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.

 

by Cara Reeves, PhD, Girlology’s Director of Mental Wellness

I admit it; I’m obsessed with the new Inside Out 2 movie. As a psychologist, I have to say that the creators (Dave Holstein, Kelsey Mann, Megan LeFauve) NAILED IT! The story gives a perfect depiction of the complexity, unpredictability and intensity of teenage emotions. We can all learn from it. 

If you haven’t seen it yet (SPOILER ALERT), the movie picks up as the main character, Riley (now 13), transitions into puberty – bringing along a host of new, strong, mercurial emotions: Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui (boredom).  

The new emotions quickly take over Riley’s mental “headquarters” and wreak havoc in her life at the worst possible time – during a three day tryout for her high school ice hockey team. Not only is she juggling some pretty challenging friendship dynamics and vying for a position on the team, she is also trying to understand the new, BIG, feelings that are bubbling up AND trying to figure out what to do about them. These new feelings make her question herself. Do they mean she isn’t the person she thought she was? 

The storyline is an INSIDE look (hence the name INSIDE OUT) at what goes on in the teenage mind.  

Adolescence is a time of constant change and growth.  As soon as kids (and their parents) think they’ve figured things out and settled into a groove….

WHOOSH!!!!

…the rug gets pulled out from under them, and they are back to figuring things out again. 

As these emotional shifts happen, kids don’t understand why they are SOOO upset about a bad hair day or SOOO nervous about a dance recital or SOOO mad at their brother. The movie does a great job highlighting this internal struggle as emotions quickly take over and overwhelm unsuspecting Riley.  

As a psychologist, I love the visual representation of the different emotions. They are PART of Riley, but they don’t define who Riley IS as a person (that’s actually her Sense of Self). 

Particularly notable is the way the movie shows that the RIGHT amount of emotion can serve an important purpose, but TOO MUCH for TOO LONG can create a problem. I do, however, wish that there was more of an emphasis on how Riley learns to manage her emotions. What if her Sense of Self had been the main character who manages the emotions? Ah, but maybe I’m moving into therapy mode and should leave the role-selection process to the creators.

As a mom, I love that the movie reminded me how fickle, intense and disorienting teenage emotions can be and that I shouldn’t get too worked up about it (that’s my OWN anxiety taking the helm and planning for the worst case scenario).  Rather, I should try to enjoy the roller coaster, be present, and appreciate the highs, while at the same time be a steady and supportive presence during the twists, turns and lows. 

Another crucial lesson for parents: we cannot figure this out for them!  Our kids have to figure out how to manage their big emotions on their own. Our job is to allow them to have new life experiences (Riley’s parents allowed her to go to ice hockey tryouts even in the midst of some super intense teen angst), but be a safe place for them when they are in need of love, guidance and support.  

There are so many great reminders and lessons throughout the movie. Here are a few more of the highlights:

😀 All emotions (even the uncomfortable ones) serve a purpose!

😭 It’s not good to bottle uncomfortable emotions and hide from bad memories.  

😟 You can’t expect to be happy ALL the time….that just isn’t normal or healthy!

😳 If big emotions stay around too long it can be a problem, so it is important to learn how to manage them.

😋 Your sense of self (who you are) changes/evolves over time as you gain new experiences, memories and emotions.  

🫣 Anxiety is future-oriented, has a lot of energy and can be VERY misleading!

I highly recommend seeing the movie with your kids)! It offers some great discussion springboards and essential lessons to help us all raise emotionally healthy teens (and even gain some personal insights to help).  

For more great tips and insights from Dr. Cara Reeves, Girlology’s Director of Mental Health, become a Girlology member. Did you know Girlology offers grade-by-grade video playlists to support her and you — on ALL.THE.TOPICS from mental health to puberty, periods, skin care, body image and more! Learn More Here.