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According to research, many people are dissatisfied with their bodies. Women tend to suffer from these issues more than men, and it was found that ¼, i.e., 28 % of the women suffer from moderate to severe body image issues in India. Most of these women are dissatisfied with their facial features, body weight, shape of their thighs, breasts, buttocks, or other body parts.
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Dr Navni Mehta

Counselling Psychologist
1 years of experience
No matter what’s bringing you to therapy, it’s safe to say something’s not going the way you’d like. Whatever you are facing today, know that tomorrow is an opportunity to thrive and overcome. Hello! my name is Dr Navni Mehta and in my journey, I have helped 300+ individuals, couples and families with Anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, marital/relationship issues, addiction, trauma, parent-teen issues, personality disorders and work-life balance. My expertise includes CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), IPT (Interpersonal Psychotherapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), PCT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Dream Analysis, Couple Therapy, and Family Therapy addressing various concerns. I bring a unique perspective shaped by my diverse background in dentistry, hospital management and psychology. Over the past 7 years, I have worked closely with doctors, medical professionals, founders, entrepreneurs and individuals gaining a deep understanding of their viewpoints through my experience in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers and palliative care facilities. All sessions remain confidential. My sessions are impactful and introspective; you may laugh, cry or sit silently. The environment is judgment-free so that you can give voice to your inner self without hesitation, guilt or shame. As your therapist, I will walk beside you and assist you in navigating life challenges leading to wholeness for yourself and your relationships. The very essences of my therapy are self-realization, Applied positive psychology, Anger management, potential maximization, Problem-Solving, Behaviour counseling, relationship counseling, body image issues, low self-worth, attention deficit issues and mindfulness techniques to offer my clients a full-circle approach. Finding the right therapist can be challenging, but my mission is to lead with compassion and empathy, creating a space where my clients can be their authentic selves.
Today, 10 Feb, 09:59 pm IST
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Ms Zarina Poonawalla

Life Coach, Counselling Psychologist
14 years of experience
Zarina Poonawalla is a Life Coach, Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, Educator and podcaster. She is the founder of Abbzoh Expertise Unique which constantly thrives on learning and evolving to benefit individuals, leaders, stakeholders and organizations worldwide. Zarina is the podcast host of 'The Life Manifesto', ‘The Empowering Series with Zarina Poonawalla’ on the IVM Podcasts and is widely available on Apple podcast, Spotify, Jio Saavn, Originals, Audioboom, Stitcher and anywhere you can listen to podcasts. Her shows have garnered enormous listenership and are making a difference in the lives of many globally. In her professional capacity, Zarina has worked closely with Founders, Entrepreneurs, CEOs, Business Honchos, Management Gurus, Families, Individuals, Parents and Student communities worldwide for over a decade. She believes every individual has unleashed potential which can be recognised and tapped to enhance the quality of life, relationships and professions. The very essences of her programs are self-realisation, potential maximisation, a positive state of mind and embracing happiness. She completed her Bachelors from the reputed H.R College in Mumbai and pursued her degree in International Business from The University of Sydney, Australia. During her years in education, she kept self-learning, completed diplomas in various vocations and took up plenty of jobs. In recent times she was exclusively selected on merits by John Mattone, coach to Steve Jobs, for personal coaching and certification with Mr Mattone enabling her to have insights on World Leader mindsets, success stories and understanding of leadership virtues, further adding to her expertise and international experiences. She has been certified in ‘The Signature Intelligence Leadership’ Program and has also successfully certified in various programs, including an international certification in ‘Train the Trainer’, ‘NLP ’, ‘Peak Performance Coach Certification’, ‘ EQ’, among others. Zarina has nurtured her unique ability in people's skills with her solitary core principle and believes one can truly inspire positive change with the CAPE principle – Compassion, Attitude, Perseverance and Empathy. Her valuable proficiency and prolific method of imparting the same have kept her encompassed with an ever-growing clientele, consistent retainer ship, high rated feedback and credits. Zarina has been a catalyst aiding the successful growth and transformation of over 40,000 people globally with her ‘I Choose Happiness’, ‘Changing with Change’, ‘You are a Leader’, ‘Your Life Your Reign’ and ‘Impactful Communication’, more than 250 individual high profile clientele through one-on-one coaching and above 35 Educational Institutes with ‘Walk the Talk’, ‘Technology your friend or foe!’, ‘Dealing with Parental and Peer Pressure’, ‘Be Confident Be You’. Zarina has been sanctified with happy participants in all her programs. This keeps her driven and passionate to improve the quality of life for those she associates with through her intricately customised and invigorating life boosters. Her patrons include MNCs, SMEs, Celebrities, Industrialists, Refineries, Real Estate, Financial Institutions, startups, IT & Technology, F&B, Lifestyle & Fashion Brands, Banks, Diamond Merchants, and Steel Tycoons. She is also the Knowledge Partner for a film production house enabling her to share thoughts and insights on various film-related events, social issues and human behavioral patterns. Her last film affiliation hit 2 million views with a worldwide screening and her talk post the premiers internationally was very well received. She is currently in the process of penning down her book and associating for a TV program to reach global audiences and elevate happy people.
Tomorrow, 11 Feb, 10:00 am IST
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Dr Shabana M.S.

