Overview

This full-day workshop (9.00–4.30pm) aims to equip clinicians with the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively with people of all ages experiencing body dissatisfaction, disordered eating patterns, and low self-worth. Many individuals struggle silently with negative body image, harsh self criticism, emotional eating, binge–restrict cycles, and internalised appearance pressures. These issues often go undetected or minimised, despite their profound impact on mental health, relationships, and overall wellbeing.

Understanding what body dissatisfaction is and isn’t, how it develops, what maintains it, and how it affects self-worth is central to providing effective care. Treatment involves exploring the functions of appearance-based concerns, unpacking core beliefs, understanding the relationship between emotions, eating, and self-evaluation, and helping clients build a more compassionate and accepting relationship with their body and themselves.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

• What body image dissatisfaction is and its psychological and behavioural impacts
• Common myths, misconceptions, and societal influences
• How to sensitively assess for body image concerns and disordered eating
• Causes, maintaining factors, and common case conceptualisations
• Motivation, ambivalence, and barriers to improving body acceptance and respect
• Evidence-based treatment approaches and the realities of working with clients who struggle with self-worth and appearance-based concerns

Presenter(s)

Dr. Vivienne Lewis

About the presenter(s)

Dr. Vivienne Lewis is a Clinical Psychologist at the University of Canberra specialising in body image, disordered eating, and eating disorders. Her research focuses on the impact of appearance perceptions on wellbeing across ages and genders. She has conducted qualitative and clinical research on the experiences of individuals with eating and body image issues and the barriers clinicians face in treatment. Dr Lewis also runs a private practice where she works with clients of all ages experiencing body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, anxiety, and self-worth difficulties. She is featured in the UC Experts Guide and regularly appears in the media discussing body image and mental health. Dr. Lewis is a member of the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists and a Board-Approved Supervisor. She supervises clinical students, registrars, and practicing psychologists, and provides training to health professionals working with body image and eating concerns. She is an advocate for body respect, embodiment, and celebrating body diversity.

Notes

Registration includes lunch, morning and afternoon tea.

Target Audience

This activity is aimed at psychologists.

Please note: 'no paper - hardcopy' handouts will be provided. 

Cancellations by Event Registrants

• Up to 28 days prior to the event you are registered to attend will receive a full refund.
• Cancellations 27-15 days prior will receive a 50% refund.
• Cancellations received 14 days or less prior to the event will not be refunded, other than for 'exceptional, unforeseeable circumstances', however, you may nominate someone to attend in your place.
• Registrations are not transferable between events.
• All cancellations must be provided in writing to the event organiser

Cancellation by the Event Organisers

The APS reserves the right to alter or cancel any event arrangements should circumstances beyond our reasonable control necessitate this. This includes the cancellation of an event. The APS’s maximum liability is limited to a full refund of the attendees event registration fee. The APS accepts no liability for any other additional costs incurred.

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.