Storytelling as a Way to Heal Body Image with Dr. Anita Johnston

Understanding Body Matters Podcast

On this week’s episode I am super excited to be introducing you to our next special guest Psychologist, Author, Co- Founder and Executive Clinical Director, Dr. Anita Johnston. As an International Speaker, someone with a PhD, a Supervisor and an Eating Disorder Professional Anita has been able to make a tremendous impact in the space of eating disorders. She has worked in treatment of disordered eating for over 35 years where she has been able to support various clients with difficulties with food and body. She is currently the Clinical Director of Ai Pono Hawaii eating disorder programs which includes an ocean- front residential program in Maui. She is the author of the best-selling book, Eating in the Light of the Moon and co- creator of the Light of the Moon Café, a series of online interactive courses, workshops, and women’s support circles. Over the years Anita has also run various retreats, international conferences, University trainings, written articles, and academic publications.

A little bit about Anita’s story into the eating disorder space, in the 1980’s while supervising a psychology doctoral student who was studying the incidence of eating disorders in Hawaii, it became apparent to Anita that there was a big problem in the area of eating disorders with no resources available whatsoever. Back then it was also a common theory that trauma led to eating disorders however, through experience Anita learned that there were not always common themes of trauma but instead individual stories. This was also a time when Bulimia had just become diagnosable, and Binge Eating Disorder had not yet been recognised. It was around this time, along with two other women that Anita then founded the Anorexia & Bulimia Centre of Hawaii becoming a Co-founder & Director of the Centre in 1982. Creating a space for women to travel from all over the world in order to receive treatment for disordered eating and body image concerns in beautiful Hawaii.

On today’s episode Anita will be speaking about the use of storytelling and Metaphor as a way to heal body image. As Anita brings up the discussion around food, eating, the self and how we live our lives in our bodies. A conversation that hopes to bring healing to people’s perceptions around body image and opens the doorways for people to look at themselves from a different light. So please on that note, welcome our next lovely guest, Anita!

Podcast summary:

1. Body sense vs body image

2. Surfing your feelings

3. Looking at the inner critic

4. Focusing on the experience of being in your body

5. Getting to the root cause of negative body image

Links to Dr. Anita Johnston

Website for Anita: https://dranitajohnston.com/

The Light of the Moon Café and where to learn more about disordered eating and metaphor with a free PDF!: https://lightofthemooncafe.com/

Podcast: Mom Genes the podcast

Links to Anita’s book: ‘Eating in the Light of the Moon: https://dranitajohnston.com/eating-in-the-light-of-the-moon/

Instagram’s: @dranitajohnston, @lightofthemooncafe & @aiponohawaii

Links from the episode:

BodyMatters Australasia Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://bodymatters.com.au/⁠⁠⁠

BodyMatters Instagram: @bodymattersau

Butterfly Foundation Helpline: Call their National Helpline on ⁠⁠⁠1800 33 4673⁠⁠⁠. You can also ⁠⁠⁠chat online⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠email