Former Yorkshire mental health worker launches new enterprise to help young people with body image issues

Ms Bowden was in part inspired to launch Body Image Coach by her own experiences during her childhood and teenage years.

“When I was very young I used to struggle with body image and how I viewed myself. I used to self-loathe every day, and had all these habits that I would use to try and fit in.

“I went on a very long journey of self discovery, and was eventually diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder. That helped me to understand myself and know I wasn’t the only person thinking and feeling that way. Until that point, I thought I was the only person that didn’t like themselves, because no one spoke about it.

“Fast forward 30 years and I’ve done a lot of inner work with myself, and I’ve studied a lot and got a lot of experience working in the field of mental health. After I was made redundant in April, I decided I would just follow my dream path and create a social enterprise that helps teenagers come away from body image problems.”

Ms Bowden launched Body Image Coach earlier this year, after developing a six week coaching programme. The programme works through giving schools a free one hour, animated workshop designed to raise awareness of negative habits and beliefs around body image.

After the workshop, a cohort of six to 10 students can then be selected to go on to the full programme, which involves a series of six hour long workshops delivered via an animated video, with the option of online coaching or peer support groups also available alongside.

Whatever students write during activities on the initial workshop is also disposed of, so as to allow them to feel they can be open to engage with the session in an honest way.

Speaking on her decision to deliver the programme via animation, Ms Bowden said: “I didn't want to be the same as everyone else, and wanted to create something that is more engaging for pupils.

“It's only one hour every week, so in that hour I really need their full engagement. There are points where they pause the video to do exercises, and that's because I wanted to make it interactive. But even when it isn't interactive, it has to be something with a lot of colour and pictures, so they don't know what's coming next.”

Body Image Coach has currently worked with two schools, including Loxford School in Ilford.

A teacher from Loxford School said: “I would absolutely recommend this. Pupils found the exercises invaluable and it was great to see them talk about this topic with each other, as a team”

Ms Bowden noted that she hoped to target schools from lower income areas of Leeds, where she felt the programme could have the biggest positive impact.

The company is currently applying for and seeking funding from multiple sources.