Fat Liberation
Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT) champions Fat Liberation by centering relationships, systemic oppression, and healing through connection.
Here are 4 few specific ways in which I integrate the two.
Understanding Disconnection & Fat Oppression
We live in a fatphobic world.
Constant anti-fat messages are a lot to take and this can understandably lead to disconnection and dissociation. RCT emphasizes that disconnection is a source of suffering, so let’s explore—at a pace of your choosing—how fatphobia impacts and has impacted the significant relationships in your life. This means loved ones, healthcare providers, and even your relationship with yourself.
Related Curiosities We May Explore:
How have social messages about body size and fatness shaped your sense of self? Your sense of belonging?
When have you felt seen and valued, regardless of body size?
Which relationships in your life have been harmed by fatphobia? What might you need to move forward, repair, or grieve?
What boundaries might you need to set with people who reinforce harmful narratives?
How can you deepen connections that affirm your worth?
Centering Mutual Empowerment
Fat people—myself included!—internalize messages from family, friends, and society at large that they are both too much and not enough. Continuing RCT’s focus on mutual growth means therapy is a space to challenge those beliefs, explore how you are relating to them, and cultivate mutual empowerment.
Affirmative Reframing
Instead of “body positivity” because it’s easier on the ears of others, recognize you use “fat positivity” because the other excludes fat people
Instead of “emotional eating” as a symptom to address, recognize eating as a coping mechanism in a fatphobic world.
Instead of seeing your size as a barrier, recognize the real issue is systemic oppression, not your body.
Instead of individualizing your struggles with body image, explore how cultural narratives shape self-perception.
Systemic Injustice
RCT acknowledges suffering is not just personal but systemic, and so do I, which means therapy includes discussions about how fatphobia and weight stigma intersect with racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other forms of oppression.
Therapeutic Curiosity
How has fatphobia shown up in your workplace, healthcare, or family?
What barriers prevent you from more fully engaging in relationships?
What about engaging socially or politically?
How can we co-create strategies to navigate these systems?
Radical Acceptance & Connection
In a world that seems committed to making fat people believe they must shrink, physically and emotionally, to be accepted, Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT) provides a space for authenticity and witnessing.
Therapeutic Practices
I commit to model radical acceptance by affirming all body sizes and rejecting weight-centric narratives.
I commit to validate your anger and grief around fat oppression rather than pointing you toward body positivity and forgiveness.
I commit to support you in finding, building, or creating fat-affirming spaces and communities to experience connection outside of therapy.
These are some ways we can focus our sessions on Fat Liberation. As always, where we go and how we get there will be decided collaboratively. You don’t need to come in knowing exactly what you’re wanting or needing, just willing to engage and be curious.
If you are interested in a FREE 15 consultation, click here.