Feeling good in your body and freeing yourself from body shame is attainable for you.
Is this you?
YOU’VE BEEN CAUGHT IN NEGATIVE BODY IMAGE CYCLES. YOU'VE BEEN FEELING LIKE THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU AND YOUR BODY FOR SOME TIME, BUT YOU’RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. YOU’VE STOPPED DIETING AND RESTRICTING FOOD AND YOUR BODY HAS CHANGED AS A RESULT AND THAT FEELS HARD.
YOU’RE A BEGINNER TO DOING BODY IMAGE WORK OR EVEN MORE SEASONED BUT YOU STILL FEEL STUCK AND ALONE. YOU WANT TO FEEL OK ABOUT YOUR BODY BUT YOU’VE GAINED WEIGHT AND IT’S CHALLENGING TO RECON WITH THIS. YOU FEEL SHAME ABOUT YOUR BODY SIZE AND SOMETIMES HATE IT.
YOU’RE ALSO WONDERING, DO OTHERS FEEL LIKE I DO? AM I EVER GOING TO FEEL DIFFERENTLY?
IF THIS IS YOU, YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE!
This body image support & learning group would be a good fit for you if you:
Identify as a woman over the age of 18.
Are ready and want to make peace with your body and you’re open to explore how shame, perfectionism, diet culture, and judgment show up for you.
Don’t want to go on this journey alone anymore. You want to connect with others that are experiencing similar struggles. You feel lonely in this work and want to be part of a community of women to explore and receive support.
Want to take a step into action. You may still have doubts, but you know that something needs to change.
Want practical skills to learn how to navigate your relationship with your body.
Are in recovery from an eating disorder, disordered eating, or chronic dieting. Either in the past or currently.
Appreciate taking the time to journal even if you don’t do it on a regular basis.
Are not sure if you are ready for 1:1 counseling OR you’re getting 1:1 support and want additional group support.
Hold yourself to high standards and feel like you can never get things related to your body “right”.
Wonder if you are going to ever feel better. You have read the books or followed people on social media. But, nothing seems to be getting better in the way that you desire.
Hold hatred or disgust for your body
Are a beginner to intermediate level when it comes to body image work. Likley you’ve heard of concepts and/or have worked on stuff on your own, but you’re still learning.
This body image support & learning group would not be the right fit for you if you:
Need a higher level of care for eating disorder support.
Don’t enjoy support from a group/from a community
Cannot respect the various identities of others in the group, including but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, body size and ability.
Do not have a mostly consistent schedule that would allow you to be present for the virtual group sessions. Coaching sessions will be recorded and available to participants for 1 week, but the group is best when everyone is present live.
What you can expect
yOU CAN EXPECT TO FIND SUPPORT FROM PARTICIPANTS IN THE GROUP. HERE, YOU CAN GAIN TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR NAVIGATING BODY IMAGE CHALLENGES. YOU CAN HEAR YOUR EXPERIENCE REFLECTED IN OTHERS, FEEL VALIDATED, AND RECEIVE COMPASSION FOR YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE. YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM ME AS YOU WORK THROUGH THE TOUGH SPOTS. TOGETHER, WE WILL GATHER AND PRACTICE SKILLS THAT WILL HELP OUTSIDE OF OUR MEETINGS.
What Kinds Of Things Will You Learn, Develop, and Explore In This Body Image Support & Learning Group?
The tools to have a kinder, more compassionate relationship with your body.
Examine how you have inherited body image stories and messages from your family. We will unpack them and rewrite those narratives.
Use time and space to explore how patriarchy, racism, and capitalism have affected your relationship to your body. And, how it might be impacting it currently.
Understand how existing coping skills may be impacting your relationship with your body.
Engage in active live journal writing with a prompt to respond to. These questions can help you dig deeper into the places that haven’t felt accessible before. With time, you can process what you uncovered.
Learn grounding/breathing techniques and opportunities for reflection in between sessions.
You will walk away with way more than we can cover in six weeks!
You deserve to have a peaceful relationship with your body that’s not filled with hatred and disgust.
After all, you and your body have been through a lot.
How Does The Body Image Group Work?
Every week you’ll receive a Body Image Video lesson via email that will be dropped live. You will be asked to watch the video lesson, review materials and do any homework for the session to prepare yourself. Then, WHEN WE MEET in our body image GROUP SESSION on zoom, WE CAN DIVE IN - this is where the magic happens!!
