Broaching body size and sizeism: Input from specialized clinicians

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Counseling
• Social Justice

Background:

• Multicultural and social justice counseling skills are vital for addressing client identity and power dynamics.
• Existing research lacks guidelines on broaching body size, sizeism, and body-related concerns in therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore clinicians' experiences and perspectives on broaching body topics with clients.
• To develop guidelines for effective therapeutic conversations about body size and related issues.

Main Methods:

• Consensual qualitative research methodology.
• Interviews with nine specialized clinicians treating eating disorders and body-related concerns.

Main Results:

• Identified themes in counselor development, conceptualization, decision-making, practice, and impact of broaching body topics.
• Clinicians emphasized the need for specific training and shared effective/ineffective communication strategies.
• Explored tailoring conversations for clients' intersectionality and body size.

Conclusions:

• Broaching body size is a critical, yet understudied, aspect of multicultural counseling.
• Recommendations for practice include tailored language and psychoeducation for improved client-therapist interactions.
• Enhanced training is crucial for equipping clinicians to address body size sensitively and effectively.