Therapy for Body Image in Chicago
Identity-affirming care in an intentionally-small and inclusive environment in Logan Square and Avondale
Are you struggling with your body image?
Our relationship with our body will be the longest relationship any of us have. Framing body image as a relationship gives us the space in therapy to discuss a growing, changing thing. A negative body image can shape how you eat, move, dress, engage in relationships, talk to yourself, parent, and show up at work.
Hormonal changes, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, perimenopause, aging, illness, and constant exposure to social media, comparison, and changing diet trends can intensify it.
At Common Thread Counseling Chicago, we hope to validate your experience, help you feel understood, connect you with resources, and develop practical tools for navigating this phase.
Our Specialized, Holistic Approach to Therapy for Body Image
Body image concerns can overlap with disordered eating, anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphic disorder, and therapy can differentiate what’s going on in your unique experience to get to the root of the issue and find tools that will work for you.
We want to provide a space for you to feel heard and understood.
The goal is not to force you to "love your body," but to practice separating negative thoughts from your worth and value, alter your relationship with food and movement in a way that feels healthy for you, and help you live an authentic life regardless of how you feel about your appearance.
Therapists at Common Thread can help.
Techniques We Use at Our Therapy Practice
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The most evidence-backed approach for habits; focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and directly targets the patterns that maintain a habit.
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Helps you make room for uncomfortable urges/emotions without acting on them, while committing to actions aligned with your values, as well as practicing cognitive defusion.
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Dialectical behavioral therapy, which is useful when habits are tied to emotional regulation difficulties; teaches distress tolerance, mindfulness, and alternative coping skills.
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Reduce stress reactivity and improve your awareness of body sensations, emotions, and cycle-related patterns.
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Strengthens communication and support in your relationships, especially during role transitions and midlife changes.
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Support women whose symptoms are tied to past trauma or who feel disconnected from their bodies.
