#Embrace yourself how to#

There are a range of topics covered, for example: understanding our stress response and learing adaptive ways of coping how emotions work and various ways to regulate them responding to our inner critic in a more helpful way and reducing self-judgment establishing healthy boundaries and connecting authentically with others how to cultivate self-care and self-compassion – physically, mentally, and emotionally. The group aims to help young women understand and familiarise themselves better with their inner critical voice and how it functions. It includes a mix of instructive teaching, practical exercises, guided meditations, imagery and small group discussion. The group draws on a range of different evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including Cognitive Behavioural interventions (CBT), Compassion-Focused interventions (CFT) and Mindful Self-Compassion interventions (MSC).

The sessions aim to teach skills for bringing a greater sense of compassion and acceptance to oneself. Yes, the group runs over 6 weeks for an hour and a half and is particularly designed for young women aged between 18-30. Can you tell me a bit about the group and what it involves? Hi Kerry, you recently started a group called Embrace Yourself that aims to increase self-acceptance and self-compassion. I’m clearly in the minority however so maybe it will do some good with helping others get interested in body image the wealth of great research out there on the subject.We sit down with psychologist Kerry Athanasiadis to learn more about her group for young women and self-esteem. I really did try to get into it but it wasn’t for me.

As if the emphasis on social media and its artificial reality isn’t a major contributor to body image problems! The book had a shallow, gushing quality with the author constantly reminding us about her amazing journey to social media stardom and I just can’t believe it, and it all began at my kitchen table, but I’ve done something amazing! You’ve invented a catchy tag line to promote ideas you didn’t come up with. At one point - still in the introductory bit I think - the author/narrator tells us about a fabulous person, whose main claim to fabulousness is the fact she has X number of Instagram followers and if we don’t already, we should follow her on social media immediately. Secondly, the constant references to social media were excruciating. Rebranding body positivity as “embrace” or whatever you want to call it does not mean you invented anything. Similarly, a lot of academics have dedicated their whole careers to body image studies. Say what? Body positivity has been around for a long, long time and a lot of thinkers have been writing about it. My first problem with this book came at the outset when the author waxed lyrical about the movement she “founded”. Do you hate your body and want to learn how to let go of the unhappiness it brings? Do you just want to reach a greater sense of body-loving nirvana? If the answer is yes, then this book might just change your life. Learn to accept your body for all the wonderful gifts it brings you and reject the destructive fake images we are bombarded with every day.Įmbrace Yourself is the ultimate 'how to' guide to loving your body at every shape and size. Her message is urgent, critical, and incredibly inspiring. Taryn Brumfitt - director of award winning documentary Embrace and fiercely passionate champion of women - has inspired over a million people across the world to embrace their bodies. When was the last time you wore a bikini without a care in the world? Did a bomb in the pool? Or participated in an activity that gave you such a thrill you almost wet your pants? (Or you actually did!) 'Your body is not an ornament - it is the vehicle to your dreams.’

Embrace yourself