Why Would Someone Like You Know Anything About Body Image?

Yes - I’ve been asked this plenty of times. I’ve also been asked “why would anyone listen to what YOU have to say about body image?”

A part of me feels criticized by these comments, that’s for sure. But I also know that a few life factors have given me a skin colour and a body size that doesn’t often get shamed or attacked in the common ways that we expect.

So does this mean that I don’t know anything about body image? Does this mean that there’s no way that I can support anyone who struggles with body image issues? Luckily… you get to be the judge of that.

The truth is, I’ve let these comments stop me from focusing on the topic of body image but it is something I feel passionate about and I thought it was about time that I shared my workshops on this topic again.

Here’s what you need to know:

At the beginning of my counselling career in 2009, I was thrown into a counselling role supporting women and men who struggled with eating disorders and body image. I had NO IDEA what I was doing back then. I was given a few pointers and some handouts and was sent on my way to hold groups, meal support and 1-1 support before and after meals for these clients at the treatment centre I was working at. I was not comfortable with this, and when I sought support from my colleagues I found out that nobody else was either!

I thought to myself… why is this such a taboo topic that nobody understands much about? This catapulted me into a deep dive of learning everything I possibly could to support these clients better. I read books and attended any training I could find on the topic of body image & eating disorders, which my managers supported me with completely.

Throughout this learning journey I went on, I developed a deep admiration and appreciation for all of the women who were ready and willing to make changes for themselves to create a healthy relationship with their bodies and food. I started to see that these women had a strong sense of intuition, and a deep calling to recover their innate power through connecting to their bodies.

I quickly became passionate about supporting women with this and have always loved sharing my knowledge with colleagues to be able to provide better care for our clients who wanted to heal.

When I started my current private practice focusing on maternal mental health, I noticed that body image was a hot topic in the privacy of my counselling sessions and that’s when I started sharing groups and workshops. There’s nothing I love more than gathering women together who are ready to heal through expanding their knowledge and self awareness.

So, I’ll leave it up to you - am I qualified to support you on your journey towards creating a healthy relationship with your body and food? If you think it’s worth a shot, join me for my next live workshop on this topic or simply check out one of my self-paced online workshops that you can access in your own time.

JEN REDDISH FROM THE ESSENCE OF YOU IS A REGISTERED MASTER THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLOR IN CALGARY, ALBERTA. JEN HOLDS WORKSHOPS, RETREATS, GROUPS & INDIVIDUAL THERAPY SESSIONS ON TOPICS PERTAINING TO MOTHERHOOD, BODY IMAGE, & THE PERI-NATAL PERIOD.

Need More Support?