Working relationally with obesity

People living in a larger body with obesity experience frequent social stigma and alienation from society and experience emotional distress, which can impact the quality of daily life. As a result, many experience chronic shame. People who live with fuller figures often come to therapy. This workshop considers the experience of weight-based stigma, how shame can be evoked in relationships, and how to work sensitively and relationally with overweight clients.

In this workshop, we will explore:

• the shame and pain behind shape and size;
• weight-related stigma;
• the functions of food and eating;
• an exploration of physiological and psychological hungers;
• an exploration of relationship and food script;
• complex meaning of food and eating;
• working relationally and sensitively with obesity;
• experience of being overweight and the realities of living in a larger body;
• body dissatisfaction;
• physiological aspects of obesity;
• medical interventions for weight and body size.