Braving Body Shame Online Conference

What is Braving Body Shame?

Braving Body Shame is a ‘Lived Experience’ conference that will focus on the ‘Braving Body Shame’ stories of our amazing Speakers. What is their unique lived experience with body shame? How did they overcome, or how are they overcoming body shame in their life? How does body shame show up in their life? Where do they find support? These are all questions that others working through their own body shame or supporting a client/friend/loved one through their journey has come up against. We wanted to bring stories together that give insight into what it’s REALLY like for people experiencing body shame out in the world today and the unique ways they deal with them. Facts and figures are important but they are only a small part of understanding the effects that Body Shame can have on a person and how important it is for us to take in the whole STORY when working to heal those effects.

Why now?

After attending a couple of in-person academic conferences, one of our hosts saw that there was a BIG part of knowledge and understanding missing from each conference. She realized that there was a great NEED for a conference that was more accessible and less academic-focused. After sharing her frustration with what was missing she decided to put a team together and create what wasn’t out there. Together we agreed that we wanted to make this conference:

Intersectional
Financially feasible for more people
Non-academic Focused on Lived Experience
Easier to access

Who is this conference for?

EVERYONE! There will be stories about all different types body shame from a variety of speakers. All participants will take away great learning and tools to incorporate in their own lives or with clients. Everyone is welcome!!

2021 SPEAKERS

Virgie Tovar

Author, Podcaster, TEDx Speaker, Feminist Scholar

Pia Schiavo-Campo

Author, Blogger, Social Justice and Body Liberation Activist

Victoria Welsby

Author, Body Image Expert, TEDx Speaker

Anna Sweeney

Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating counselor

Ragen Chastain

Speaker, Author, Blogger, Health Coach, Athlete, Functional Fitness Specialist

Patrilie Hernandez

Health Specialist and Nutritionist

Melissa Toler

Writer & Speaker

Gloria Lucas

Social Justice Eating Disorders Educator

Ruby Smith Díaz

Personal Trainer

Meredith Noble

Fat Liberation Coach and Certified Body Trust® Provider

Sonalee Rashatwar

Clinical Social Worker, Sex Therapist, Adjunct Lecturer and Grassroots Organizer

Destiny Dimattei

Creator of Positive Bodies Baltimore Peer Support Group

Charis Stiles

Therapist and Educator

Jacquie Barbee

E-RYT 200 HR Yoga Teacher

Danielle Catton

Wife, Maker, Advocate and Writer

Shira Rose

LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)

Dora Lopez

Founder of Fat Chicana Feminist

Kaitlin Anderle

Social Worker and Fat Activist

Brianna Campos

Mental Health Counselor

Rachel Millner

Psy.D., CEDS-S, CBTP(r) Fat Positive Therapist and Activist

Ashlee Bennett

Registered Art Therapist, Counsellor and Author

Ash

Creator, Host, and Editor of The Fat Lip

Tiana Morton

Mom, Wife, KinderPrep Program Owner, and Teacher

Chef Fresh Roberson

Community-loving, Unapologetically Fat, Black, Genderqueer, Working-Class Dyke

Seryna Myers

Sacred Soul Mentor, Author, and Creator of The Lightwalker’s Path Podcast

Shelby

Social Media Disrupter

Celeste Mick

Hiker Enthusiast

OUR HOSTS

Here is a flavor of what you can expect with this conference. Listen to the Braving Body Shame stories of our hosts.

HOST: JULIE

Registered Social Service Worker, Master Therapeutic Counsellor

JULIE SWEENEY is a client-centered, solution-focused counselor who specializes in supporting women in finding freedom for themselves.

Registered with the OCSWSSW as a social service worker and the ACCT as a Master Therapeutic Counsellor, Julie offers openness, honesty, and a willingness to be part of your journey in a way best suited to your needs.

Through a HAES-based lens aimed at helping clients feel less alone in their struggles with body image, Julie offers women the opportunity to develop new skills and ways of thinking. Outside of her specialty with body image and self-esteem, she also works with clients experiencing anxiety, focusing on self-care and changing negative coping habits.

“I know the struggle. I lived the struggle. I beat the struggle. And with my guidance, you can, too. I decided to go into this field to help others create their own change – not from a place of self-importance, but from a place of self-awareness. Because of my experience in processing my own anxiety, depression, and body loathing, I help others from a very personal perspective. It’s been a journey for me – and it will absolutely be a journey for you – but I believe that together, we can do it.”

Julie is located in Frankford, Ontario and works with clients one-on-one, in workshops, and in groups – both in-person and online.

HOST: TIANA

Body Liberation Coach and Facilitator

TIANA DODSON is a fat, Body Liberation Coach and Facilitator who’s out to destroy the belief that you have to be skinny to be happy and healthy, loveable, or worthy. Through her work with the Fat Freedom Foundation program, she guides people feminine-of-center to reconnect with their bodies, destigmatize fatness, and learn about the harms of health being a measure of worth... all while finding how they can live their best fat lives.

“How I felt about my body dictated everything about me: the way I lived my life, the personality I had, and every choice I made. There were so many things I didn’t even dare to do because I was afraid of what would happen if I showed up with my large, fat body. But now that I’ve found ways to be at peace with my body I’m finding so many ways to live my best fat life. That all started by learning that I wasn’t alone. And neither are you.”

Tiana is located in Central France and works with clients one-on-one, in workshops, and in groups online.

HOST: ALICIA

Registered Health Coach, Certified Intuitive Eating Facilitator

ALICIA WOROBEC shows people how to find peace with food again so they can leave yoyo dieting in the past for good. She helps people find freedom and comfort in the skin by showing them that no dream or goal is dependant on their shape or size.

As a Registered Health Coach and a Certified Intuitive Eating Facilitator Alicia uses a Weight Neutral and HAES based framework to help her clients focus on their health holistically taking into account the physical, emotional and mental aspects to ensure they reach their health goals while also maintaining balance, compassion, and respect for their bodies. Alicia helps her clients reach their goals by combining support, accountability and stretch to help them make the necessary Mind Shifts to change habits and focus on what's going on internally rather than focussing on changing their outward appearance.

"I know the emotional weight that comes from trying to be the person you think everyone else wants or needs you to be. I struggled for so long never truly feeling like I was enough because of the physical weight as well. I didn't think I deserved to live out all the goals and dreams I had for myself because of the size of my body. I have learned how to live an amazingly happy and full life now that I understand and believe that my size does not dictate or determine what I get to have or experience in life. I strive to help each and every one of my clients achieve this belief in themselves as well."

Alicia is located in Victoria, B.C. and works with clients one-on-one, in workshops, and in groups both in person and online.