Body image worksheets
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Are you looking for body image worksheets to address body image concerns with your clients?
These free downloadable body image therapy worksheets are ideal for clients who are working on improving body acceptance.
The way a person feels about how they look can have an impact on their mental health.
People who struggle with negative body image can experience feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-worth. In some clients, these struggles can develop into body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
This article provides an understanding of body image and body dysmorphia in clients, along with discussion questions to guide therapy sessions.
We also offer tips for using the body image worksheets effectively. You can save the body image therapy worksheets to your electronic health record (EHR) or print copies for repeated use.
Understanding body image concerns in clients
Understanding body image and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) helps explain how clients see themselves and how this affects their mental health. Body image refers to how a person feels and thinks about their appearance.
While everyone feels self-conscious sometimes, body image issues can be very upsetting for some people—affecting their confidence, relationships, and mental health.
For example, someone might spend a lot of time checking their appearance in mirrors or comparing themselves to others. They may feel anxious or upset about their looks despite others not noticing any issues.
In severe cases, these concerns may evolve into body dysmorphic disorder, which is a mental health condition characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance. Body dysmorphia worksheets can help clients understand this condition.
BDD affects 2% to 3% of people worldwide, with more females being diagnosed with the condition than males. Further research shows that about 2% to 5% of teenagers and 3% of higher education students are affected by BDD.
Young people are especially vulnerable. Still, body dysmorphic disorder can affect adults, making body image worksheets for adults useful tools in therapy.
It’s important to observe symptoms and not ignore them, as early recognition and support can help prevent the condition from getting worse.
Common symptoms of BDD include:
Preoccupation with perceived flaws
Clients may become fixated on a specific area of their body, such as their skin, hair, or facial features.
Excessive grooming or checking
Many people with BDD repeatedly check their appearance in the mirror, spend too much time grooming, or ask others constantly if they look OK.
Frequent seeking of cosmetic procedures
Some people with BDD may seek cosmetic surgery or other treatments to fix their appearance, but these may not bring lasting happiness, and their preoccupation with appearance may continue.
According to the ADAA, between 9% and 11% of dermatology patients, 13% to 15% of cosmetic surgery patients, 20% of rhinoplasty patients, 11% of adult jaw correction surgery patients, and 5% to 13% of adult orthodontia or cosmetic dentistry patients have BDD.
Avoidance of social situations
Due to fear of being judged or ridiculed, clients may avoid social events, public places, or even relationships altogether.
Depressive symptoms and anxiety
Worrying constantly about their appearance can cause emotional pain. Clients may feel anxious, depressed, or have low self-esteem.
One effective way for clients to cope with these issues in therapy is through the use of body image worksheets.
Body image therapy worksheets can help them address their body image concerns in a safe and guided environment.
Body image discussion questions
In therapy, asking the right questions can help clients reflect on their thoughts and feelings about their physical appearance.
These questions can be a starting point for challenging negative beliefs and guiding clients toward a more balanced view of themselves.
Here are some examples of body image discussion questions to include in therapy:
- How do you feel about your appearance when you look in the mirror?
- What do you think are your best physical features? Why?
- Have you ever compared your appearance to someone else’s? How did it make you feel?
- What words or phrases do you use to describe yourself? Are they mostly positive or negative?
- When did you first become aware of how your body looks, and how has your perception changed over time?
- What would you like to feel about your body that you don’t feel right now?
- How do you think societal or cultural standards influence your view of your body?
- How does your mood change based on how you feel about your appearance on a given day?
- Have you ever received comments about your appearance that stuck with you? How do these comments affect you now?
- What are some non-physical qualities about yourself that you value or are proud of?
These questions are also included in the body image therapy worksheets that are available to download at the top of this article.
How to use the body image worksheets
This article includes three types of body image worksheets to meet different therapy needs:
Body image discussion questions worksheet
This body image worksheet has 12 questions to help clients think about their feelings toward their appearance. It is best used at the beginning of therapy to gather insights.
CBT body image worksheet
This worksheet guides clients to replace negative thoughts with healthier ones, and supports cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an effective treatment for body image issues.
Gratitude worksheet
In this activity, clients develop self-compassion as they recognize their body’s strengths and functions. You can use this type of body image therapy worksheet to promote self-acceptance and close a session with a positive focus.
Sources
- Nicewicz, H. R., Torrico, T. J., & Boutrouille, J. F. (202). Body dysmorphic Disorder.
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). (n.d.). Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
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