Overcoming Body Hatred Workbook

A Woman’s Guide to Healing Negative Body Image and Nurturing Self-Worth Using CBT and Depth Psychology

Powerful skills to help you make peace with your body and nurture a deeper, more meaningful sense of self.

Do you hate your body? Are you deeply dissatisfied with your appearance, shape, or weight—so much so that you avoid looking at yourself in the mirror, avoid certain social situations, or dread having your photo taken? If so, you are not alone. Body dissatisfaction and even body hatred have reached epidemic levels in our culture—particularly for women and girls. But you don’t have to live your life consumed by feelings of shame and self-hatred. This workbook offers a way out of the darkness.

Grounded in evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and depth psychology, this workbook offers a two-pronged approach for healing from negative body image, so you can literally feel more comfortable in your own skin.

You’ll find powerful skills to help you cope with the stress and intense emotions caused by body hatred, as well as strategies to help you nurture a deeper sense of self-worth.

With this workbook, you’ll learn to move past your physical body to focus on:

  • Identifying your values and your life’s purpose

  • Finding your voice and using it to set boundaries—with yourself and others

  • Managing life stress in healthy ways

  • Changing how you respond to toxic cultural messages about appearance

  • Cultivating an embodied presence in the moment

The psychological and emotional toll of body hatred is immense. If you’re ready to heal the stress and pain of feeling “not okay” in your body, this workbook can help you make peace with your physical appearance and feel whole as a person.

Start Your Journey NOW

with a FREE sample of The Overcoming Body Hatred Workbook.

A woman smiling as she floats in water, her eyes, nose, and mouth just above the surface.
Kathryn Holt, psychotherapist, smiling at the camera with one hand at her shoulder.

About the Author

Dr. Kathyrn C. Holt, is a depth psychotherapist who explores the intricacies of the body, motherhood, spirituality and healing. She studied dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) at Columbia University, and is the coauthor of The Stronger Than BPD Journal. She completed her PhD in depth psychology with a focus on Jungian and archetypal psychology, resesarching how people make peace with their bodies after suffering with body hatred. She operates a private practice specializing in individual psychotherapy and psychedelic assisted therapy in Boulder, CO. She conducts virtual and in-person workshops, providing valuable insights and tools for personal growth. Dr. Holt stays connected with her community through a bi-monthly newsletter, where she shares carefully curated insights spanning psychology, healing, and personal development.

  • “This transformative workbook illuminates the path from body hatred to self-love. With profound insights, it addresses the complexity of this inner struggle, offering a journey of feeling, trusting, and empowering oneself. A beacon of light at the end of the tunnel, it invites the reader to contemplate a more holistic view of self, including teachings on the importance of honoring embodiment and our soul. I recommend this book to those seeking wise counsel on their path of healing and transformation.”

    Rochelle Schieck | Founder of Qoya Inspired Movement, and author of Qoya

  • “During nearly a decade of following Kathryn’s body image and self-love work, I have witnessed the infinite depth of her compassion for women who wrestle with and feel overcome by unrealistic, unhealthy expectations about the precious temples they inhabit. This book is a gem—an opportunity to experience the work Kathryn teaches so sacredly: finally, truly, learning to listen to and be in a deep, loving relationship with your body.”

    Debbie DeMarco Bennett | BSc, MA in progress, and co-teacher of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills classes with Kathryn Holt at www.emotionallysensitive.com

  • “Kathryn Holt’s Overcoming Body Hatred Workbook is a transformative guide that navigates the tumultuous journey of body acceptance. Its insightful reflections and practical tools empower readers to foster a peaceful relationship with their bodies, anchoring in self-respect and inner healing rather than external change. An essential read for anyone yearning to reclaim their wholeness and live beyond societal pressures.”

    Stacey Shelby | PhD, professor of depth psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute, registered clinical counselor, and author of Tracking the Wild Woman Archetype

  • “Overcoming Body Hatred Workbook offers us a path back to ourselves. Holt’s wise guidance and thoughtful, profound exercises beckon us toward experiencing the body as a source of rooted wisdom—a home from which we can engage life in all its dimensions. These soulful practices powerfully offset the distracting influences of a culture that often pulls us away from who we truly are, inviting deep, enduring, and healing transformation.”

    Linda Quennec | PhD, psychotherapist; and author of Fishing for Birds and Depth Psychology, Cult Survivors, and the Role of the Daimon

  • “Kathryn Holt offers an impressive variety of tools across multiple healing modalities for overcoming body hatred and shame. She also explores numerous sources for our disconnection with our bodies, including our family of origin and our culture. But it’s her assertion that our ‘true hunger’ is to deepen into our souls that makes this book stand out. It’s a revolutionary idea, that listening to our bodies is listening for our souls.”

    Jennifer Leigh Selig | PhD, depth psychologist, teacher, and author of Deep Memoir

  • “With skill and tender understanding, Kathryn Holt blends theory and practice to guide women into their sacred depths to reclaim a sense of being with their bodies and their true hunger from the inside out. Embodied women who know how to journey underneath symptoms of disconnection and internalized oppression are what these times require. This book is a treasure, a companion, and a pivotal resource toward that possibility.”

    Leah D’Abate | MA, LPC, BC-DMT, ACSz, licensed professional counselor, board-certified dance/movement therapist, somatic psychotherapist, and approved clinical supervisor in private practice

  • “Incisive, wise, practical, and kind. The weave of myth, analyses, and deep personal inquiry feels like a compassionate friend walking you along a path of healing that you long for, but may not be able to access on your own. Kathryn Holt invites us into a fraught and charged topic with gentleness and fierce assurance: your body hatred is not your fault, and there is a way through.”

    Chela Davison | Integral Master Coach, and creator and teacher of LEAD programs

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword

Chapter 1: Body Hatred and Wholeness

Chapter 2: Hating the Bodies We Have and Becoming Who We Are

Chapter 3: Sorting the Mind and Heart

Chapter 4: Listening to Your Body and Deep Self

Chapter 5: Soul Recovery

Conclusion

Recommended Reading to Continue Your Journey

References

We would love to hear from you!

Whether you have questions, feedback, or would like to connect about media opportunities, feel free to reach out. Your thoughts are valuable to us.

Contact Kathryn at kathryn@kathryncholt.com.