In our media-focused society, our bodies often feel like they are on display, and we may find ourselves judging our physical appearance or even engaging in behaviors to try to alter how we look. That is where the EVERYbody Project comes in. This workshop is a body acceptance-based program designed to help students feel better about their bodies as we directly discuss the impact of diversity within cultural appearance ideals (including race, gender identity, sexuality, ability, and age) and critique the individual and collective impact of pursuing exclusive appearance norms. This research-based program has been shown to improve body satisfaction and acceptance among college students and reduce the risks of unhealthy eating behaviors, disordered eating, and eating disorders.
The program entails two 90-minute sessions, scheduled one week apart, and is co-led by Counseling Center staff members, graduate assistants, and Counseling Center Paraprofessional undergraduate students. Each session is designed for groups of 6-12 students. To get the most out of the program, individual students and groups are asked to register only if they can attend both 90-minute sessions. As the name suggests, the EVERYbody Project is targeted toward EVERY type of body, meaning students can benefit regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, size, or ability. All registered students are welcome and encouraged to participate!