Supporting Young Women: Combatting Social Media Expectations, Dismantling Sizeism, and Bolstering Sexual Health
Presented by Kassie R. Terrell, Ph.D., Nathan Quinn, B.S., and Kelsey Meltzer, B.S.
This program was recorded on May 20th, 2022
Access provided upon registration on “My Courses” page
With the growing number of social media applications in our society, it is no secrete that many young women compare themselves to the ideal, beautiful bodies of models, socialites, and artists who presence permeate social media (Perloff, 2014). This comparison, namely to the ideal beautiful body, leaves little room for flaws; this expectation of perfection is far from obtainable, yet this quandary does not keep young women from trying to obtain the perfection that amasses social media (Fardouly et al., 2015). Researchers have found that the impact of social media has negative affects on mental, emotional, and sexual health. Specifically, findings suggest that young women who compare themselves to the ideals they see on social media may body shame, have poor self-esteem, or develop a negative body image, among other negative mental health outcomes. In addition to these social comparisons, our society and helping professionals also adhere to outdated and harmful Weight Normative Models that perpetuate sizeism and fat phobia (Tylka et al., 2014).
This program will describe social media’s impact on young women’s self-esteem, body image, and sexual health; compare Weight Normative and Weight Inclusive approaches to health and wellness and provide interventions that honor inclusive approaches; and share evidence based interventions that can be used to support young women struggling with body image, self-esteem, and body shame.
Access provided upon registration on “My Courses” page
This program, when attended in its entirety, offers 2.0 CEs for Psychologists, 2.0 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, or 2.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSW, and LMFTs.
With the growing number of social media applications in our society, it is no secrete that many young women compare themselves to the ideal, beautiful bodies of models, socialites, and artists who presence permeate social media (Perloff, 2014). This comparison, namely to the ideal beautiful body, leaves little room for flaws; this expectation of perfection is far from obtainable, yet this quandary does not keep young women from trying to obtain the perfection that amasses social media (Fardouly et al., 2015). Researchers have found that the impact of social media has negative affects on mental, emotional, and sexual health. Specifically, findings suggest that young women who compare themselves to the ideals they see on social media may body shame, have poor self-esteem, or develop a negative body image, among other negative mental health outcomes. In addition to these social comparisons, our society and helping professionals also adhere to outdated and harmful Weight Normative Models that perpetuate sizeism and fat phobia (Tylka et al., 2014).
This program will describe social media’s impact on young women’s self-esteem, body image, and sexual health; compare Weight Normative and Weight Inclusive approaches to health and wellness and provide interventions that honor inclusive approaches; and share evidence based interventions that can be used to support young women struggling with body image, self-esteem, and body shame.
After attending this introductory-level program, participants will be able to:
- Identify negative impacts social media can have on the mental, emotional, and sexual health of young women.
- Compare Weight Normative and Weight Inclusive approaches to health and wellness.
- Describe evidence based interventions to be used to support young women struggling with body image, self-esteem, and body shame.
This program meets APA’s continuing education Standard 1.1: Program content focuses on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that have overall consistent and credible empirical support in the contemporary peer reviewed scientific literature beyond those publications and other types of communications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach.
This program meets APA’s continuing education Goal 3: Program will allow psychologists to maintain, develop, and increse competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession.
General Admission: $50.00
The Chicago School Staff/Faculty/Students/Alumni: $25.00
Community Partners/Site Supervisors: $25.00
Non-TCSPP Students: $25.00
ACSSW Members: Free
(Please email [email protected] for coupon code)
Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.
Kassie R. Terrell, Ph.D.
