Addressing Weight Bias in Clinical Counselling Practice
Addressing Weight Bias in Clinical Counselling Practice
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Issue Date
2023-05
Authors
Zimmering, Andrea
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Abstract
Weight bias is a pervasive issue in North American society and includes harmful stereotypes and attitudes towards people living in larger bodies. Despite its damaging effects, weight bias is widely accepted, normalized, and rarely challenged in North American society. This paper specifically explores the role of weight bias in clinical counselling. The purpose of this capstone is to determine strategies for reducing weight bias in the field of counselling and establish best practices for working with clients living in larger bodies. To better understand this topic, both the weight-centric and non-weight centric perspectives on weight bias are examined. Furthermore, a review of the literature on the existence of weight bias in psychotherapy and existing strategies for reducing weight bias in the field is provided. Finally, a proposal for counsellor education and training that targets weight bias reduction in clinical counselling practice is outlined.
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Keywords
weight bias , social justice , fat activists , weight inclusive approach