Therapy for Body Image

Getting ready for a night out can turn into trying on every outfit you own and still feeling uncomfortable. A glance in the mirror can lead to scrutinizing your stomach, comparing your body to a friend’s, or deciding you need to lose weight in order to feel confident. You may find yourself setting another goal to change your body, convinced that reaching it will finally let you relax. When body image takes up this much space, everyday experiences can become exhausting negotiations about how you look.

I provide body image therapy in Dallas for teens and young women struggling with appearance concerns, disordered eating/eating disorders, and the pressure to change their bodies. These struggles might look like avoiding pictures at a school dance, feeling anxious about wearing a swimsuit with friends, repeatedly checking your reflection, or missing a social event because you feel uncomfortable in your clothes. Disordered eating can include skipping meals before going out, following rigid food rules, feeling guilty after eating, or using exercise to compensate for the guilt.

My approach uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP). CBT helps you recognize and challenge beliefs that connect your appearance to your worth, likability, or success. We’ll explore thoughts like “Everyone will notice if I gain weight” or “I can’t enjoy this trip unless I’m smaller” and practice more flexible ways of responding. ERP involves gradually approaching situations you’ve been avoiding while resisting behaviors that keep body anxiety going. This could mean wearing an outfit without repeatedly checking the mirror, being in a photo without zooming in on your body afterward, or attending dinner without restricting beforehand to feel more comfortable.

Body image work can help you spend less time evaluating your appearance and more time participating in your life. Progress might mean getting dressed without letting the mirror determine your mood, enjoying a meal with friends without planning how to make up for it, or allowing a vacation to be something you experience rather than a deadline for weight loss. You can build a relationship with your body that leaves room for care, respect, and experiences that matter to you, even on days when confidence feels harder to find.