Therapy for Body Image
What Are the Best Types of Therapy for Body Image Issues?
While there are many ways to gain a positive body image—such as workshops, journaling, body image-focused exercise classes, or reading books on the topic—therapy offers an objective, individualized approach to helping you transform your relationship with your body.
Maybe that’s why you’re here. You might already know you want to talk with a licensed professional about the frustration, grief, or disappointment you feel toward your body—but you’re unsure where to begin. Let’s explore the most effective types of therapy for addressing body image concerns:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the most well-researched and widely used evidence-based therapies. As the name suggests, CBT focuses on both cognitive (thought-based) and behavioral aspects of mental health. A CBT therapist helps clients identify and reframe unhelpful or negative thoughts while encouraging changes in behaviors that reinforce those thoughts.
In terms of body image, CBT helps individuals replace harmful thoughts with more realistic or positive ones, which in turn affects how they feel and behave toward their bodies. CBT can improve all four dimensions of body image: perceptual, affective, cognitive, and behavioral.
Example:
If you find yourself criticizing your appearance every time you look in the mirror, a CBT therapist might encourage you to pause and say three things you like about yourself or your body. Incorporating neutral or positive body statements can help challenge your beliefs and improve your mood over time.
2. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT, sometimes called “Third Wave CBT,” shares roots with traditional cognitive behavioral therapy but focuses more on accepting your current reality and aligning your actions with your values. Mindfulness plays a central role in this approach.
When addressing body image, ACT helps you distance yourself from negative thoughts rather than attempting to eliminate them. An ACT therapist may guide you to notice the thought, accept its presence, and respond with self-compassion rather than self-criticism.
Example:
Cognitive defusion is a common ACT technique that helps you detach from unhelpful thoughts. On a tough body image day, you might say, “I’m having the thought that I am fat. This is just a thought, not a fact.”
3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is closely related to CBT and ACT but places a strong emphasis on balancing acceptance and change. It is structured around four core skill sets: emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.
For those struggling with body image, DBT can help regulate overwhelming emotions, build distress tolerance, and accept fluctuating perceptions of one’s body with less resistance.
Example:
The DBT skill of radical acceptance teaches you to let go of the fight for control and practice non-judgmental awareness. This shift can reduce frustration and increase peace with your body, even if it doesn’t align with idealized standards.
4. Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS is built on the idea that we are made up of different “parts,” similar to how a family is made up of individual members. These parts may hold different perspectives—some might dislike your body, others might feel neutral, and still others may love or appreciate it.
A common part many people encounter is the inner critic, which may use harsh tactics to protect you from rejection or shame. While its intentions may be protective, its impact is often harmful.
Example:
An IFS therapist helps you recognize and better understand these internal parts—especially the critical ones—so you can relate to them with curiosity and compassion instead of shame.
5. Somatic Therapy and Body-Based Approaches
Body image isn’t just mental—it’s physical, too. Many people experience body image issues alongside physical symptoms like tension, discomfort, or even pain, which can be both a cause and a consequence of negative self-image.
Somatic therapies incorporate practices such as breathwork, yoga, and sensorimotor interventions alongside traditional talk therapy. These approaches help you reconnect with your physical self and cultivate gratitude for your body’s function and resilience.
Example:
A somatic therapist might lead you through a body scan meditation, gently guiding your awareness to different areas of your body and encouraging compassion for whatever sensations arise—pleasant or uncomfortable.
There are many therapeutic approaches that can effectively address body image concerns or Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). What works for one person may not work for another—and that’s okay. If a certain therapy doesn’t feel like the right fit, keep exploring until you find one that resonates with you.
Already seeing a therapist who doesn’t use one of the modalities listed above? No problem. You can always start by voicing your concerns. If you’re not making progress, it may be time to explore working with a therapist who specializes in body image using one or more of these approaches.