Counselling Psychologist
23 years of experience
In my professional journey as a Psychologist, I've come to believe deeply in the inherent goodness and potential within each individual. Hey, I am Dr. Shabana, and my therapeutic approach is grounded in unconditional positive regard. In my practice, I aim to foster an environment where clients can embrace their uniqueness and embark on a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and transformation. With over 20 years of clinical experience, I've had the privilege of working across various settings, including hospitals, educational institutions, NGOs, and government projects, serving as a Consultant and in-house Psychologist. As the Principal Psychologist and Founder of LitmuS Psychological Services, I also provide online psychological support and training. Additionally, I am honored to be associated with Manipal Hospital as a Consultant Psychologist, where I continue to contribute to the field of mental health. Throughout my career, I've addressed a diverse range of mental health issues and provided family and marital counseling, along with offering support to chronically and terminally ill patients. My academic journey includes earning a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Department of Psychology, University of Calicut, where I conducted an in-depth study on the Psychosocial Correlates of Conduct Disorders and the Efficacy of an Intervention Programme. I've also received training in Hypnotherapy, further enhancing my therapeutic toolkit. Additionally, as an active member of professional organizations such as the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, Tamil Nadu Psychology Association, Indian Association of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis, British Psychological Society, and American Psychological Association, I remain committed to staying updated with the latest developments in the field. My areas of focus in therapy include individual therapy, relationship counseling, marital counseling, family counseling, and psychotherapy for depression and anxiety. I also specialize in grief and bereavement counseling, infertility counseling, and providing support to the LGBTQIA+ community. Additionally, I offer counseling for coping with chronic illness, managing caregiver stress, achieving work-life balance, and stress management. I am also passionate about promoting well-being, building confidence and resilience, and providing life coaching for adolescents and adults, along with offering psychoeducation to empower individuals with knowledge about mental health and self-care.
Tomorrow, 11 Feb, 10:00 am IST
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FAQs

Mental Health Care to Improve Your Self-Image

So, what exactly is body image? Let's understand this further. It refers to how you perceive yourself. It also includes having an assumption about how other people perceive you. This is often influenced by friends, family, society, pop culture, and media.
To decide whether you have a positive or negative image of yourself, you need to ask yourself a certain set of questions. These questions include - "What thoughts are triggered within you when you think of your body? Are these feelings positive or negative? Do you see your body for what it is or wants it to be? Are you happy and accepting of your current body weight, shape, or size?"
This can lead to low self-esteem and cause a lot of mental health disorders like anxiety, eating disorders, depression, etc. This can even impact your daily life and relationships adversely. Hence, it's important to reach out to a mental health professional who can help you cope with this issue.

Major Causes

There are a lot of causes that trigger this in a person. These include:
  • Having a relatively low or high body weight compared to their height.
  • Having faced bullying as a child for body weight, shape, or size.
  • Having faced body shaming and criticism from friends, family, and peers.
  • Being called ugly, fat, thin, etc., by the people around you.
  • Being overexposed to social media can make you feel bad about your appearance.

Dealing with Negative Thoughts About Your Appearance

All the techniques and steps taken on the outside will amount to nothing if you don't fix the negative self-talk that goes in your mind. You need to be aware of the negative self-talk you might find yourself indulging in repeatedly.
You might have negative thoughts about your body when you stare at yourself in the mirror. It might seem like your body is full of flaws but know that it is far from the truth. You must identify and reframe your negative thoughts as soon as they arise.
Here's how you can replace your negative thoughts with positive and more accepting thoughts:
  • Negative thoughts - I look so ugly.
    Replacement thought - I am not satisfied with how I look today, but it's okay to feel like that sometimes. Everyone goes through it from time to time. My looks do not determine my self-worth.