This is a place for processing, question asking, “me too-ing” and a place where I get to support you (yay for this!) and where you get to get support from others. This is a space for community learning and a place for you to connect with others.
What Will We Talk About in the Body Image Group?
Vehicles Not Ornaments, Why We Don’t Start With Body Love
THEMES: BODY NEUTRALITY, SELF-COMPASSION, SAFETY
She Really Let Herself Go: Messages About Women and Bodies
THEMES: OPPRESSIVE BEAUTY IDEALS IMPACT, SELF-OBJECTIFICATION
I Hate My Belly: It’s Complex, But It Matters
THEMES: BELLY "LEGACIES", SELF-COMPASSION, CAPITALISM
I Have No Idea What My Body Feels: Small Steps You Can Take to Change Your Body Image & Reconnect to Yourself
THEMES: SEPARATION AS A TOOL OF SURVIVAL, INTEROCEPTION
The (Body) Stories We Tell Ourselves: How to Navigate Negative Body Image Thoughts
THEMES: BODY NEUTRALITY, SELF-COMPASSION, SAFETY
Mirror Battles: How the Things You Do Daily Impact Your Relationship With Your Body
THEMES: BODY CHECKING, SELF-OBJECTIFICATION, RELATIONSHIP TO CLOTHES
I Weigh. Hint: No Numbers Here
THEMES: BODY IMAGE RESILIENCE, WEIGHT SEPARATE FROM WORTH AND VALUE, HOW WE MOVE FORWARD
As a group, we will work together. You will get support to create a sense of self-worth that is not based on body shape and weight. You will receive the tools to appreciate your body and connect with others experiencing similar challenges.
TESTIMONIALS
“This group has taught me that this is a process, not linear, but that we never go all the way back to the beginning. Thoughts I had were similar to others no matter if we viewed ourselves as a larger or smaller bodied. Writing out our thoughts and sharing with others was empowering. Katherine did an amazing job connecting with us/me on that and helped me feel extremely validated. Katherine’s compassion for everyone in the group was amazing. The pacing of each session was also really good for me. I never felt rushed, but the time went too fast.”
-Erin, BIB Participant
“The way the group was mediated was exceptional. Katherine’s style of listening and ensuring what she heard correctly created a safe, non-judgemental space to get vulnerable and share real issues/limiting beliefs. I'm most taking away the strength to keep fighting for a life full of experiences. Our discussions solidified my belief that my body is just a vessel and I’m so much more.”
-Amy, BIB participant
“My experience of this group was a breath of fresh air. Feeling so disconnected from people (particularly during a pandemic!) as I wrestled with understanding my "post-three-babies" body was hard work... I always felt like I was alone in my struggles, because so few people talk about how they feel about their body. Connecting with other women to seek our own acceptance and growth with a paradigm that runs counter to the predominant mindset in our society - was priceless. I deeply appreciated Katherine's calm, deep, and gentle compassion for each of us, for the land she inhabits, and for time (her mindfulness of time reminds me to be mindful of it in other areas of my life).”
-Andrea Y., BIB participant
“I liked how welcoming it felt right from the beginning. I was nervous before we started but immediately felt at ease. It was wonderful to be able to connect with other women who have experienced similar things, in a safe and supportive environment. I know now that I am not alone in my suffering and that there are other people who understand me!”
-Jocelyn M, BIB participant
It felt intimidating and vulnerable at first to speak openly with people who I did not know about very personal feelings related to my body and body-image. Katherine made the conversations feel safe and comfortable from the first moment and I was surprised at how open we all came to be with one another. The support, acceptance and insight that I gained from this experience are invaluable. If you are dreaming of a life lived in joyful cooperation with your body as opposed to fighting against it, I strongly recommend this group.
-Marni, BIB participant
“I am most taking away from the group the extremely powerful role that family and culture play in the way we see our bodies and others' bodies. As we delved into beauty standards throughout time, the way diet culture portrays only thin bodies, and especially how our family talked about size and weight, it really clicked with me that my body image struggles are largely not my fault. I felt empowered after the classes. Like it wasn't my fault that I was struggling with negative body image, and that my brain wasn't broken for wanting to be thin so desperately. I know going forward I will pay more attention to how diet culture can brainwash us, and I know now that I can actively work against it. I also know how I can help prevent it from reaching my nieces and loved ones in the future.”
