I’ve been sitting on this interview since January and I’m SO EXCITED to finally be able to share it! Tune in for today’s conversation with Christina Chismar, MSW, LCSW as we discuss raising our daughters (and sons) with a healthy body image.

In today’s episode we discuss:

• Clown Therapy
• Becoming authentically ok in your own skin
• Accept the facts of the body God gave you
• The mom’s (and dad’s)  role in raising her daughter with positive body image
• The two places your adolescent is in with regard to body image
• Learning and communicating the personal facts about ourselves
• Communicating social media strategies without getting an eye roll from your teen
• Intentionally putting your teen in different spheres to help her 
• What your children are really listening to 
• Strategies for helping our children with eating challenges
• Finding safety in food

Resources and links mentioned:

• Running with Grace blog post (the story of my stray-turned princess pit bull)
• Fueling your teen athlete with sports dietitian with Roberta Anding episode
• Intuitive Eating book by Evelyn Tribole
• Finding Your Beauty in God’s Eyes part 1 & part 2
• Navigating Beauty and Body Image With Teen Daughters part 1 & part 2
• WHAT IS BEAUTY?
• The DNA of Parent – Teen Relationships by Gary Smalley (Chapter 4 has a great questionnaire that parents and teens can take in order to communicate better)
• Graced Health 14-day devotional

Other resources not mentioned:

• Mom, I Feel Fat: Become Your Daughter’s Ally in Developing a Healthy Body Image (For ages 8-16yr)
• The Beauty Book: It’s a God Thing (For ages 7-11yr)
• Girl Perfect: An Imperfect Girls’ Guide to Finding True Perfection
• HELPING TEENS OVERCOME POOR BODY IMAGE (q&a – so other resources are listed)

About Christina Chismar, MSW LCSW

Christina is a fun-loving, creative counselor who is adventurous and experiential in her counseling approach. As a trauma specialist, she works to help people feel safe and educates clients about how trauma affects their brain and their body. She practices from a body, mind, and spirit approach.

Christina is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked in her field since 1999. She is also a licensed cosmetologist and a professional therapeutic clown. Christina is trained in EMDR, DBT, TBRI, CISM, NOVA, Equine-assisted psychotherapy, and play therapy. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Oral Roberts University in 2000, and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Kansas in 2001. She maintains a private practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Christina and her husband Brett reside in Colorado Springs with their 2 fur-baby dogs. Outside the office, Christina enjoys doing self-care through quilting and dog training.

Notable quotes from our conversation

• John Mason: you were born an original, don’t die a copy
• Some will, some won’t, so what?

Connect with Christina

• ChristinaChismar.com

Want more?

Wednesdays at 8am join me for a deeper discussion and anything I want to expand on or clarify. Watch Goofs and Grace through the free Graced Health Podcast Group. Get access below!

Click here to join the Graced Health Podcast Facebook Group!

Have a graced day,

Amy