Weight stigma, anti-fat bias and diet culture in the therapy room

Weight stigma, anti-fat bias and diet culture in the therapy room:
how to work respectfully with clients of every size.

This is a nourishing and empowering space to help therapists reflect on how they feel about bodies and to become more curious & anti-oppressive in their work with clients of all sizes.

We will explore:

   beliefs and attitudes towards fat bodies;
   the racist and ableist legacy of antifat bias;
   diet and wellness culture;
   impact of anti-fat discrimination;
   lived experiences of being fat clients and therapists;
   how to work therapeutically with the topic of body shame;
   how to provide more effective therapy through increased awareness.

This is a chance to learn about how weight stigma impacts both client and therapist in and out of the therapy room; to explore how values and attitudes about body size in our society can make it difficult to remain consciously non-judgmental and hear about some positive experiences of being fat.

Your facilitators – The Fat Counsellors

Jo Reader MSc Coun Dip Coun Sup MBACP (Accred.)
Jo is a person-centred HAES-aligned, LGBTQIA-welcoming psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice. She is also a Body Empowerment Coach helping women transform their mindset from shame to radical self-acceptance. Jo undertook research in 2011 about weight stigma in therapy and published an article about it in Therapy Today in 2014.  

Cat Chappell Prof Dip Coun Sup MBACP (Accred.)
Cat is a relational and integrative counsellor and supervisor with a background in working with trauma as a result of domestic abuse and sexual violence. She works in an anti-diet and fat positive way with clients who want to address food and body image issues. 

‘Enlightening, challenging & thought provoking, brilliantly presented'

"It gave me a huge insight into the inherent fatphobia in Western Society, and how so many of us hold personal trauma related to our bodies."

'This workshop is very enlightening, touching on the iceberg of such a highly stigmatised, sensitive and emotive subject in a very kind, considered and positive way.'

'Anyone who has a body should attend this course!'

'I believe any person who has experienced shame, weight stigma or body issues whether personally or in the client room should attend this course - which is likely to be everyone!'