-Katelyn C., BIB participant
“I loved the experience of just hearing about others journeys through eating disorder recovery/self image issues. I was hesitant about it at first, as I had never been in a group setting surrounding my recovery, but it was so good for me to hear that I am not alone.”
-Maya, BIB participant
Commonly Asked Questions:
Is this group a body positivity group?
While body positivity in it’s origins has a lot of wonderful parts to it, it has since then been distorted to communicate that you “need” to be happy and thin in order to like your body. Additionally, it sends a message that you also need to feel positive toward your body in order to change your relationship with it. So it’s a yes and a no answer. Yes, we talk about elements of body positivity in it’s origins and we also include the scaffolding that is required in order to cultivate a relationship with your body that’s less hateful. Those things include body appreciation, body neutrality, body compassion and much more! While this group is focused on helping you to increase the positive regard that you have for your body, body positivity may not be the place that you start and that’s ok! And, if body positivity is your end goal, that’s great too! There is space for everyone no matter where they are at in their body image healing journey, no matter their goals are.
Do I have to be in a good place with my body to join this group?
Absolutely not! This is exactly what this group is for! No matter how messed up your relationship to your body is you will find that others in the group have experienced the same thing now or in the past.
Do I need to be in a thin body to be part of this group?
No! In every group there is a range of body sizes and this is the wonderful part of being in a group. No body is the same and everybody’s experience is different. We will honor that difference while also connecting to the things that you share with others.
Is this group only for young people?
No! There is a range of ages in this group and that is what makes this group so healing and unique. It’s never too late to get support with your body image. You’re never too old. We make LOTS of space for differences in this group including, but not limited to, age. You deserve support no matter your age. And let us break this stigma that only young people suffer when it comes to body image. In fact, unfortunately body image can worsen without help and support as we age!
What if I’m nervous to talk about my relationship to with my body with others?
Of course you are! There are few things that feel more vulnerable than showing up with a group of strangers (not for long!) to talk about your body. AND there is tremendous value in being in community and healing together. The feeling of no longer being alone is invaluable.
What If I’ve had bad experiences with groups in the past?
That’s something important to consider, groups are not for everyone. AND, consider what you didn’t like about the past group. Was it the instructor? Was it the people in it? Was it the material? Figuring out what you didn’t like and how this group might be different will likely help you to make a decision.
What are the details of the 3 week nutrition coaching add-on?
This group nutrition coaching opportunity will be an open space to be coached by Katherine. You will bring questions and stuck places that you’re experiencing as you work on healing your relationship to food. Each week she will invite someone to be coached (or 2-3) and we will all learn from what comes up. You’ll be offered tools, practices and ways to move beyond where you’re at now.
How Do I Know If I Should Add 1:1 Coaching w/ Katherine?
If you want 100% support where the focus is just on you and where you get direct coaching, this would be a good fit for you. Over the years, most participants express that they wished they had time to process and work through things after the group is done and this is perfect for that.
What’s group coaching?
Group coaching is intimate group conversation and learning space that’s focused on deepening awareness to what you’re experiencing now, taking action toward what you desire, offering accountability from the leader and from other members of the group, and setting specific goals of what you want to move toward. It’s a space where you with your group get to tap into each other’s collective wisdom!
Do You offer payment plans?
We offer the option of splitting your payment into two payments at no additional cost. The first payment is due up front and the second payment will take place halfway through the group.
Can I get a refund for this group?
There are no refunds offered for this group.
About Your Coach
Katherine Metzelaar, MSN, RDN, CD
Katherine is a Seattle-based registered dietitian and nutrition therapist who helps people repair their relationship with food and body free from perfectionism, fear, and shame. She works with clients to help them create more flexibility and freedom with food by divesting from diet culture and helps them to cultivate peace with their bodies. She specializes in women’s health, disordered eating, eating disorders, and body image healing.
She believes that when food and body image concerns take up a ton of headspace, people loose their power, presence, and joy. She seeks to help people step back into their power, embrace joy and pleasure, and live life more abundantly.
Other Services Offered At Bravespace Nutrition
Our body image support group isn’t the only service provided at our Seattle, WA-based practice. Our dietitians are also skilled in providing nutrition therapy for body image, binge eating, intuitive eating, and chronic dieting. We also offer Anorexia treatment, Bulimia treatment, business coaching, and more! Please visit our resources, FAQ page, or blog for more helpful information!
For questions and to register please email: info@bravespacenutrition.com