Body Image and Body Dysmorphia Therapy
in Sydney and the Sutherland Shire

Thoughts about your appearance can take up more of your day than you would like. You might spend a long time getting ready, feel uncomfortable in photographs or change plans because you do not feel comfortable being seen.

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At Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology, our psychologists and counsellors provide body image therapy and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) treatment for adolescents and adults across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. Appointments are available in person at our Menai practice and online across Australia.

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What is body dysmorphic disorder?

 

Body dysmorphic disorder, often called body dysmorphia, involves becoming preoccupied with perceived flaws in your appearance that other people may barely notice or not see at all. The distress is real and can affect relationships, school, work and everyday life.

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You may feel driven to check, hide or change how you look. Reassurance might bring brief relief, only for the doubt to return.

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BDD can also occur alongside OCD, depression, social anxiety or eating difficulties.

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Body image difficulties and BDD: what is the difference?

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Body image difficulties can involve dissatisfaction with your body, self-criticism or feeling uncomfortable about your appearance. They can affect your confidence and choices without meeting the criteria for BDD.

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BDD involves a persistent preoccupation with perceived flaws, alongside repetitive behaviours or mental comparisons that cause significant distress or interfere with daily life.

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Signs of body image difficulties and BDD

 

You might notice:

• Comparing your appearance with other people

• Checking mirrors repeatedly or avoiding them altogether

• Spending a long time choosing clothes, grooming or concealing parts of your appearance

• Repeatedly asking others how you look

• Avoiding photographs, social situations or activities

• Finding it difficult to concentrate because of thoughts about your appearance

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When to reach out

 

You may find that decisions about clothing, photographs or going out increasingly depend on how you feel about your appearance. Things you want to do can become harder to take part in.

 

For parents, changes might include your teenager taking much longer to get ready, becoming distressed before leaving home or withdrawing from friends and school activities.

 

You do not need to wait until these difficulties affect every part of life before seeking therapy.

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How can therapy help with body image and BDD?

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Therapy explores the thoughts and behaviours that keep appearance-related distress going. Sessions may focus on reducing checking and reassurance seeking, responding differently to self-critical thoughts and gradually returning to situations you have been avoiding.

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For BDD, our clinicians use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). This involves gradually facing difficult situations while changing the checking, concealment or reassurance patterns that maintain distress.

 

For broader body image difficulties, therapy may also draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy or EMDR, depending on your needs and experiences.

 

Where body image difficulties occur alongside disordered eating, our clinicians can address these together as part of eating disorder counselling, which may include CBT-E.

 

How do I find body image therapy near me?

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If you have been searching for a body image psychologist, body image counselling, therapy for body image issues or body dysmorphia treatment near you, our psychologists and counsellors provide therapy for adolescents and adults across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire.

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We see clients from Menai, Sutherland, Miranda, Caringbah, Gymea, Kirrawee and Engadine, as well as the St George area, Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and other areas of Sydney.

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Appointments are available in person at our Menai practice or via secure telehealth across Australia.

 

If you’re unsure where to begin, our Client Care Team can assist. Call 02 8519 4197 or use the button below to request an appointment.