Therapy for Visible/Physical Differences NYC

Having a visible difference is often a type of body image injury that gets overlooked — even within the mental health community.

People often forget that body image goes beyond body size.

Body image includes things like your eyebrows, which frame your face and often leave people with Alopecia Areata feeling devastated to watch their reflection change so quickly.

Body image includes all limbs and it can be an extreme body image injury to be born with or develop a limb difference. Not just as a physical change, but knowing that your body functions differently.

Body image includes your skin. Having a facial or skin difference often feels like a constant reminder that you don’t ‘fit in’

If you have a visible difference too, then I am sure you are familiar with these types of reactions…

“Good thing it is just hair! You can just wear a wig”

“Well, it definitely could be worse”

“Have you ever thought of trying X treatment to get rid of it/hide it?”

*Constant stares and odd comments from strangers

As someone who has been bald since the age of 6, I have been there too. Unfortunately, most of our society is not taught to embrace differences. We are often told to try and hide them at all costs.

Even in the early stages of my baldness, I never believed in the messages that ‘fitting in’ is what is better. This does not mean I thought it was easy being visibly different, I just always questioned the way people viewed being different because it did not sit right with me.

Personally, I felt lack of representation always created a lack of understanding. It was one of the reasons I did not seek support for my own visible difference for a long time. I feared that my experience would be invalidated or misunderstood (as it had many times before)

That was one of my main influences to enter the mental heath field. I noticed there were minimal therapists who were visibly different and our community deserves support from professionals who can fully understand the experience.

In our space, you will never have to worry about your experience being downplayed.

FAQs

  • If you’re a fellow visibly different person like myself, I am so glad you found your way here! In our sessions, we will tailor goals to your needs. Here are some common goals that my clients with physical differences tend to work on…

    • Increasing acceptance

    • Increasing confidence

    • Increasing self-compassion

    • Overcoming tasks that give you anxiety due to your physical difference (such as dating, social anxiety, etc)

    • Communication strategies and boundary setting with friends/family who don’t understand or make body comments

    • Becoming more comfortable talking about your difference with people in your life

  • Making sure you find a therapist who is a good fit is crucial. That is why we will start with a free 15 min consultation together. During this call, I will explore what you are looking for and you will be able to ask me any questions as well. If we decide it is a good fit, then we will schedule our initial appointment!

    If for any reason it is not a good fit, then I am happy to offer you referrals.