Body Image & Chronic Pain Therapy in Los Angeles
Gently reconnect with your body, release shame, and build a new relationship with your pain- through somatic, trauma-informed care.
You deserve to feel safe in your body.
So many of us have been taught to disconnect—from our pain, from our appearance, from the messages our bodies are trying to send.
If you’ve struggled with chronic pain, eating issues, body shame, or feeling “at war” with your physical self, you are not alone. You might be functioning on the outside, but internally feel numb, tense, or hyper-aware of how your body is perceived. Maybe chronic illness has made you feel broken, or you're caught in cycles of control, avoidance, or self-criticism.
This isn’t just about changing your thoughts. It’s about healing the relationship between your body, your nervous system, and your sense of self.
What This Work Is About
Body image and chronic pain often weave together in quiet, complex ways.
Maybe you grew up believing your body needed to be smaller, quieter, more “together.” Or maybe your body has always felt like a battlefield—aching, stiff, unpredictable. Over time, you might have learned to disconnect just to get through the day.
In therapy, we work gently to rebuild that connection.
This isn’t about learning to love your body on command. It’s about building trust. Listening. Noticing. And honoring the signals your body has been sending all along.
Common Struggles I Support Clients With
Body image and chronic pain therapy can address a wide-range of experiences- both physical and emotional
Body Shame & Appearance Anxiety
You might feel stuck in a cycle of harsh self-criticism, disordered eating, or constant comparison. In therapy, we untangle these beliefs and explore where they came from, so you can begin to build a more compassionate relationship with your body.
Overfunctioning & Burnout in the Body
High-achieving clients often push through pain, ignore signals, or feel guilt for needing rest. Here, you’ll practice listening to your body’s boundaries and learning what it means to be resourced—not just productive.
Disconnection from Your Body
If you’ve spent years feeling numb, checked out, or even betrayed by your body, you’re not alone. We’ll work gently to rebuild trust—learning to listen to your body’s signals without fear or judgment, one step at a time.
Chronic Pain & Medical Trauma
Living in a body that hurts can make it hard to feel safe. Together, we’ll explore the emotional weight of pain, past medical experiences, and what it’s like to live in a body that doesn’t always cooperate. This is a space to slow down, process, and reconnect.
Internalized Fatphobia & Body Norms
Many of us carry deep, unspoken shame from growing up in a culture obsessed with thinness and “perfection.” In this work, we question those messages together—creating space to reclaim your worth, regardless of size or shape.
Body Changes & Grief
Whether from illness, surgery, postpartum shifts, or aging, body changes can bring up grief, frustration, and identity loss. Therapy helps you honor these changes and find new ways to relate to your body with care and presence.
We slow down. We reconnect. And we build something stronger than just surviving together.
My Approach
I combine somatic therapy, parts work (IFS), and trauma-informed care to meet you wherever your body is today.
We go slow. We listen. And we build something more sustainable than just coping.
Sometimes that looks like exploring the voice of your inner critic, or learning what “rest” feels like when your body’s always bracing. Sometimes we track physical sensations, like the tightness in your chest or the pain behind your eyes, and invite compassion there.
Other times, we may work with grief—grief for the version of your body you once had, or the way you wish it could feel. We’re not here to fix your body. We’re here to honor your relationship with it. And that changes everything.
Imagine
Feeling grounded and safe inside your body
Moving through the world without scanning for judgment
Releasing the inner voice that says you’re “too much” or “not enough”
Reclaiming your strength, softness, and sovereignty
Honoring what your body needs—without guilt
Trusting yourself to rest, eat, move, and show up from self-connection
What Healing Can Look Like…
Feeling safe inside your skin—even when things still ache
Practicing rest without shame
Releasing internalized judgment and perfectionism
Softening your relationship to food, movement, or visibility
Naming grief or trauma held in the body
Finding moments of comfort, connection, or even joy in embodiment
How Body Image Therapy Works
Let’s Start Healing Together
Reach Out
Start with a no-pressure, no-charge intro call to get to know one another. This is your space to share what’s bringing you in. You deserve to feel safe, supported, and not rushed.
Build Safety
Your body sets the pace. We explore what safety and regulation feel like in your system—without pressure or force.
Begin Healing
We begin to gently shift the story between you and your body. With time, we invite presence, compassion, and reconnection.
FAQs
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Yes. Many of my clients have felt disconnected from their bodies for years—even decades. In therapy, we explore how those beliefs were formed and gently begin to shift them. We don’t force self-love overnight. We start with body neutrality, safety, and curiosity. Over time, you can develop a more compassionate, trusting relationship with your body.
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Chronic pain is real—and exhausting. Rather than trying to "think" your way out of it, I help you connect with your body’s signals and responses in a new way. We might explore how your nervous system has been shaped by pain or trauma, and we’ll build nervous system regulation tools that honor your limits instead of overriding them. You're not broken—your body is doing its best to protect you.
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Absolutely. Early trauma, medical trauma, or ongoing stress can shape how safe (or unsafe) your body feels. You might feel numb, dissociated, or hyper-aware of every sensation. In our work, we gently build capacity to stay with what’s happening inside—without overwhelm. We go at your pace, and safety comes first.
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Yes. I work with many clients who have histories of disordered eating, compulsive exercise, or constant body monitoring. We focus less on food rules and more on what your body is trying to communicate. This is a nonjudgmental, anti-diet space that honors body diversity and helps you develop a kinder internal dialogue.
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You’re not alone. Many people come into therapy saying exactly that. Together, we’ll get curious about your body’s language—sensations, tension, images, breath—and what it’s trying to say. Even noticing “I feel nothing” is a place to begin. We build connection slowly and gently, always respecting your pace and boundaries.
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Yes. Whether you’re adjusting to a new diagnosis, recovering from surgery, or grieving how your body has changed with time—those experiences are valid and worthy of care. We make space for the sadness, the frustration, the confusion, and even the moments of awe. This is your space to be fully human.
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You don’t have to carry that alone anymore. So many of us grow up absorbing messages about what bodies “should” look like. Together, we name those harmful narratives and gently rewrite them. This work is about reclamation—of your worth, your voice, your space in the world.