Shame and the Body:
Body Image, Eating Disorders and Embodiment –
Learning to Love Our Bodies at Any Age

Our relationship with our body is our first and most important relationship. Yet many people feel uncomfortable in their own skin. Many feel flawed due to society’s demand that they meet impossible standards of looks and size at every stage of life. For women, especially young women, it’s about comparing clothing sizes with each other and air-brushed models who aren’t real women, somehow teaching each other to withhold food and not need anything. For men, it is about meeting impossible “iron man” standards of fitness, strength, power, and size.

When we get older, we begin to compare ourselves physically to who we used to be. We may see the symptoms of overeating or restrictive eating as opposites, but underneath is the inability to nourish or to receive. Underneath is doubt and the inner critic and shame, which fuel the overeating or restrictive eating, and also the body hate that drives the behavior. This is between self and body. 

When we are able to live in our bodies instead of hiding from them, we are able to have relationship with ourselves and then with others.

This workshop focuses on aspects of body image and embodiment, including working directly with eating disorders. It will include theory and also be a process group with an experiential component. We will explore embodiment through somatic embodied processes, expressive arts and drama therapy. We will learn to help the client listen to the secret conversations inside, because those conversations have to do with perfectionism and shame. Transforming the shame under those conversations can lead to creativity, life force, and living authentically and fully.

You will learn how to help clients:

  • Move beyond the toxic shame into healthy shame that can allow healthy nourishment and pleasure.

  • Talk to the inner child at different ages.

  • Identify a kind inner coach.

  • Learn mindfulness techniques to feel into emptiness and fullness.

  • Work with the secret conversations inside.

  • Develop and/or deepen the relationship a person has with her body, which begins with kindness.

  • Learn to gently open to feeling the vital life force through embodied journal writing and movement, and through exploring the body’s story of embodiment.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Explain how to develop a kind inner coach.

  • Demonstrate/teach three mindfulness techniques.

  • Explain the protocols for assessing and treating eating disorders.

  • Describe and demonstrate the Binge Buster process and explain how it works and how it can be used with clients.

  • Explain four differences in how body image and perception changes over one’s lifetime.

  • Teach clients techniques for coping with triggers from holiday meals and expectations.

  • Demonstrate Drama Therapy and movement processes for increased embodiment.

This workshop is taught by Sheila Rubin, LMFT, RDT/BCT.

Course Level: Beginning

There is no prerequisite for this course. It can be taken by itself or as part of a sequence.

CE credits are available only for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs in California – CAMFT Approved CE Provider #134393


This workshop is offered in the following formats:

  • Live, interactive workshop on Zoom in 2-day or 4-day format

  • Live, in-person, 2-day workshop (Note: Live, in-person workshops are currently suspended due to Covid-19.)

For a basic course agenda, click here. (Those registering will receive a full course agenda prior to the workshop.)

The Center for Healing Shame is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs in California – CAMFT-approved CE provider #134393. Courses meet the qualifications for 13 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 

The Center for Healing Shame maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

WORKSHOP CANCELLATION POLICY

We do not offer refunds. The amount paid can be applied toward a future workshop within 12 months. Registrations are not transferable.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED

The Center for Healing Shame welcomes people who have disabilities. Our training location is wheelchair accessible. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs.

GRIEVANCE POLICY

The Center for Healing Shame seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair manner.

If you have a grievance, please include your name and contact information and submit it in writing to Sheila Rubin (sheila@healingshame.com).

Grievances will receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems.

Artist credit: “Breath of Life” by Margherita Arkaura www.arkaura.eu