Girlology is deeply committed to changing the body image story for girls. We’ve created a class for them that raises awareness and teaches skills that can prevent body image issues or begin to reverse existing body struggles. Our methods are being used successfully in therapists offices —  greater confidence, less self-consciousness, more joy.

The on-demand class for girls is called “How to Like Your Body.” It includes 10 short videos + a fun, colorful journal (free e-version or print version may be purchased) and it’s led by inspiring young women trained by Girlology. Honestly, it’s better than anything we’ve ever seen for tweens and teens, and we’re getting amazing feedback from girls. 

But there is a hard truth we needed to address:

 

For her to optimize her body image, it’s likely she needs YOU to do some work on your feelings about your own body. 

Social media definitely has an impact on her, but your influence is bigger. Your comments, glances, family culture… the way you feel about your own body, the way you move your body, the time you take for yourself, even things your mother said to you — all affect how your daughter experiences her own body. 

It’s complicated for a lot of us.

But the solution isn’t.

Once we built the girls’ class, we realized we can create a similar coaching series for moms — as long as it wasn’t too time consuming or overwhelming. It also had to go a bit deeper to help women UNLEARN what we’ve internalized about our bodies. So we did it.

It’s called Like Your Body, Change Her Future.

Here’s how it works:

Dr. Cara Reeves and Dr. Melisa Holmes have created weekly, simple coaching steps delivered through short videos.

Watch one video each week (or whatever schedule works for you), then spend that week focused on the ONE THING you’re asked to do, think about, or process.

Use the COMMUNITY feature in the Girlology app to ask questions, share stories, seek or offer support. Dr. Cara and the Girlology team will be reading and responding to the community posts regularly.

The following weeks’ tip will begin with a reflection or review of how things went with the previous tip, and then lead you into the next step. 

About once a month, Dr. Cara and / or Dr. Melisa will host a live chat

We have a full year’s worth of weekly tips, but it only takes a few weeks to notice shifts in your relationship with your body.

You can DIY at your own pace, or feel free to DIWAF (do it with a friend) for more fun, encouragement, and accountability.

Each small step you take builds on previous tips, and before you know it, you’ll feel better about yourself, and you’ll become a better influencer for the girls in your life.

We have a year’s worth of tips, but it doesn’t take a year to notice big shifts in your relationsihp with your body. Just remember it’s a practice, so we’re in it with you for a whole year (and maybe beyond).

Here’s how to access it:

If you’re a Girlology member,
the Like Your Body, Change Her Future coaching series is already in your app – in the Body Image category.

If you’re not a member,
you can create a free account just for this coaching content (for now).
To get started, create your free account HERE
Then download the Girlology app and sign in.

Watch our welcome video, then jump into Tip 1, and you’re on your way!

We’ll send reminders about the tips in each Momfidence newsletter (sign up for it below). For your daughter, share our class for girls with her: included with your Girlology membership or available to purchase HERE.

We look forward to coaching you on this journey.

~The Girlology Team

 Get the Girlology App on google play or in the app store.

Ready to become a Girlology member and have access to all our resources for girls (and you)? Learn More HERE. 

 

 

Congratulations on taking this journey for yourself and for your daughter. To help her gain the skills and habits that will protect her relationship with her body, share our class for girls with her: How to Like Your Body, included with her Girlology membership or available to purchase HERE.

For the best experience on any device, get the Girlology App on google play or in the app store.

 

 I prefer the term “vigilant” over “paranoid,” but I worry about depression – a lot. With 3 daughters, it’s a personal worry. With thousands of female adolescent patients, it’s also a professional worry. 

Why do I worry? 

📌 It’s common. Among teens, 1 in 7 will have a diagnosis of depression, but less than half will get treatment.

📌 It’s tricky. Depression can look different in teens than in adults, and they’re great at camouflaging their symptoms.

📌 Girls are particularly at risk. After puberty, depression is almost 3 times more common in girls than boys.

📌 It shows up early. Among adults with depression or anxiety, over half of them had symptoms by age 14.

And my biggest fear? 😱

It’s not the diagnosis of depression, it’s that the depression goes UNTREATED, because treatments are very effective, especially when started promptly after the onset of symptoms. But if it’s not treated, long-standing depression can lead to other serious health problems and lifelong struggles.

So the obvious question is, “Can we PREVENT depression in the first place?” 

There’s actually some good news. 

• When we equip children with emotional coping skills, mindfulness practices, and mental wellness awareness, we can reduce the occurrence of both anxiety and depression. Girlology has  lots of tips and discussions in the app to guide you and help her with those skills.

