Rethinking New Year Resolutions: Explore Health at Every Size Principles with Therapy
As we approach the new year, many of us start to think about our resolutions or goals we’d like to achieve. Most of these resolutions can be rooted in mindset shifts, budgeting hacks, or environmental changes. However, most often, these goals center around physical bodies and how we need to change them. While confronting the harmfulness of diet culture and fatphobia are important, what I would like to focus on for this blog is Health at Every Size (HAES).
What is HAES?
Health at Every Size was popularized by Dr. Lindo Bacon, a researcher in psychology and exercise metabolism, but it’s core tenets have been around since the beginning of the 20th century. It de-centers a person’s body size as an indicator of health, and instead takes a more holistic approach towards what it means to be healthy.
There are five key principles to HAES listed below, according to the Association of Size Diversity and Health:
Weight Inclusivity
Health Enhancement
Eating for Well-being
Respectful Care
Life-Enhancing Movement
In short, Health At Every Size is a social movement is pushing back on weight discrimination within the healthcare system and advocating for people to connect more with what their bodies need on an individual level. There is not a single pathway or image associated with health.
The Connection Between HAES and Therapy
You may be thinking, what does this have to do with therapy or my resolutions? As a therapist, I utilize the HAES framework with my clients in a variety of ways. Some examples may include Intuitive/Mindful Eating, focusing on what your body needs in the moment rather than how we’d like to change it physically, and working towards accepting the body that carries you and its natural fluctuation. Much of our mental wellness can get trapped by societal expectations of how our bodies should look (thin rather than fat) or what we need to be doing to change our bodies. Imagine being able to step away from numbers on a scale or waistband. Imagine being able to step away from counting calories and instead, finding foods that energize and sustain your body. Imagine stepping away from hateful glances in the mirror to loving stares at who you are, where you are, and where you’re going.
At Embodied Wellness Center, we take a holistic approach to mental health treatment. As part of our mind-body focus, we integrate the principles of HAES into therapeutic work, helping clients break free from harmful diet culture and work toward body acceptance.
If you’d like to learn more about how HAES can be incorporated into your therapeutic journey, schedule an appointment or consultation with Amanda today.
At Embodied Wellness Center, we take a holistic approach to mental health treatment. Interested in holistic therapy or want to learn more about it?
*Disclaimer: The content posted on this website is for marketing and educational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, psychotherapy or a replacement for mental health treatment. Please seek the advice of your licensed medical or mental health professional, and do not avoid seeking treatment based on anything read on this website.
