Therapy for Body image issues
Body Image & Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Therapy in San Diego & Virtual Therapy in California, Florida, Maryland, Tennessee, Utah ANd Washington State.
Body image concerns deeply impact self-esteem, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Whether you're navigating everyday body image distress or struggling with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), these challenges are valid and deserving of care. At Eating Disorder and OCD Therapy, we help clients shift from body obsession to body peace using compassionate, evidence-based, and anti-oppressive approaches.
We offer in-person therapy sessions and virtual therapy for body image in California, Florida, Maryland, Tennessee, Utah & Washington State. We also offer recovery coaching for body image issues, which is available worldwide.
Who Is Body Image Therapy for?
We work with teens and adults of all genders, body sizes, racial backgrounds, and neurotypes who are experiencing:
Daily distress or anxiety about body appearance.
Social withdrawal or compulsive behaviors related to body checking, grooming, or comparison.
Internalized shame or self-hatred related to body size, features, or skin.
Co-occurring eating disorders or OCD
Diagnosed or suspected Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
How We Help You Heal From Body Image Issues:
We view body image distress through a relational, cultural and trauma-informed lens. We aim to get at the root of your body image suffering vs. solely focusing on symptom management. Depending on your needs, we integrate a variety of approaches:
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In CBT, we work on restructuring thinking traps and negative core beliefs about your body.
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In ERP, we work on reducing compulsions and avoidance behaviors related to appearance concerns to break the obsessive cycle fueling body image distress.
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In ACT, we learn to detach from unhelpful body image thoughts, utilize mindfulness skills and live by your values, even when it’s hard.
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In feminist therapy, we challenge oppressive beauty ideals rooted in systemic oppression- ultimately the goal is to reclaim the narrative over your body and realign with your values.
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In this modality, we explore how family of origin attachment dynamics, and current relationships shape your self-image. Having corrective emotional experiences in the therapeutic relationship to heal attachment wounds and develop a stronger sense of self and serve as a protective factor against body image triggers and distress.
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In IFS therapy, we work with protective parts of the self that developed in response to body image distress. Common “parts” in body image work include perfectionistic parts, people pleasing parts, eating disorders parts, self critical parts, etc. They all play a role in maintaining negative feelings towards the body (despite their good intentions) and often need to be heard and released of their burdens to make more room for your authentic self to lead your inner world.
Common Client Goals
Feel more at peace in your body
Reduce body-focused distress and anxiety
Ending compulsive behaviors (mirror-checking, grooming, comparing) and gaining your time and brain space back
Healing from negative body image stories and rewriting the narrative about your body
Increase self-compassion and self-trust
Live more fully and engage in valued activities without being held back by appearance anxiety
Understand and work through the roots of BDD or chronic body image struggles- often times trauma or eating disorders
What to expect in Body Image Therapy Sessions:
Sessions are available both in-person San Diego, CA and/or virtually in California, Florida, Maryland, Tennessee, Utah & Washington State.
Sessions are 50 minutes long unless otherwise agreed upon by your therapist.
Your first sessions will focus on establishing a positive therapeutic alliance and assessing your experience of body image distress.
From there, we collaborate on a treatment plan to help you develop a healthier relationship to your body.
We commonly focus on understanding your body image story, unlearning harmful societal beliefs about body ideals, heal underlying trauma impacting body image distress, create a coping plan to reduce the distress around body image triggers, learn to lead a values based life instead of one preoccupied by your appearance, practice response prevention techniques to reduce compulsive behaviors, utilize self compassion and mindfulness skills when coping with body image intrusive thoughts and somatic techniques to assist in building safety and reconnection to your body.
Overall, sessions are focused on building a new relationship to your body that is free of judgement, shame and self criticism. The goal is to learn to relate to your body the way a kind and loving parent relates to their child’s body.
Special Techniques We Use in Body Image Therapy:
Coping skills for both body image distress and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
Integration of body liberation and social justice perspectives
Neurodivergent-affirming practices
Gentle exposure work, to reduce appearance related anxiety in specific contexts
Response prevention strategies to cope with appearance based rituals (these fuel the distress in the long run even though they might provide some temporary relief).
Parts work (IFS) to deepen healing for clients with trauma or inner conflict
Unlearning anti-fat bias and utilization of anti-oppression-informed interventions
Narrative therapy to rewrite your body image story
We collaborate with you to identify what safety, empowerment, and self-acceptance look like —while helping you detach from beliefs about size, appearance and self worth. Over time, you’ll start seeing your body through the lens of curiosity, compassion and neutrality, and begin living a more authentic and fulfilling life.
Long-Term Benefits of Body Image Therapy:
Freedom from obsessive thoughts about perceived flaws
Decreased mirror checking, reassurance-seeking, and avoidance, increased capacity for more important thigns in life!
Stronger emotional regulation and reduced anxiety
Increased ability to engage in social, family and romantic relationships
Greater sense of self-worth, not based on appearance
A more compassionate, embodied relationship with yourself
Frequently Asked Questions About Body Image Therapy:
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While it is true we live in an appearance obsessed culture that creates widespread dissatisfaction, not everyone feels consumed by negative body image thoughts in a way that makes it difficult to get through daily life. If you feel anxious or distressed more often than not when it comes to your body, therapy is likely warranted.
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Nope! It is a common co-occurance, however many people have body image issues and no eating disorder. For more info on eating disorders, check out our eating disorder service page!
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Body image therapy will include a special focus on your relationship to your body. Quality body image therapy will also include specialized techniques for managing appearance anxiety. Some sessions may feel like “regular therapy” but will typically connect back to the body image distress.
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You can fill out an appointment request form or email us anytime: info@eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com
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Cost is dependent on the clinician you work with and the state you reside in (variability for cost of living in different areas). You can check out our rates and insurance page for more info!
Interested in Learning More About Body Image healing?
Check out these blogs
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At Eating Disorder OCD Therapy, we offer compassionate, empowering care informed by a blend of evidence-based treatment, liberation psychology, and wisdom from our own lived experience. We strive to create a space where clients feel understood rather than pathologized.
We provide therapy for Eating Disorders, OCD, Body Image concerns, Trauma, and Perinatal Mental Health. We also offer Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), Group Therapy (globally), Recovery Coaching (globally), and Clinical Supervision for clinicians.
We are neurodiversity affirming, queer and trans affirming, Health at Every Size aligned, and strive to be actively anti-racist.
We are currently accepting new clients for in-person therapy in San Diego, California as well as virtual therapy services throughout California, Florida, Maryland, Tennessee, Utah & Washington.