BODY IMAGE COUNSELING IN BOZEMAN, MT
"If we feed shame the secrecy and silence it craves— if we keep the struggles with our bodies buried inside – the shame will fester and grow. We must learn to reach out to one another with empathy and understanding.”
~Dr. Brené Brown
Shame & Body Image
You’re struggling with body image. Often, feeling shame or embarrassment about your body. Perhaps, you do a lot of comparing your body and appearance to that of other people. People concerned with body image may think that they are over or under weight and are preoccupied with appearance, food, and exercise.
This can be an exhausting way of living your life! Food is something that no human can live without, so obsessing over eating or not eating can take up a lot of space. Body image issues can plague anyone, regardless of age, sex, gender, size and/or body type.
Signs and Symptoms of Poor Body Image
Some signs related to concerns of body image include spending an excessive amount of time comparing bodies.
Additional concerns with body image are:
a preoccupation with the body
obsessive thoughts about food
extensive or extreme exercise
a lack of acceptance for how your body currently looks
Body Image Counseling in Bozeman, MT Can Help You
Getting started with a new therapist can seem like more work than it is worth. We get it. This isn’t something we take lightly and want to be sure you are as comfortable as possible with the process. The most fundamental part of the work is establishing a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship.
As you get started working together, your therapist will take an individualized approach to your treatment. We will work on exploring the root of the problem, using Humanistic theoretical orientations. Some questions we might explore in therapy for body image concerns are:
Where did the emphasized value of a certain body image came from?
When did you feel accepted or not accepted in your younger years?
After exploring those questions, we’ll have a little more information to work with. We can then examine which behaviors may be increasing symptoms and which help to offer relief from symptoms. This process can be helpful to establish a baseline for where your treatment should go as we continue working together.
Often, our therapists take a narrative-based approach to treatment for body image concerns. Through this type of counseling, we help you look at identity and story with a multi dimensional lens. By taking this perspective, we can recognize that our worth is based on a depth of qualities, rather than a single focus on body image.
Self Acceptance is Possible Through Body Image Counseling
After treatment for body image concerns, you will feel a higher level of self acceptance. You will be able to understand the sources of your pain. You can also use your strengths and personal values as guides to help navigate all of life's challenges. But, most importantly, you will feel seen, heard and understood. Our caring therapists look forward to helping you in therapy for body image concerns.
You do not have to walk through life trying to achieve an unrealistic standard of body image. Therapy with an expert counselor will help you see life in a more balanced way. Confidence is possible with professional support. Let us help you feel more in control of the life you want to live.
Start Therapy for Body Image Concerns in Bozeman, MT
You are an incredible individual who has so much to offer to the world. Your perceived body image should match that level of excellence! Our professional, caring team of therapists are here to help you at our Bozeman, MT counseling clinic. We want to make taking that next step simple. To start therapy with Bridger Peaks Counseling:
Make an appointment online, at your convenience
Meet with one of our expert Bozeman therapists
Begin to feel more confident on in all areas of your life
Additional Therapy Services, Workshops and Resources from Bridger Peaks Counseling
In our Bozeman, MT counseling clinic, we can help you through a number of issues including anxiety, worry, stress, depression, and more. Our caring team of therapists and professional mental health staff are here for you and your loved ones. Visit us for addiction treatment, group counseling sessions, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing for trauma therapy, opportunities to explore coping patterns, marriage counseling and couples therapy, postpartum depression and anxiety counseling, mindfulness training, workshops, and more tools for client education. Your therapist can also work with our psychiatric nurse practitioner to provide psychiatric care and medication. We look forward to talking with you soon!