What is health at every size?
Sizeism has a profound impact on mental health. Many people in larger bodies delay getting the care we need because of the lack of skill and additional trauma we experience at the hands of so-called healthcare providers. Therapists are certainly no exception to the long list of professionals who cause harm to folks in larger bodies.
As a HAES provider, I do not conceptualize body size or shape as a problem. Living within a society that purposefully rejects and harms larger bodies is, however, a problem with some very serious consequences to wellbeing.
Whether you are coming to therapy to directly address body size or you are coming to therapy for another reason and don’t want a clinician who will assume body size is your issue, being in a therapeutic space that collaboratively rejects diet culture and supports body-acceptance can be transformative.
A HAES approach does not stop with supporting psychological needs, but also addresses practical needs. Folks in larger bodies may also need referrals to affirming primary care, an experienced massage therapist, resourceful online communities, or ideas about increasing access such as keeping a seat belt extender around, negotiating airplanes, or how to check out seating at local venues before arriving for an event. You are not weird for needing this kind of care. You deserve it.
