Body Image and Soul

Article Contributed by Carolyn Costin, MA, M.Ed, LMFT, FAED, CEDS and Keesha Broom, MFT

A Different Approach

Body image dissatisfaction and disturbance are primary features of individuals with eating disorders.

Unfortunately, trying to tackle body image issues through traditional body image groups or assignments can actually interfere with the recovery process.

Helping clients see and appreciate their bodies from a soul perspective can be a powerful tool in healing not only negative body image but underlying issues as well.

People with eating disorders often equate their value with their weight and scrutinize their bodies to validate or invalidate their worth. These individuals are often hyper-focused on their bodies, noticing every perceived pound gained or lost, every fluctuation in their bellies or thighs.

Traditional body image exercises, such as body tracings, or mirror work, can unwittingly support an over emphasis on the body and continue to elevate it’s importance as an area of focus. This is something like telling people, “Don’t think about a white horse.” Of course a white horse immediately comes to mind.

Treating The Disorder

At Monte Nido we offer what we call “Body and Soul Group” where we help clients focus on their soul selves, their inner core, while simultaneously finding gratitude and respect for their bodies. Soul self refers to the authentic, innate essence that each person is born with; the “being” part of human being.

Our soul self does not care about scales, fat grams or clothing sizes. In our current cultural climate this part of self can often get lost, pushed down or ignored. Often people with eating disorders are so disconnected from their soul self that they come to think of themselves as only having a body and mind.

Clients need help understanding and reconnecting with their soul selves and realizing that their bodies are their “earth suits” – the physical shells that house their souls – and that although their mind is important, there is more to who they are.

Most clients have not had mentoring around connecting with and nurturing their soul. Through body and soul lessons we reinforce the things that are truly important, like the size of their heart; and those that are not, like the size of their thighs.

We build on concepts such as how our minds may care about what someone weighs or how far they ran, but our soul self does not concern itself with those things, but rather how kind, compassionate or loving the person is.

Daily Life

Body and soul lessons include assignments like having clients write a letter to their body from their soul self and writing soulful blessings to read before meal times.

Clients can be asked to make a list of “Soul moments” or things that touch them deeply and share these with each other. They can draw angel cards each week and use these as inspiration.

These practices all help clients bring a sense of sacredness to their lives. Mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga also help clients to “go inside” and gain a sense of inner awareness.

Clients also benefit from having full, meaningful lives modeled for them. They need to see role models who demonstrate that beauty is not determined by muscles or makeup, thinness or heaviness, lost weight or gained curves.

It helps for clients to see therapists, friends and loved ones who live rich, soulful lives, who love and accept their bodies unrelated to their shape or size. Spiritual connection, body love and acceptance can be contagious.

By helping clients realize that it is the size of their hearts and the depth of their souls that truly count, we can put body image matters back where they belong; perhaps an annoyance or bother, perhaps nothing at all, but never an issue one would compromise their health or sell their soul over.

To see more details on how body image affects eating disorders click here

Carolyn Costin
Founder /Chief Clinical Officer
Monte Nido& Affiliates

Keesha Broome
Clinical Director
Monte Nido, Malibu

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on December 5th, 2014
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com