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Understanding and Treating Body Image Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorders:
an Experiential Psychodynamic Approach

Body image dissatisfaction affects a substantial portion of the population and is strongly associated with eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and other psychosomatic conditions. This workshop provides clinicians with a nuanced understanding of how body image forms, differentiating normative dissatisfaction from clinically impairing disturbances including Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Participants will examine the sociocultural, developmental, cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and attachment-based factors that contribute to negative body image across the lifespan. Emphasizing an experiential psychodynamic approach, the workshop integrates EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, AEDP, hypnosis, and breathwork as tools for helping clients explore and transform their internalized body narratives. Through vignettes, experiential exercises, and clinical discussion, participants will learn to apply these methods to help clients shift toward more adaptive body representations, embodied self-awareness, and healthier eating-related behaviors.

 https://frumtherapist.com/workshops/Understandingand2026/view

Understanding and Treating Body Image Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorders:
an Experiential Psychodynamic Approach

Sunday, May 03, 2026, 1:45 PM EDT - 4:45 PM EDT

Presenter: Rachel Lowinger PhD

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Course Length: 3 Hours

Learning Objectives:

  1. Differentiate between body image dissatisfaction, disturbed body image, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) using clinical and diagnostic criteria.
  2. Analyze sociocultural, developmental, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and attachment-based contributors to negative body image formation.
  3. Demonstrate the use of selected experiential interventions (EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, AEDP, hypnosis, and breathwork) for addressing negative body image and eating-related distress.
  4. Apply experiential and mindfulness-based strategies to help clients reframe and reconceptualize self-image and eating behaviors in clinical practice.

This workshop Offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

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Body image dissatisfaction affects a substantial portion of the population and is strongly associated with eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and other psychosomatic conditions. This workshop provides clinicians with a nuanced understanding of how body image forms, differentiating normative dissatisfaction from clinically impairing disturbances including Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Participants will examine the sociocultural, developmental, cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and attachment-based factors that contribute to negative body image across the lifespan. Emphasizing an experiential psychodynamic approach, the workshop integrates EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, AEDP, hypnosis, and breathwork as tools for helping clients explore and transform their internalized body narratives. Through vignettes, experiential exercises, and clinical discussion, participants will learn to apply these methods to help clients shift toward more adaptive body representations, embodied self-awareness, and healthier eating-related behaviors.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Differentiate between body image dissatisfaction, disturbed body image, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) using clinical and diagnostic criteria.
  2. Analyze sociocultural, developmental, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and attachment-based contributors to negative body image formation.
  3. Demonstrate the use of selected experiential interventions (EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, AEDP, hypnosis, and breathwork) for addressing negative body image and eating-related distress.
  4. Apply experiential and mindfulness-based strategies to help clients reframe and reconceptualize self-image and eating behaviors in clinical practice.

Agenda:

I. Foundations of Body Image & Diagnostic Differentiation – 60 minutes

  • Definitions: body image, body dissatisfaction, body distortion

  • Differentiating body image disturbance from Body Dysmorphic Disorder

  • Sociocultural and developmental influences (ages 12–18 emphasized)

II. Experiential Exercise #1 – 10 minutes

  • Guided body image self-exploration
    • 2–3 min: Negative self-talk exploration
    • 5–7 min: Positive body image visualization and mindfulness

III. Models for Understanding Body Image Disturbance – 30 minutes

  • Cognitive-behavioral models (schemas, distortions, reinforcement)

  • Psychodynamic models (projection, internalized relational patterns)

  • Attachment-based conceptualizations (interpersonal validation and mirroring)

IV. Experiential Exercise #2 – 10 minutes

  • Focused reflection: Origin stories of body-related beliefs

  • Linking early experiences, affect, and internalized narratives

V. Clinical Case Studies and Intervention Demonstrations – 60 minutes

  • EMDR case example targeting body-related schemas

  • Somatic and breathwork techniques to access embodied experiences

  • Using experiential interventions to widen affect tolerance and shift self-image

VI. Summary, Integration & Q&A – 10 minutes

  • Synthesizing theory with experiential practice

  • Clinical applications for eating disorders and body image work

  • Participant questions and reflective integration

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by the NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
Refunds
Registrants who are unable to attend a Frum Therapist seminar or live workshop may ask for, and will receive, a credit or refund (your choice). Refund requests will be processed within 3 business days. When an attendee knows in advance that they are unable to attend we ask that they inform Frum Therapist ahead of time by emailing [email protected] or by calling or texting (607) 249-4585 this allows us to free up the spot in the training in the event that a training is at or near capacity.

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