Summer Can Be A Difficult Time For Self-Image. Here’s What Can Help

Self-image is a very important component of how emotionally healthy we are able to live our lives. It influences the way people think others see them, as well as the worth we assign ourselves. The summer season can provide some additional obstacles for a person’s self-image, since it can trigger unrealistic or unhealthy expectations of what we should look like, especially since people often dress with less layers and feel more body-conscious. This is difficult to navigate, but Los Angeles therapy can be a very helpful way to deal with self-image issues.

Self-Acceptance Of Body Image
summer self-imageLos Angeles can be a difficult city for your self-image for a variety of reasons. On one hand, it’s a city where those already pervasive unrealistic standards that you see in the media are heightened and a lot more present in our everyday lives. On top of that, it’s hot. It can be warm much of the year, but particularly during the summer. The high temperatures make it necessary to wear less clothes, but that can come with a significant downside for people who aren’t too happy with the way they look. This is why, now that summer is in full swing again, it’s a good idea to find different ways to repair or increase the self-acceptance of one’s body image.

Adopting Habits That Help
More often than not, the response to having dissatisfaction with our own body is simply to exercise and eat healthier. These are, on principle, good and necessary habits to adopt. After all, exercise and a good diet are very important factors of a healthy lifestyle. Incorporating these into your daily routine certainly can make you feel better in general. However, you can do both of those things and still feel insecure about your own body. Especially when the time comes to go to the beach or the pool or in general. Factors such as genetic predisposition, ability to stay on track with exercising and/or eating healthy, your natural body type, and negative experiences regarding how you look aren’t exactly things you have control over.

For example, growing up feeling overweight or underweight, or having had glasses, braces, or acne, etc. could have hurt your self-image in your own eyes or if you were negatively treated because of how you looked. This is why it’s so important to incorporate healthy habits into your life such as exercising and eating correctly, but also to actively work on healing and correcting the way we see and feel about our own self-image if it is inaccurate or overly negative.

Gaining An Accurate Sense Of Self
The best way to improve one’s own self-image is to learn how to perceive oneself realistically and, most importantly, empathetically. You need to be kind to yourself and as non-judgmental as possible to have a better chance of believing in a more realistic idea of what your body can look like and cherishing that to gain a more positive sense of self. This is not easy, for it involves unlearning behaviors and preconceived notions of what a “good enough” body looks like. These expectations are everywhere, especially in a place like Los Angeles. That is why it’s often a good idea to seek out a therapist who can help you navigate this journey as effectively as possible.

Los Angeles Therapy
Therapy is a very useful resource for plenty of different reasons. Therapy can help people learn how to gain a new perspective on what they have or are currently going through. It can also provide you with different ways to approach your situation and gain new insight into where you can go from there. These are some of the ways Dr. Yvonne Thomas, Ph.D. is here to assist. With over twenty years of practice, Dr. Thomas is ready to help you on your journey to a healthier self-image and self-acceptance. For more information on how she can work with you, request an appointment through her website or give her a call at (310) 359-9450.

Strengthen Your Love Relationship with Couples Therapy

While flowers, chocolates, and a fancy dinner can make you feel great, it won’t guarantee healthy relationships. Los Angeles Psychologist Dr. Yvonne Thomas highlights a few reasons you may be feeling emotionally distant from your significant other and how you can work to strengthen your relationship with her services.

Communication Problems Often Decrease The Quality Of Love Relationships
Couples struggle with issues related to communication.  Whether there is difficulty expressing thoughts, feelings, and needs.  There can be a lot of emotional damage and disconnection in relationships.

Financial Stressors Can Cause Tension Between You And Your Significant Other
Financial stressors are one of the biggest challenges to couples for many reasons.  They can take a huge toll on confidence levels and cause tension to build up. Passive-aggressive comments about finances build up and lead to bigger issues.  In couples therapy, learning to communicate with your partner as a team are some key factors to a healthy relationship.  

Sexual Stressors Can Lead To Upset And Confusion
Los Angeles Psychologist Dr. Yvonne Thomas has many years of experience working with clients who are experiencing strain in their sexual relationship as well. Problems with the sexual aspect of a relationship can drive a wedge between couples and turn small problems into bigger ones.  It can be tough acknowledging and accepting that your relationship needs help when it comes to sex.

Talking with Dr. Thomas about the issues you are experiencing can open up the conversation in a healthy way. By doing couples therapy you can identify issues and work through them with her to have a healthier, happier relationship.

Of course, these are just a few examples of common stressors in love relationships.  Dr. Thomas can help you through many other forms of relationship distress, as well. Take advantage of her free, 15-minute phone consultation.  Call her today at (310) 359-9450 or you can e-mail her through the Request An Appointment portal on her website at https://www.yvonnethomasphd.com/contact/

Turning Over A New Leaf In Life Now That Fall Is Approaching

Fall has often been seen as a season for change. Similar to spring, the fall represents a transition between the seasons. However, while spring comes with ideas of rebirth and renewal, fall can be a time of new beginnings and possibilities. Here, you can see how it can be very helpful to work with a therapist in Los Angeles to use the fall season as a catalyst for change.

Welcoming The Change Brought By The Fall

We know that the fall means that you go from the sunshine and the excitement of summer to cooler weather and leaves changing before winter sets in.   Fall can be seen as an opportunity for change and a season for starting new things or adding to your life.

Turning Over A New Leaf

Labor Day is coming up and, along with it, the start of new semesters, new seasonal jobs, and new possibilities. These can bring a lot of changes along with them. Maybe you are starting a new college program that will radically change the pace of your life. Perhaps, after a summer of family activities, you’ll get some more time for yourself while your kids return to school. Maybe you are looking at a new opportunity to implement changes in your life that you might have been putting off until now. Temperatures are getting lower, those walks out of your home are more comfortable, and you can take a look at how your year is going so far and the new opportunities you have.

Learning How To Make The Most Of The Season

New beginnings in life don’t work like they do in the movies. You don’t just suddenly decide to implement change and immediately enjoy a new beginning. In real life, it’s all a lot more gradual than that. There’s a reason we’re posting this ahead of that. We want to encourage you to start identifying the different ways in which you can take the next few months to make changes. If you know that changes are due but are unsure about what they should be or how to implement them, a therapist can help you navigate this process.

Reach Out To A Therapist In Los Angeles

Therapy is a very useful resource for plenty of different reasons. For one thing, it’s a good way for you to get a new perspective on what you’re going through. It can also provide you with different ways to approach your situation and gain new insight into where you can go from there. These are some of the things that Dr. Yvonne Thomas, Ph.D. is here to help with. With over twenty years of experience, Dr. Thomas is ready to help you on your journey to a healthier and happier life. For more information on how she can assist you, request an appointment through her website or give her a call at (310) 359-9450.