Therapy for body image and Body Dysmorphia

If your feelings about your body are holding you back from living the life you want, we see you. If you find yourself constantly thinking about your body, unable to stop the cycle of self-criticism, we’re here to help. Whether you’re struggling with body dysmorphia, binge eating, body image issues, or disordered eating, our team in Los Angeles can help you find a healthy balance.

Why We Specialize in Therapy for Body Image and Body Dysmorphia

At Sagebrush Psychotherapy, we recognize that struggles with body image and body dysmorphia can deeply impact your sense of self and your ability to live authentically. These challenges often go beyond individual experiences, rooted in societal pressures, unrealistic beauty standards, and systems designed to make you feel inadequate. We’re here to disrupt that narrative. Therapy for accepting your body is an act of rebellion—a defiant step toward reclaiming your worth from the industries and systems that profit from self-criticism.

Our compassionate, evidence-based approach provides a safe space to explore and dismantle the shame and criticism that may hold you back. We honor the unique experiences of every individual, including those of transgender and gender non-conforming people navigating dysphoria or societal expectations. Therapy with us is about building a healthier, more empowering connection with your body, rooted in self-compassion and authenticity. Together, we’ll work toward breaking free from harmful narratives and embracing your body on your terms.

Los Angeles therapy office specializing in body image, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, transgender identity, binge eating, body positivity, fat liberation, and body neutrality.
Body dysmorphia treatment and body image therapy in Los Angeles
Los Angeles mental health practice specializing in body dysmorphia therapy

Healing Body Image and Body Dysmorphia: Therapy in Los Angeles

Understanding Body Dysmorphia

You might find yourself obsessing over perceived flaws in your appearance, unable to quiet the negative thoughts. These feelings could lead to compulsive behaviors like excessive mirror-checking, avoiding social situations, or seeking constant reassurance from others.

If this sounds familiar, you might be dealing with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). We specialize in helping you navigate these challenges. Together, we will:

  • Explore the Origins: Understand the root causes, including influences from trauma, family dynamics, and societal pressures like patriarchy.

  • Address Thoughts and Behaviors: Challenge unhelpful patterns and develop healthier coping strategies.

  • Build Self-Esteem: Foster a stronger sense of self-worth.

Body Image Struggles In Los Angeles

Living in Los Angeles might amplify your body image challenges. In a city renowned for its entertainment industry and emphasis on physical appearance, the pressure to look a certain way can feel inescapable. Beauty ideals might feel constantly in your face.

At Sagebrush Psychotherapy, we recognize how these influences might be affecting you. We create a space where you can process these pressures and reconnect with your values and self-love.

Body Image and Social Media

In today’s social media-driven world, you’re likely exposed to filters, editing, and curated images all the time. You might feel pressured to conform to these beauty standards, feeling like you’re not enough or like you constantly need to change your body to match societal, ever-changing ideals.

We’ll help you explore ways to detach from these external expectations and embrace a mindset that prioritizes your values and well-being.

Body Dysmorphia in Transgender Bodies

If you’re a transgender individual, body dysmorphia might intersect with gender dysphoria, creating unique challenges. Perhaps you are navigating transitioning or dealing with the discomfort of living in a body that doesn’t align with your gender identity. These challenges can heighten focus on perceived flaws.

At Sagebrush Psychotherapy, we offer an affirming space for you to explore these complexities. Our approach includes:

  • Affirming Your Identity: Providing a safe environment where your gender identity is validated and respected.

  • Navigating Gender Dysphoria: Exploring ways to cope with the emotional and physical discomfort tied to gender dysphoria.

  • Challenging Internalized Norms: Addressing the impact of societal beauty standards and their intersection with gender identity.

  • Building Resilience: Developing tools to foster self-acceptance and confidence in your authentic self.

Embracing Fat Liberation, Feminism, and Body Neutrality

Fat liberation is about rejecting societal biases against larger bodies and advocating for your rights and dignity, no matter your size. It’s a movement that challenges the structural inequalities and cultural narratives perpetuated by systems like patriarchy, which often tie a person’s value to their appearance. Body neutrality complements this by encouraging you to accept your body as it is, regardless of societal norms. Together, these movements aim to dismantle weight stigma, promote inclusivity, and support the empowerment of all bodies.

At Sagebrush Psychotherapy, we are committed to these values and approach body image struggles with a feminist lens. We understand how societal pressures, reinforced by patriarchy and media, might make it difficult for you to feel at peace with your body. Our therapy sessions focus on:

  • Challenging Weight Stigma: Identifying and addressing internalized and external biases that impact your self-worth.

  • Exploring Societal Influences: Understanding how body image intersects with feminism, media, and cultural expectations.

  • Building a Supportive Community: Connecting you with others who share similar goals and fostering a collective sense of empowerment.

  • Advocating for Self-Love and Liberation: Helping you celebrate your body as it is while fostering a mindset that prioritizes self-compassion and authenticity over societal standards.

Supportive counseling session for body dysmorphia and self-esteem in Los Angeles

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) often stems from a combination of trauma, environmental influences, and societal pressures. Experiences of bullying, criticism, or abuse—particularly those centered on appearance—can leave lasting emotional scars, fostering deep insecurities. Family dynamics, such as overly critical or appearance-focused relatives, may also contribute. Additionally, societal beauty standards and the influence of media can intensify feelings of inadequacy, particularly during vulnerable stages like adolescence. These environmental and cultural factors, combined with personal experiences, shape the distorted self-perception central to BDD.

  • Rituals in BDD are repetitive behaviors or mental acts, such as mirror checking, grooming, or seeking reassurance, performed to address distress about perceived flaws in appearance. While they may temporarily reduce anxiety, these rituals often reinforce negative thought patterns, increase preoccupation with appearance, and worsen emotional distress, interfering with daily life.

  • While social media doesn’t directly cause body dysmorphia, exposure to edited images and unrealistic beauty standards can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy or dissatisfaction with one’s appearance, especially for those already vulnerable.

We recognize the diversity of experiences when it comes to body image, and we honor your unique journey. Whether you’re seeking support for body acceptance, disordered eating, or exploring fat liberation, we’re here to meet you where you are.

You deserve to live a life free from the burden of constant self-criticism and societal expectations. Reclaim your time, energy, and mental space by addressing your relationship with your body and food.

Proudly serving the Los Angeles community and surrounding areas. We offer both in-person and virtual therapy sessions to accommodate your needs.