• When we give girls a new way to think about their body without defaulting to the way it looks as a source of happiness, we  can help them build a foundation that prioritizes their  experiences and abilities over appearances. That helps reduce body dissatisfaction which is a big trigger for anxiety in many girls. Watch for Girlology’s new body image class for girls – it will do exactly that (arriving Oct 1 for members!).

• When we destigmatize  mental health care is also a way to reduce the consequences of mental health struggles. Make sure she knows that caring for her mental health and getting help when there’s a problem is just as important and necessary as taking care of her body and getting treatments when she’s physically sick. 

Obviously, genetics matter, and some things are just not in our control, however there are definitely some steps you can take to protect her mental health now and in the future. This tip will get you started.

As vigilant moms, we need to be well-prepared to recognize depression symptoms and know what to DO (or not do) to support her, get it treated, and help our girls thrive. 

Become a member of Girlology to have an all-access pass to the support you’ll need to help your child grow up confident and informed!

Get Girlology on google play or in the app store.

Ready to become a Girlology member? Learn More HERE. 

As a physician for adolescent girls and young women (and as an 80s girl who grew up feeling all the pressure to be thin) eating disorders have always been on my radar. They are common, serious, and tricky to recognize and treat. Over the years, I’ve been involved in the diagnosis and treatment of many anorexic girls. I’m as confident as physician can be in understanding the risk factors, prevention strategies, warning signs, and diagnosis. 

So when I ended up with 3 daughters, I was pretty sure anorexia was one health condition my girls would not have to deal with. I raised them with body positivity and confidence-growing experiences. I fed them mostly-healthy-but-not-restrictive nutrition. They had open-access to ice cream and other treats in the house. I wasn’t worried. 

Until I realized that my daughter was anorexic.

In retrospect, there were some vague warning signs. I noticed weight loss, but she had been sick, recently diagnosed with Celiac disease which meant she had to remove all gluten (bread and pasta – her favorites) from her diet. Her friends and their mothers noticed her weight loss and, like so many women and girls, kept telling her how great she looked. 

We talked openly about getting enough nutrition as we learned the ins and outs of her new gluten-free diet. She assured me she was fine, but some of her behaviors were beginning to change. She was keeping her room immaculate. She was unusually quiet — or explosive. When she sat at the kitchen table, she kept her legs bouncing in constant motion. I remember noticing her boney spine at the kitchen counter one day, but then telling myself in total denial, “Nah, it can’t be…she’s just been sick. She’s not the anorexic type. She’s always been so confident and happy.” But instinctively, there was doubt and worry. I found myself in a sideways glance, eyes squinting as I questioned my own internal voice. It finally struck me. My daughter was anorexic. 

How did I let this happen? I felt like an idiot. I felt like a horrible mother. I questioned my clinical skills. 

Without detailing two of the most difficult years of my life, let me tell you a few personal insights I gained during her recovery (and my therapy) and since then:

• It can happen to anyone in any family. 
• It is not caused by a parenting failure. 
• Early recognition and aggressive treatment are critical to recovery.
• Treatment is hard.
• Families do hard things.
• Full recovery is possible.

In the time since we faced this in our family, more research has improved what we understand about anorexia and other eating disorders.

Here are some facts you should know about anorexia (we also offer an on-demand video class, Understanding Anorexia, HERE):

👉🏼 The causes are complex and a combination of genetics, her environment, and weight loss triggers. Check out this video tip for details on the risk factors. 

👉🏾 It is a brain-based illness that can have lasting effects on physical growth, brain function, and mental health. 

👉🏽 There is no stereotype to identify those who will develop anorexia – all genders, sizes, shapes, races are susceptible, but most of the time, it starts in childhood or early adolescence (and currently, it’s starting at younger ages than ever before).

👉🏼 She does not need to believe she is fat or have a distorted body image to have anorexia.

👉🏾 Over ⅓ of kids diagnosed with anorexia today are overweight or obese, but their diagnosis is often delayed because our society is fat-phobic and thinks weight loss is always good for overweight kids – no matter how they lose the weight. 

👉🏽 Early recognition and treatment increase the possibility of full recovery.

👉🏼 The primary treatment is food, not medications. 

👉🏾 The anorexic patient’s brain is not functioning normally because of malnutrition. We are learning more and more about the importance of nutrition in the way the brain develops and functions. The brain cannot recover (including emotions, decision making, insight) until it is fed appropriately. Until she recovers, she cannot make rational decisions that involve eating habits or food.

👉🏽 The most effective treatments are family-based and occur within the home (not in a hospital). Therapists and nutritionists experienced in treating eating disorders provide guidance and support, but the family does most of the work. 

👉🏼 If anorexia affects your family or a friends’ family, there should be no shame or embarrassment. This disease is no different than any other for which we eagerly offer empathy and support. 

👉🏾 If you have concerns about anorexia and your child, please speak with her doctor as soon as possible!