People can experience body image issues at any point. Women are more likely to seek counseling for body image issues than men, but people of all genders may experience body image issues from time to time. Body image issues can lead to disordered eating or clinically diagnosed eating disorders, so counseling interventions should improve a person’s relationship with their body so a disorder doesn’t progress.
Therapist interventions for those experiencing body image issues might include work on self-worth, confidence, and self-love. People with past trauma may benefit from addressing it to increase their self-worth and heal their body image issues.
Counseling interventions may also practice stopping or changing unhelpful patterns of thinking that lead to a negative focus on the body. Additionally, therapists may choose to engage in conversations about the societal barriers that contribute to a culture of body shame and discuss how that affects the individual.
