DYSMORPHIA & BODY IMAGE

 

 

As a psychotherapist and counsellor in Edinburgh, I regularly treat issues relating to dysmorphia and body image.

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Are you experiencing any of the following:

 

• Frequently examining oneself in mirrors or reflective surfaces to evaluate a perceived flaw, or avoiding them altogether to reduce anxiety.

• Intense preoccupation and persistent, intrusive thoughts focused on one or more specific body areas that are unacceptable to you.

• Compulsive skin picking in an attempt to make it appear smoother.

• Constantly comparing one’s appearance to other people.

• Excessive grooming or exercise to attempt to correct or improve the perceived defect.

• Avoiding and camouflaging through covering up perceived imperfections with makeup, clothing, accessories, or specific body positioning.

• Seeking reassurance by repeatedly asking others for confirmation about their appearance but doubting or dismissing the reassurance given.

• Social withdrawal such as avoiding school, work, or social activities out of fear of being seen or judged.

• Shame and Guilt encompassing strong feelings of being unacceptable.

• Low Self‑Esteem through a diminished sense of self‑worth tied to the perceived flaw.

• Significant emotional distress, including high anxiety or depressive symptoms.

• Suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm.

• Unnecessary medical procedures and pursuing repeated cosmetic or dermatological treatments with little relief or satisfaction.

 

 

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MY EXPERTISE AND HOW PSYCHOTHERAPY CAN ASSIST WITH STRESS, BURNOUT & OVERWHELM

 

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THERAPIES & METHODS​

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Person Centred  |  Working collaboratively in the present, trusting in and acting from your unique needs, preferences and perspectives.

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Psychosomatic Awareness  |  Regulation tools to unify the body with the mind and process difficult emotions: develop self-awareness, create physiologic change

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Psychoeducation | Develop understanding in your psychological state, clarifying ways to cope and thrive

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Emotional Processing  |   Being with you, where you are

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Solution Focused  |  Draw on established character strength, resource and ability as a way to set goals to move forward and work towards

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Cognitive Behavioural  |  Challenge dysfunctional thought processes to reconstruct cognitive patterns, regulate emotion and improve coping strategies

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Existential  |  Exploration to establish meaning, purpose and value systems in life and relationships​

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Psychodynamic |  Examine the past to understand how it effects present beliefs and behaviour​

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Creative Arts |  Integrate artistic mediums to further articulate and process emotional states 

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Attachment Theory |  Understand how early relationships shape current relational patterns​​

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To discover more about psychotherapy, how we can work together and for any questions you have, please contact me ​​​​​​