Counselling & Psychotherapy

Counselling London Psychotherapy – Central London Counselling Services - Counsellor London Camden Psychotherapist
Our Body

How We FeeI About Our Body Some of us may struggle to accept our body how it is – its condition, shape, size, weight, appearance, state of health, especially if we habitually compare our body or appearance with others. We may base our intrinsic sense of worth or identity on our body & how we look, as if this fully defines us. In a looks-dependent society, comments made about our body (even those ones made way back in childhood) can deeply affect us. Yet as we grow older, our body, metabolism and our looks change (see also Ageing & Maturity). We may have believed our body was a machine, and we could control it. The way we relate to our body can be very separate, unrelated to other aspects of our self, e.g. our feelings, thoughts, sexuality, spirituality, as if our body is not inter-connected. We may have a physical feature, which we find difficult to come to terms with. We can choose to define our worth externally (purely on how we look) or internally (e.g. liking our self, our inner being & qualities, all of who we are - our compassion, reliability, sense of humour, kindness, creativity, etc.). Yet if our emphasis is only external, especially as we get older, we can become stressed. Being comfortable inside our own skin – beauty within, accepting who we are – our personality, knowing, affirming & expressing our good qualities, skills & limitations, shifting our focus to the world around us & giving of ourself may be our challenge. As for attracting others, do we really want a person who cares more about how we look than who we are? Counselling & psychotherapy can offer a space to discuss any body image concerns, alongside integrating your internal qualities & personal empowerment.

Respecting & Looking After Our Body Some of us take care of our body, notice, listen and respect it. Others may ignore or neglect their body by not sleeping enough or eating nutritious food. Comfort eating or emotional eating may play a part. We may not exercise our body or even disrespecting how we look. We may turn to unwanted habits & addictions. Being with & in our body is a given, and this can bring us up against existential dilemmas.

Physical Illness Some of us may have poor physical health or be ill. We may have a diagnosis, which not only affects us, but others. We may wonder who, how, when & why to tell others. We may be depressed, distressed, frustrated, angry or in grief, struggling to find our way through our pain.

Body Vitality What we do with our energy, how we consistently stay energised, regain & recover it after using it may be important to us. Many of us have familiar times of the day, when our energy levels rise and fall, affecting our focus & attention. Some of us can feel exhausted or collapsed in our body, yet others – full of vitality. We can be in good physical health, exercise & eat well, yet pain (e.g. trauma, grief, heartbreak) or other emotions like anger can feel stuck in our body. Our body has physical reactions, tightness, tension or pressure, which may be symptoms of stress, fear, anxiety, sadness or depression, which get held in our body. We can find it hard to release body tension. Some of us can be at a distance from our body. We may be overly focused in our minds & not in our body. Tired, we may have cut off from our feelings. Our body, emotions & mind are intrinsically connected, so when tension is released in one area, it affects other areas. Others may want to feel more connected to their body - anchored in their own ground & fully alive, expressing their body vitality. Being in touch with our vitality can give us energy to do things, support our happiness, generosity, acceptance. And when we feel fully alive it can be as if nothing is too much trouble, that we have time to fit things in, be more creative. Counselling & psychotherapy may also encourage you in paying attention to what's happening in your physical feeIings.