feel defeating before the day has even started.
Being in situations where your body feels visible or exposed, at the beach, in a fitting room, in photos, is exhausting or avoided.
The critical inner voice about your body is louder than almost anything else.
You find it hard to be fully present in your life because part of your attention is always on how your body looks.
UNDERSTANDING BODY IMAGE DISTRESS
What is body image distress?
Body image distress refers to a negative, preoccupying, or painful relationship with one's physical appearance. It exists on a spectrum, from persistent dissatisfaction to body dysmorphic disorder, and does not require a formal eating disorder diagnosis.
Body image struggles are extraordinarily common, and are deeply influenced by culture, family, social media, trauma, and identity. They are real, they are valid, and they are very treatable.
SYMPTOMS
Common signs of Body Image Distress include:
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Frequent negative thoughts about your appearance
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Comparing your body to others
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Seeking reassurance about your appearance
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Low self-worth tied closely to appearance
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Mirror checking or mirror avoidance
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Avoiding photographs or social situations
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Difficulty concentrating due to body-focused thoughts
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Significant distress around clothing or getting dressed
TREATMENT
How I treat body image distress
This is slow, meaningful work, and it is absolutely possible. Therapy for body image distress focuses on understanding where the critical narrative came from, gently challenging distorted perceptions, and building a more compassionate and peaceful relationship with your body.
Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E)
We identify and challenge the specific thoughts and behaviors that maintain body image distress (mirror checking, avoidance, comparison, and reassurance-seeking), and gradually build more flexible, compassionate responses.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
We explore where the critical inner voice about your body came from. We explore the messages, experiences, and relationships that shaped how you see yourself. Understanding the origins is often the first step toward changing the narrative.
HAES and Body Neutrality
My practice is rooted in Health at Every Size principles. The goal of treatment is not to love your body. It is to make peace with it. To give it less of your mental space and energy, and reclaim that for the rest of your life.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
01
Do I need to have an eating disorder to work on body image?
Not at all. Body image distress is its own valid reason to seek support, entirely independent of eating disorder behaviors. If your relationship with your body is affecting your quality of life or mood, that is enough.
02
Is the goal to love my body?
Not necessarily. Body love is not a realistic or necessary goal for everyone, and that framing can feel pressuring. The goal is peace. We start by giving your body less of your mental energy and attention, and reclaiming that space for the rest of your life. Body neutrality is often a more accessible and sustainable destination.
03
I think I might have body dysmorphic disorder. Can you help?
Yes. I have experience treating body dysmorphic disorder using CBT and exposure-based approaches. If you suspect BDD, a thorough assessment in our first sessions will help clarify the diagnosis and guide treatment.
04
Do you take insurance?
I am an out-of-network provider and do not bill insurance directly. A superbill is provided, which you can submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement. I recommend contacting your insurance provider to understand your out-of-network benefits before we begin.
SESSION LENGTH
SESSION FEE
PAYMENT
INSURANCE
45 minutes
$250
Credit & debit
Out-of-Network
per session
cards accepted
Superbill provided