Addressing Body Image Issues With Psychodynamic Therapy

Given the landscape of our society elevating an unattainable beauty standard it is likely that you  or someone you know struggles with body image issues and low self-esteem. It is actually higher than likely, it is near impossible to be unaffected by the barrage of messages given by all forms of media hinting subliminal messages that you are not okay the way you are.

When body image concerns start to taking a toll on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, or impact your day- to- day functioning,  Psychodynamic therapy can help. It allows you to understand how unconscious influences can cause increased body image discomfort.

So, what is psychodynamic therapy, and how can it help you? Keep reading to find the answers.

Understanding What Psychodynamic Therapy Is

Psychodynamic therapy, which Sigmund Freud helped introduce, is a form of talk therapy that typically evaluates a person’s unconscious processes and past experiences. This helps the person better understand their behaviors and any unhealthy patterns that have emerged.

It has become increasingly common for those with certain mental health issues to seek treatment through psychodynamic therapy. This therapy — which aims to pinpoint the connection between a person’s emotional suffering and the psychological roots tied to it — relies on self-reflection and a person’s willingness to view their past experiences through a new lens.

Therapists who specialize in administering psychodynamic therapy also play key roles in helping patients identify behavioral patterns stemming from the past that can cause body image issues. This allows these patients to heal from unsettled emotional experiences and exhibit psychological growth.

Taking a Look at How Psychodynamic Therapy Works

If you judge psychodynamic therapy based on its name alone, you might be intimidated by the idea of participating in it. However, it’s a straightforward form of talk therapy that is easier to understand than you think.

Psychodynamic therapy sessions often involve free association and talking about whatever thoughts come to your mind. They can be related to body image issues but can also touch on other topics.

Topics you might talk about include:

• What your daily life is like, and which emotional coping mechanisms you rely on to combat stress
• Arguments and other conflicts you’ve been in with people over the years and what effect they’ve had on you
• The hopes and dreams you have for your life, as well as the fears and frustrations preventing you from reaching them
• Any dreams and/or nightmares you’ve had, either in recent memory or in the past
• Other life experiences that have left an impression on you and caused your current emotions and behaviors

Other types of therapy are more structured, while psychodynamic therapy tends to be more free-flowing. As you develop a strong therapeutic relationship with your therapist, you’ll begin to share the most intimate details of your life during your open-ended discussions with them.

This is how you can eventually work to the heart of your body image issues and deal with them head-on. Your therapist might even recommend analyzing the attachment styles you developed while forming relationships with family members, friends, and others from a young age. This could help establish the root of body image concerns.

Embracing the Benefits of Psychodynamic Therapy

If you’ve ever wanted to take a good, long look at your life and the impact your various life experiences have had, psychodynamic therapy makes this possible. Your therapist will encourage you to dig deeper than you might on your own to take inventory of underlying worries sitting just beneath the surface that can affect your emotions.

Your therapist might help you accomplish this goal by using techniques like dream analysis and asking questions about your past. The more you share with your therapist and feel able to be open-minded, you’ll soon find yourself exploring your unconscious thoughts from a brand-new perspective.

These are the benefits you’ll often receive from psychodynamic therapy:

• Better self-awareness
• More control over your conscious and unconscious thoughts
• Enhanced ability to spot self-defeating patterns and end them
• Improved communication with other people and stronger interpersonal relationships
• Reduced reliance on ineffective emotional coping mechanisms

Seeing How Psychodynamic Therapy Can Help Those With Body Image Issues

Psychodynamic therapy can be used to help with varying degrees of pain related to their bodies, whether it is looking to improve your relationship with your body to a diagnosed eating disorder.  

Struggling with your body image is not something to “get over” through sheer determination and willpower without help from a knowledgeable and trustworthy trained professional. Psychodynamic therapy allows you the space to freely associate any feelings or thoughts you may have around your body, while the therapist listens without judgment and is able to piece together a pattern unique to you and what your life experiences might be contributing to low body image.

Your therapist will use your psychodynamic therapy sessions to show you how to locate unconscious emotions that might be decades old and connect them to your body image issues. Doing this lets you peel back the layers and see how to move past them.

Call Us To Schedule Your First Psychodynamic Therapy Session

Psychodynamic therapy and the self-reflection that accompanies it are the keys to addressing your body image issues. You can start by evaluating these issues from a different perspective to understand what’s causing them and work on eliminating their impact.

Let J Lewis Therapy help you take full advantage of psychodynamic therapy and the benefits it can provide. Contact us at 347-718-2681 to begin developing healthier thought patterns and behaviors for the future.

FAQ: Psychodynamic Therapy

Do you have additional questions about psychodynamic therapy? Look for answers below.

Who Is the Ideal Candidate for Psychodynamic Therapy?

The ideal candidate for psychodynamic therapy is willing to self-reflect and take stock of their emotions and behaviors. It may be helpful for those suffering from body image issues, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions.

What Are the Five Elements of Psychodynamic Therapy?

The five elements of psychodynamic therapy are free association, dream analysis, exploration of childhood experiences, transference interpretation, and focusing on unconscious feelings and thoughts.

What Does a Psychodynamic Therapy Session Look Like?

A psychodynamic therapy session tends to look like a highly unscripted conversation between a patient and their therapist. The average session is usually filled with twists and turns involving a person’s underlying thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors.

Jill Lewis

Jill Lewis MA, LCSW, CGP, and current fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. Jill brings all parts of herself to her practice. She’s authentic, genuine, attentive, attuned, and works to be perceptive in every interaction with her clients. She challenges and gently encourages her clients who are struggling but also willing to put the work in for a brighter future.