Dr. Kassie Terrell is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of North Florida. She has a personal and professional commitment to social justice, advocacy, and honoring diversity and inclusion. Her areas of interest include: identifying competencies in working with LGBTQIA+ clients; exploring dynamics of same-sex relationships; understanding how sex, gender expression, sexuality, and minority stress affect mental health; exploring the impact of social media, sizeism, and fat phobia on young women and creating best practices for supporting young women; pedagogy for increasing tolerance among master’s students when working with diverse populations; enhancing the infusion of cultural diversity training into counseling courses; and ethical and legal dilemmas in teaching tolerance. She has also published book chapters, peer reviewed articles, and presented at local, regional, and national conferences wherein she advocates for mental, emotional, and sexual health of young women and LGBTQIA+ clients.
Nathan Quinn, B.S.
Nathan Quinn is a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of North Florida where he is pursuing an MS in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He is a counseling student intern at a private practice in Jacksonville, FL wherein he supports and advocates for mental, emotional, and sexual health of his clients. He has contributed to research studies and presented at counseling conferences on topics related to supporting members of the LGBTQIA+ community and women impacted by social media. He is an activist for trans rights and is also completing training to obtain his Mental Health Sexology certificate wherein he is provided specialized research training in the field of mental health sexology.
Kelsey Meltzer, B.S.
Kelsey Meltzer is pursuing an MS in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of North Florida. She is a counseling student intern at a college counseling center in Jacksonville, FL wherein she supports and advocates for mental, emotional, and sexual health of her clients. She has extensive clinical work with adolescent clients and a special interest in human sexuality and sex-related issues; how multiple identities, systems, and power influence pleasure, sexual and relationship diversity, behaviors, and identities; LGBTQIA+ identified individuals; non-monogamous relationships; eating disorders and disordered eating; domestic and sexual violence; and sex work and sex trafficking. She has contributed to research studies related to sex education, consent, and contraception use. She is also completing training to obtain her Mental Health Sexology certificate wherein she is provided specialized research training in the field of mental health sexology.
Calogero, R. M., Tylka, T. L., Mensinger, J. L., Meadows, A., & Daníelsdóttir, S. (2019). Recognizing the fundamental right to be fat: A Weight-Inclusive Approach to size acceptance and healing from sizeism. Women & Therapy, 1–2, 22-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2018.1524067
Cantor, C. (2017). How to overcome body shame: Learn how to move toward compassion and ultimately love your body. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/modernsex/201707/how-overcome-body-shame
Erford, B. (2015). 40 techniques every counselor should know (2nd ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. https://www.pearson.com/store/p/40-techniques-every-counselor-shouldknow/P100001036097/9780133571745
Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women’s body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 13, 38-45. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.12.002
Feltman, C. E. & Szymanski, D. M. (2017). Instagram use and self-objectification: The roles of internalization, comparison, appearance, commentary, and feminism. Sex Roles, 78. 311-324. doi:.10.1007/s11199-017-0796-1
Holland, G., & Tiggemann, M. (2016). Review article: A systematic review of the impact of the use of social networking sites on body image and disordered eating outcomes. Body Image, 17(100-110). doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.02.008
Matacin, M. L., & Simone, M. (2019). Advocating for fat activism in a therapeutic context. Women & Therapy, 1–2, 200-215. doi: 10.1080/02703149.2018.1524071.
McHugh, M. C., & Chrisler, J. C. (2019). Making space for every body: Ending sizeism in psychotherapy and training. Women & Therapy, 42(1-2), 7-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2018.1524062
Tiggemann, M., & Slater, A. (2013). NetGirls: The Internet, Facebook, and body image concern in adolescent girls. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 46(6), 630-633. doi:10.1002/eat.22141
Tylka, T. L., Annunziato, R. A., Burgard, D., Daníelsdóttir, S., Shuman, E., Davis, C., & Calogero, R. M. (2014). The Weight-Inclusive versus Weight-Normative Approach to Health: Evaluating the evidence for prioritizing well-being overweight loss. Journal of Obesity, 2014, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/983495
Target Audience: Healthcare and Mental healthcare professionals, hypnosis practitioners, University faculty and students.
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159
Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036
MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 2.0 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.
Non-Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.