FeelingatEase.org Urgent help

Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

Body Image Therapy and Counseling

On this page you will find therapists who list body image as a specialty, with profiles highlighting approaches, credentials and languages. Browse the listings below to learn more about professionals who support people working on body image concerns.

Understanding body image and how it affects you

Body image refers to the thoughts, feelings and perceptions you have about your body. It includes how you see your appearance, how you feel about your body's function, and the meanings you attach to weight, shape and physical features. For many people body image is influenced by life experiences, cultural messages, social media, relationships and health changes. Those influences shape expectations and comparisons that can leave you feeling dissatisfied, anxious or distracted by appearance concerns.

If you struggle with body image you may notice that it affects how you move through daily life - how you dress, whether you engage in social activities, and how you relate to food and exercise. Body image concerns can be experienced alongside other challenges such as low self-esteem, anxiety, or disordered eating behaviors. Your relationship with your body is complex and personal, and addressing it in therapy often involves unpacking both present-day triggers and deeper patterns formed over time.

Signs you might benefit from therapy for body image

You might consider therapy when worries about your appearance begin to interfere with daily functioning or well-being. Signs that body image is affecting you include persistent negative self-talk about your body, avoiding activities because of how you look, or feeling consumed by comparisons to others. If you notice routines such as obsessive checking in mirrors, frequent weighing, or rigid dieting and exercise practices that feel driven more by anxiety than by enjoyment, those are important signals too.

Emotional fallout can also point to the need for support. If body-related thoughts trigger shame, social withdrawal, or relationship strain, therapy can provide a space to explore those patterns. You do not need to reach a crisis point to seek help; many people benefit from therapy when they want to change how they think about and treat their bodies, to reduce distress, or to build healthier habits around eating, activity and self-care.

What to expect in therapy focused on body image

In early sessions you and a therapist will typically explore your history with body image, identify patterns that maintain distress, and outline goals that matter to you. Sessions often balance the exploration of feelings and the development of practical skills. You can expect a combination of reflective conversation and targeted exercises that help shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors over time.

Therapy might include practicing different ways of noticing body-related thoughts, experimenting with gentle exposure to feared situations such as social settings or mirrors, and learning coping strategies to manage intense emotions. Progress is usually gradual; you will likely work on small, attainable changes that build toward greater ease with your body. A therapist can also help you examine cultural and relational influences that shape your self-image, and support you in building a more compassionate daily relationship with your body.

Common therapeutic approaches used for body image

Several approaches are commonly used to address body image, and therapists often blend methods based on what you bring to therapy. Cognitive behavioral approaches focus on identifying and changing patterns of thought and behavior that maintain body dissatisfaction. Acceptance-based approaches work on changing your relationship to difficult thoughts and feelings so they have less impact on behavior. Mindfulness and somatic approaches encourage noticing bodily sensations and cultivating nonjudgmental awareness as a path to reducing reactivity.

There are also psychodynamic perspectives that explore how past relationships and internalized messages shape current body attitudes, and interpersonal approaches that examine how interactions with others reinforce or challenge negative self-perceptions. You will find therapists who list EMDR among their approaches, therapists who list internal family systems among their approaches, and therapists who list body-focused or somatic therapies among their approaches. Seeing which approaches a therapist lists can help you gauge whether their orientation aligns with how you like to work, but it does not replace a conversation about techniques and fit.

How online therapy works for body image and tips for choosing the right therapist

How online therapy can support body image work

Online therapy makes it possible to work on body image from a familiar environment, which can feel helpful when you are practicing new behaviors or addressing shame. Sessions typically take place via video or phone, and some therapists offer messaging or worksheets between sessions to support daily learning. Working remotely can reduce logistical barriers and allow you to focus on content rather than travel, and it can give you access to therapists who specialize in body image even if they are not located in your area.

When choosing online therapy for body image, consider how comfortable you feel seeing yourself on video and whether you prefer a face-to-face-feel or a more flexible, asynchronous approach. Technology should be a tool that supports therapy, not a barrier. You may want to ask about how a therapist structures online sessions, how they handle exercises that involve body exposure or mirror work, and what materials they provide to guide practice between sessions.

Practical tips for choosing a therapist who fits your needs

Start by clarifying what matters most to you - whether it is a particular approach, experience with specific issues such as disordered eating or gender-related body concerns, shared language, or a therapist who works from a culturally informed perspective. Search profiles for therapists who list body image among their specialties and pay attention to the ways they describe their approach and areas of focus. Read how they talk about goals and typical session work to see whether their style resonates with you.

Consider practical factors such as the types of sessions offered, languages spoken, and professional credentials. If certain therapeutic approaches appeal to you, look for therapists who list those methods among their approaches, and use initial conversations to ask how they integrate those strategies into work on body image. It can be useful to ask prospective therapists about how they measure progress and what you might expect after several months of work. Remember that fit is personal - a therapist whose language and values align with yours is more likely to support sustained change.

Moving forward with body image work

Seeking support for body image is a step toward creating more ease in daily life and relationships. Therapy is a collaborative process and you can shape it by sharing your priorities, pace and comfort level. As you explore profiles and read how therapists describe their work, keep in mind that approaches are tools rather than guarantees. The most helpful match is one where you feel heard, respected and able to try new ways of relating to your body.

Whether you begin with online sessions or with in-person options that are available to you locally, you can expect to build skills for managing distressing thoughts, to gain clarity about the influences on your body image, and to develop practices that support a kinder, more resilient sense of self. Use the listings above to compare focus areas, approaches, credentials and languages so you can find a therapist whose profile aligns with the way you want to work on body image concerns.

Browse therapist profiles by location

Alabama

99 therapists

Alaska

8 therapists

Arizona

102 therapists

Arkansas

58 therapists

Australia

252 therapists

California

680 therapists

Colorado

159 therapists

Connecticut

70 therapists

Delaware

19 therapists

District of Columbia

19 therapists

Florida

718 therapists

Georgia

169 therapists

Hawaii

29 therapists

Idaho

49 therapists

Illinois

265 therapists

Indiana

124 therapists

Iowa

35 therapists

Kansas

45 therapists

Kentucky

115 therapists

Louisiana

142 therapists

Maine

23 therapists

Maryland

122 therapists

Massachusetts

119 therapists

Michigan

256 therapists

Minnesota

99 therapists

Mississippi

67 therapists

Missouri

174 therapists

Montana

43 therapists

Nebraska

44 therapists

Nevada

49 therapists

New Hampshire

19 therapists

New Jersey

171 therapists

New Mexico

31 therapists

New York

457 therapists

North Carolina

274 therapists

North Dakota

7 therapists

Ohio

200 therapists

Oklahoma

137 therapists

Oregon

41 therapists

Pennsylvania

259 therapists

Rhode Island

14 therapists

South Carolina

133 therapists

South Dakota

21 therapists

Tennessee

107 therapists

Texas

763 therapists

United Kingdom

1668 therapists

Utah

66 therapists

Vermont

19 therapists

Virginia

116 therapists

Washington

94 therapists

West Virginia

28 therapists

Wisconsin

116 therapists

Wyoming

19 therapists

Find a therapist