The Body Positive Institute
Welcome!
The Body Positive teaches people to listen to their bodies, learn, and thrive. Since 1996, we have been helping people develop balanced, joyful self-care, empowered lives, and a relationship with their whole selves that is guided by love, forgiveness, and humor. For the past 28 years, we have helped people create joyful and peaceful relationships with their bodies and whole selves. We are delighted to share our life-changing resources with the world through our online platform.
The courses you’ll find here at The Body Positive Institute will allow you to embody The 5 Competencies of our Be Body Positive Model and, if you choose, learn how to share them with others.
- Take the Fundamentals Home Study Course to learn The 5 Competencies of our Be Body Positive Model
- Become a licensed Be Body Positive Facilitator and teach our group curriculum in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and youth programs
- Transform the lives of adolescents with our new Be Body Positive Classroom Curriculum for middle schools
- Get licensed to bring The 5 Competencies to your clinical practice or treatment center and equip your clients with powerful resources that support their positive embodiment and prevent relapse
Browse below to get a sneak peek of our programs.
BE BODY POSITIVE FACILITATOR TRAINING
For Educators and Student Leaders
Millions of adolescents and young adults are struggling with their physical and mental health, and these issues have been greatly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Creating Be Body Positive groups (in-person or virtual) using our research-based curriculum offers vital community support and resources to keep people positively connected to their bodies. We invite you to join our worldwide community of licensed facilitators and start your Be Body Positive program now. You’ll learn how to support young people to be resilient in the face of adversity, to develop sustainable, health-promoting habits, and to connect and support one another.
OTHER OFFERINGS
Be Body Positive Classroom Curriculum for Middle schools
It’s normal for adolescents to be focused on their appearance and body changes as they go through puberty, but they are often isolated in their struggles. Body dissatisfaction is not just an “image” problem. It’s a serious risk factor for numerous mental and physical health issues. The Be Body Positive Classroom Curriculum gives educators the resources they need to help their students thrive.Learn more.
Training for Professionals
Practicing therapy during this time when so many people are struggling with body issues can be quite strenuous, and yet your clients need you more than ever. We provide the guidance and materials needed to offer robust, in-person or virtual clinical support to strengthen your connection with your clients and powerfully transform their relationships with their bodies. 11.5 Continuing Education Hours available for Master's-level therapists and registered dietitians for the Be Body Positive Fundamentals Course and 21.5 hours for the Facilitator Training for Professionals.
Courses for Individuals
Our Be Body Positive Fundamentals home study course offers you practical tools for developing sustainable, positive self-care behaviors and emotional wellbeing, and inspiration to relate to your body with kindness. This course is the same one offered to professionals to help them with their own body issues so they can better serve their clients. You don’t need to be a professional to take it. Learn More here.
Meet Your Instructors
Connie Sobczak and Elizabeth Scott, LCSW, CEDS-S, founded The Body Positive because of their shared passion to create a lively, healing community that offers freedom from suffocating societal messages that keep people in a perpetual struggle with their bodies. Each of them brings her whole self to The Body Positive. Connie brings the powerful lessons she learned in healing from her own eating disorder, her artistic sensibilities, deep intuition, connection to the earth, and love for humanity. Elizabeth brings her feminist roots, vast experience as a psychotherapist, knowledge of and connection to Buddhism, and her easy sense of humor. Together, they make an incredible team, both full of love, life, and compassion; both deeply committed to helping people navigate the challenges and joys of living in a human body.
Thank you to our
generous sponsors!
