Fat bias is ubiquitous in our culture, and the counseling profession has not been immune to it. No matter our good intentions, it is easy to inadvertently create spaces within which our fat clients feel unseen, misunderstood, and judged.
This workshop will examine the ways fat bias and fatphobia insidiously enters counseling relationships, and the impact of this on our fat clients. We will introduce and explore the principles of fat politics and Health At Every Size, and demonstrate how they can be used to create safer, more inviting spaces for clients of all sizes.
During this workshop, participants will:
- Learn the ideological differences between different words used when fat bodies are discussed
- Understand the origins of anti-fat bias and how it impacts the wellbeing of fat clients
- Be able to articulate ways anti-fat bias and fatphobia enter counseling relationships, and how to avoid/mitigate these
- Obtain resources for further learning in fat politics and supporting fat counseling clients
Meredith Noble, MA is a Professional Counselor Associate and a Certified Body Trust® Provider based in Portland, Oregon. She has dedicated the last 7 years of her life to helping people heal their relationships with food and their bodies using Health At Every Size® (HAES®) and fat liberation concepts.