  • Negative thought - I hate my body.
    Replacement thought - My body isn't perfect, but it does so much for me. It has helped me come this far in life. It deserves my respect, kindness, and compassion. Hence, I'll treat it with respect.

  • Negative thought - I hate my round thighs, flabby arms, and rounded belly. They look so ugly.
    Replacement thought - My legs have helped me walk whenever and wherever I want. My arms allow me to hug my loved ones whenever and wherever I want. My stomach helps me digest and assimilate my food. It helps me take in all the vital nutrients from the food and provides me with much-needed energy.

  • Negative thought - Everyone else looks more beautiful than me.
    Replacement thought - I am so much more than my looks. I will focus on that aspect of me that has nothing to do with my looks. I have so many unique qualities that set me apart from others. I am unique, and there is no need to compare myself with others.

Tips for Body Positivity

To tackle this problem, you need to embrace body positivity. But what exactly is it? Body positivity refers to a concept that believes everyone deserves to feel good about their bodies regardless of the societal standards of ideal body shape, size, and appearance.
  1. Practice Gratefulness - An attitude of gratitude helps you deal with these issues. Because it enables you to focus on "what you have" rather than "what you don't have." Once you inculcate this habit, you'll realize all the amazing things your body does for you to keep you alive.

    Make a gratitude list of everything your body does for you and read it daily. You can also write a gratitude letter to your body, honoring everything your body does for you. This practice allows you to drop the criticism and helps you step into the power of self-love. Do this practice every day, especially when you catch yourself criticizing your appearance.

  2. Say No to Dieting - Dieting has become more of a norm these days, especially for women. Nowadays, dieting culture isn't just restricted to adults. Even young children, as little as 5-year-olds, are found to be dieting these days. So what's the solution?

    Understand that dieting will not make you feel good about your body. You can not subject your body to extreme diets in the hope of feeling good at reaching your desired weight or body shape. Sadly it doesn't work like that.

    You need to feel good about your body now. You need to accept it for everything it does for you. Remember that dieting can hamper your self-esteem even more. Instead of dieting, try mindful and intuitive eating. Stop counting calories and have everything in moderation. Remember that there is no good or bad when it comes to food.

  3. Take Time Away From Social Media - Avoiding social media is crucial when dealing with these issues. Be careful with the type of accounts you follow on social media, as it adversely affects your mental health. So, stop following all of the social media accounts that make you feel bad about your body. Refrain from spending time on social media as much as possible.

    Also, you need to understand that what you see on social media is not a reality. The images you see there are photoshopped to look perfect. The supermodels you see on Instagram with perfect bodies are subjected to extreme diets and rigorous lifestyle regimes to achieve that perfect body. This can help you in changing your mindset around your body.

  4. Be Kind to Yourself - You might have spent years beating yourself up. Try practicing being compassionate to yourself instead. Spend less time criticizing yourself and more time appreciating yourself. Self-compassion can help you when you struggle with the critical voice in your head.

    But don't be hard on yourself if you aren't able to practice it well in the first go. Be gentle with yourself. Know that it takes time to build the muscle of self-compassion. So, whenever you criticize your body, talk to yourself as you would talk to your best friend.

  5. Make a List of Things You Love About Yourself - This is probably one of the most powerful tips to help you overcome negative body image. If you have indulged in self-hate for long, you tend to fixate on everything you hate about your body. It can be the shape of your nose, your flabby arms, or the shape of your butt.

    But what if you do the opposite? What if you focus on everything you love about yourself! What if you try making a list of everything you like about yourself! It can be anything from your crooked smile, the curves of your body, to even the kind of person you are. The trick here is to focus on the good and acknowledge yourself for the person you are. Know that you aren't defined by the shape of your body or the number on the scale.

Find Help From a Licensed Therapist Who's Right For You

Finding the right therapist is crucial when dealing with body image issues. The right therapist is the one with whom you can establish a bond so that it becomes easy for you to open up about your issues. But this may take some time. You may need to give at least 3 to 4 sessions with a therapist to build that connection and trust.
If you struggle to form a connection with them even after 3-4 sessions, you can switch to another therapist. You can find the list of various therapists on our website. You can easily choose from the various specialists with specific qualities you may be looking for.

Schedule a Virtual Psychotherapy Appointment with a Counsellor Today

If you have been suffering from a negative body image for quite some time, it might be time to consider getting help from a trusted Psychotherapist. We at DocVita have various specialists that help you manage and cope with your stress better. Simply hop on to DocVita and book your first session today!