Improving Body Image w/ a Somatic Approach, and Deb Schachter

Oct 28, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Deb Schachter, a seasoned social worker with over 30 years of experience and co-author of 'Body Image Inside Out,' shares her insights on body image and healing. She challenges the conventional approach of fixing body image and emphasizes the importance of listening to our bodies. Deb explores how early experiences and trauma shape our relationship with our bodies and introduces practical techniques like mindful awareness and curiosity to decode negative self-talk. Her refreshing perspective shifts focus from comparison to connection, paving the way for deeper self-acceptance.

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INSIGHT

Body Image Is A Practice, Not A Fix

Deb Schachter reframes body image as ongoing practice, not a problem to fix once and for all.
Body image changes with moods and situations, so cultivating skills over time is essential.

ADVICE

Label Loud Body-Image Moments

Notice when body-image thoughts get louder and label that experience to create space.
Use mindful awareness first, then invite curiosity to explore why it's louder now.

ADVICE

Turn Envy Into A Need Assessment

When you envy someone's body, investigate what life quality you actually want from them.
Translate appearance longing into needs like freedom, strength, or confidence and act on those needs.

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Let's talk about body image and how to stop comparing yourself to other in this interview with author Deb Schachter.

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Rethinking Body Image from a Somatic Perspective with Deb Schachter Most of us try to fix body image by changing how we look — dieting, working out harder, or comparing ourselves to others. But what if real healing starts on the inside?

In this conversation with somatic therapist Deb Schachter, we explore a radically different approach to body image — one that begins with listening to the body, rather than judging it. Deb explains how our relationship with our body is shaped by early experiences, trauma, and disconnection, and how we can begin to repair that relationship through awareness, compassion, and presence.

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

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