Welcome to The Mindfulness Space Blog!
The Mindfulness Space blog explores the psychological and social factors that shape our relationships with our bodies, as well as our behaviors surrounding food! We’ll explore how therapy, as well as other holistic healing approaches can be beneficial in helping us to navigate through eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction! Catch up on these hot topics related to eating disorders and body image from The Mindfulness Space!
Hot Topics!
What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder? It's Surprisingly more Common than we Think...
5 Tips to Overcome Negative Self-Comparison on Social Media!
The Truth About Black Bodies: 5 Common Risk Factors that Contribute to...
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Read More From The Mindfulness Space!
Understanding the Media’s Influence on Body Image!
September 19, 2023
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
I’m so THRILLED to join Licensed Professional Counselor, Oluwaseun (Seun) Obaro as her guest on The Visibly You Podcast where we discuss the numerous ways in which various forms of media have…
How the Scale can Worsen Eating Disorders and Damage Body Image
June 27, 2023
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
Why it may be Helpful to Ditch the Scale!
Did you know that stepping on the scale and focusing on weight loss can have adverse effects on the physical and emotional well-being of individuals grappling with eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction?
Uncovering When Intuitive Eating Doesn’t Work and What You Can Do About It!
May 16, 2023
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
“Intuitive eating doesn’t work!”
As a therapist specializing in eating disorders that include binge eating, I often come across clients who struggle with intuitive eating. They genuinely try to listen to their body’s signals, find alternative ways to cope with emotions, and follow all of the recommended steps (Principles of Intuitive Eating); Yet, they feel like they’re hitting a roadblock. So, what could be going on?
Impulsive Over Eating: The ADHD/ Binge Eating Connection
April 22, 2023
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
Did you know that there may be a connection between ADHD and binge eating?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a mental health disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Individuals with ADHD may experience difficulties with focus, concentration, and impulsivity. However, research has shown us that there may be a connection between ADHD and binge eating…
Cracking the Code: How Behavior Chain Analysis Can Help You Overcome Binge Eating
April 18, 2023
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
“Help! I can’t stop eating!”
Have you ever found yourself mindlessly eating cookies or chips when you’re stressed out, and before you know it, the whole bag is gone? It can be hard to identify exactly what triggers these binge eating episodes, but there is a simple technique you can use called a Behavior Chain Analysis! A Behavior Chain Analysis is…
What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder? It’s Surprisingly more Common than we Think…
April 9, 2023
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
“I hate how I look!”
We’ve all experienced those moments. Those days when we spend a little bit more time in front of the mirror than usual, closely examining parts of our body and wondering how that outfit would fit if our waistline was just a little bit smaller. We wonder what that photo would look like if our face were just a little more perfectly proportioned. However, for people who live with Body Dysmorphic Disorder
5 Tips to Overcome Negative Self-Comparison on Social Media!
January 13, 2023
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
Let’s face it, we live in a social media driven world!
Social media can have several benefits like helping us to stay in contact with people we grew up with, staying in contact with family, sharing ideas and information, even entertaining us when we’re bored!
However, for a lot of us, spending time on social media can be a mentally and emotionally taxing experience!
There have been numerous studies on the harmful impacts of social media and how these platforms can affect us psychologically and emotionally. This is especially true when it comes to how we feel about our bodies and inner-selves as it relates to others!
One of the biggest concerns that I often come across…
Eating Disorders 101: What is Anorexia Nervosa?
January 3, 2023
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
According to the DSM5-TR, Anorexia Nervosa is the restriction of food energy intake relative to your body’s requirements based on age, sex, development and physical health, leading to a significantly low body weight.
Contrary to what popular culture shows us…
How to Survive the Pain and Anxiety of Toxic Body Shaming from Family During the Holidays…
December 19, 2022
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
The holidays are here! For many of us, the holiday season brings excitement and feelings of warmth or nostalgia; However, the holidays can also impart feelings of anxiety when it comes to interacting with family. Specifically, interacting with family surrounding unsolicited comments about our food or bodies…
The Truth About Black Bodies
December 9, 2022
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
We live in a media driven society where the portrayal of people who suffer from eating disorders and body image issues is all too often depicted as white, affluent, adolescent, heterosexual, cisgendered and female. As a licensed therapist who also identifies as a black woman that has battled through episodes of disordered eating patterns and not accepting my own body, I am especially attuned to noticing the stereotypes and portrayals that are perpetuated, even amongst fellow therapists.
The truth is, eating disorders and dissatisfaction with one’s body can affect anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender or social status. This extends to black people.
Research tells us that about 1.5% of Black Americans have had a lifetime prevalence for Bulimia Nervosa.
Black teenagers are…
Eating Disorder 101: What is Bulimia Nervosa?
October 2, 2022
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by a cycle of uncontrollable binge eating or eating large quantities of food in a short period of time, followed by a period of “purging” to “correct or reverse the binge.” Purging may look very different depending on the person, but could include severely restricting food and caloric intake, fasting, misuse of laxatives or diuretics, over exercising, and inducing emesis or vomiting.
Because of the cycling between binging and purging, individuals with Bulimia Nervosa may maintain their weight or present as being overweight as it relates to their age, height and body composition.
Bulimia Nervosa can be accompanied by an extreme fixation on body image, such as body weight, or body shape. Additional risk factors that may contribute to the development of this eating disorder include…
3 Benefits of Working with a Private Pay Therapist
September 28, 2022
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
While utilizing health insurance carries several benefits, such as, protecting you from unexpected high medical costs and making mental health therapy and psychotropic medications more affordable and accessible, seeing a private pay therapist who is out of network with health insurance companies can also have its own benefits.
Working with a Private Pay/Out of Network Therapist Allows you to have More Autonomy Over the Course of your Treatment
Insurance companies’s level of monetary control has created a power dynamic in healthcare where these companies often dictate decisions that have a significant impact on your personal health. Insurance companies can control factors like the duration of your treatment and how many sessions they are willing to pay for. In some circumstances, they may only choose to reimburse if your therapist utilizes certain evidenced based approaches that may be researched to be effective, but are not necessarily the only or most appropriate treatments for you. For example…
What to Expect: 3 Unexpected Things That New Clients Can Expect From Therapy
June 28, 2022
Stefanie M. Lawson, MSW LCSW
The Mindfulness Space Psychotherapy Services, PLLC
So, you’ve decided to begin therapy. Congratulations! Engaging in therapy can be a difficult undertaking because it requires us to be open, honest and vulnerable about our feelings and emotions that can be tough to talk about. However, it can also be tremendously freeing and beneficial in helping us to navigate through some of life’s most difficult situations.
The Stigma
You pick up the phone and schedule your initial appointment, but now what? For some of us, the fear of beginning therapy can be a barrier to accessing much needed support. The negative stigma that our society places on mental health disorders and treatment doesn’t help to make engaging in therapy any easier.
When visiting various social media platforms and discussion boards, I often notice…
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