Written by: Dr. Charlotte Markey Body image is sometimes defined as how we think and feel about our bodies.  For a long time, I’ve thought that definition is far too narrow.  Body image is much more about how comfortable we are with ourselves; how comfortable we are in our own skin. I suggest this broad ..read more

Written by: Caitlin Alfonso, LMSW As summer kicks off, some people might be feeling discouraged. Maybe they are thinking about how they didn’t get their “summer body” just the way they wanted it or they’re worried about their skin being too dark from the sun or not tan enough. This is your friendly reminder that those unkind thoughts are messages often portrayed in the media, but they do not deserve your energy or time! Spoiler alert: Your body is your summer body! Your body that you have, in this very moment, is enough! Your body that you have is a beautiful summer body! Now, with that being ..read more

Written by: Dr. Charlotte Markey Research shows that most girls’ understanding of themselves and their body image develops right around the same time that their bodies are changing due to puberty. These changes are likely to affect body image. Some scientists have suggested that because girls tend to gain weight and “fill out” during puberty (in other words, they’re less likely to be lanky or skinny after puberty), they’re also less likely to feel good about their bodies after puberty. It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s important to realize that changes to your body shape, growing taller, an ..read more

Written by: Kristen Donia The environment we grow up in has an impact on our developing beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world. Therefore, the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of those close to us have a large effect on us. We may think that something we believe, perhaps even a core belief, was born from a thought we came up with. In this article I’m going to discuss a few different ways that our loved ones help us form our opinions and beliefs. Watching tv On a casual home night together with your family, what activities do you do? Watching Netflix or Hulu together can be a common ..read more

Introduction  The power of expression is beautiful. As we grow up, we all learn to express ourselves in a way that feels unique yet personal to us. While it is true that a person’s identity can be stereotyped by factors such as their nationality, sex, and physical attributes, self-expression can help us break these stereotypes. As society tries to box us up in molds of what we should be, many individuals find solace and a form of liberalization within themselves when wearing piercings of their choice. But why do piercings make us feel empowered to express ourselves positively and create a ..read more

Written by: Kristen Donia Lisa grew up in a small town surrounded by her large family. She had aunts and cousins on both sides, many of which were women. As she navigated her childhood and adolescence, she watched as her family members would obsess over how they looked and more specially, their weight. This led Lisa to understand that her weight was the most interesting and important thing about her. Dana grew up in the city with a single mom who worked multiple jobs. She watched as her mom did her very best to balance her work, self-care, and growing Dana. Her mother constantly told her how s ..read more

Written by: Kristen Donia Body positivity rocks. At its heart, what it does, is supports the notion that all bodies are deserving of love and respect. The overall topic of body positivity has increased awareness and also the need for support and resources when it comes to our overall body acceptance. This shift has allowed for the birth of a plethora of online resources specifically catered to teenagers. As more influencers discuss body positivity, there becomes an awareness to the negative effects of body shaming which had previously been on the rise over the years with the growth of social m ..read more

Written by: Kristen Donia How do you feel in your body today? Close your eyes and ask yourself this question. Perhaps you feel strong. Or tired. Maybe even determined. How much of what we have going on in our lives affects how we feel in our bodies? Let’s say for example, we’ve had a rough month. A project went sideways taking more time than we expected, we had a bit of an emotional moment, we had to sit through and process to feel better, and our best friend was visiting family and wasn’t around to turn to for support. Given these circumstances, we may not be arriving in our lives and our bod ..read more

Written by: Kristen Donia What if we told people we noticed just how awesome their eyes are? How beautiful their skin was? What great lips they have? How much we love their presence? Their energy is contagious. Their laugh makes us feel joyful. These are all wonderful ways to display to each other just how amazing and stellar their attributes are. What if compliments are a way of introducing more body acceptance and gratitude into our lives? Note that all the above compliments are not purely physical. They are all encompassing. They display our gratitude for the characteristics that make up th ..read more

Written by: Kristen Donia What does it look like to honor our seasons, the seasons of our lives and seasons on the calendar? Both of which are relevant to our lives. Each day is brand new. What if we chose one different thing today? Not a whole schedule of newness, which would only lead to overwhelm and be ineffective in its staying power, but one little thing. We could choose to reframe a thought we have about our body and the way we see ourselves. For example: Prior thought: I’m not pretty enough. Underlying emotions attached to that thought: disappointment, sadness, defeat, hopelessness Pot ..read more