News & Media Blog

JCU: Interview with Dr. Kiera Buchanan

April 21, 2021

This video was made by JCU and is an interview with Kiera Buchanan, Clinical and Health Psychologist and Director of the Centre For Integrative Health.

Weight Stigma Awareness Week, 2020

Weight Stigma Awareness Week, 2020

September 30, 2020

I met Kiera in 2018 on a trip with ‘The Hunger Project’. On a bus in rural Uganda, we spoke about her work as a psychologist empowering people of all body shapes and sizes.

Coronavirus: Our Practice Policy

Coronavirus: Our Practice Policy

March 9, 2020

Until we receive clearer directions, CFIH is adopting a “better to be safe than sorry approach”. Please support us in our efforts to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.

International Women’s Day: Our Message

International Women’s Day: Our Message

March 8, 2020

On International Women’s Day, we passionately strike the #EachforEqual pose. To us, this pose symbolises equality, compassionate boundaries, allyship, and the disruption of destructive gender-based cycles.

Exercise and eating disorders

Exercise and eating disorders

February 20, 2020

In an interview with Hack on Triple J, CFIH Psychologist, Ashleigh Olive, proposed a number of red flags that can help to identify someone with or at risk of an eating disorder.

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January 26th has been a day of mourning much longer than it has been a day of national “celebration”. There is nothing celebratory about a day that blatantly disregards the history of the traditional owners of the land on which we live, there is nothing national about a day that continues to divide our nation. This (and every) January 26, CFIH pays their deep respects to our First Nations people - past, present, and emerging. We stand in solidarity with First Nations people in their advocacy for changing the date to a day in which all Australians can celebrate what it means to live on this land today. #australiaday2022 #InvasionDay2022 #DayOfMourning #survivalday #changethedate #alwayswasalwayswillbe #January26 #firstnationspeople
The age old saying of “what you focus on, you get more of” certainly applies when it comes to our body image. The more we focus on it (whether that be through scrutinising it, trying to change it, or practicing liking it), the more it occupies our sense of self. In a world of social media, cosmetic surgery, impossible beauty standards, and digitally-altered images, striving to love our appearance is almost an impossible task. What we can more successfully do however, is make our body-image a smaller, less important part of our self concept by focusing more on other parts of ourselves and our lives - parts that we usually have more control over. Don’t wait to feel good about your appearance before you accepting social invitations, trying to meet someone, being more engaged with loved ones, or speaking up more at work. Rather, throw yourself into acting more like the person you want to be and doing more of the things you want to do and you might be surprised that, as an unintended side effect, you’re less concerned with your appearance.
Did you know that we NEVER objectively view ourselves? Think about it.. when we see ourselves in a mirror, it’s a condensed and mirror-image of what we look like. When we see ourselves in a photograph, it’s not only a mirror-image but it’s also a static snapshot in time. This is without even mentioning the fact that the part of our brain that views and recognises ourself in a mirror or a photograph is also involved in cognitive and emotional processing. Meaning, our mood, our self beliefs, our perceptions of ourselves intrinsically all influence what we see. Think about it.. How is it possible that we have “good days” and “ugly days”? Our appearance can’t possibly change so drastically day-to-day for no good reason. This phenomena is further illustrated by the fact that we don’t view the appearance of others to fluctuate as drastically as that of our own. All that time that we spend focusing on looking good in order to feel good.. neuroscience tells us (what consumerism never will) that we’ve got it the wrong way around - if we focus on feeling good, the image of ourselves will look good.
After 2 years of lockdowns and event cancellations, CFIH is thrilled that the annual ANZAED Autumn Workshop Series is being hosted right on our doorstep (literally 5km from our Sunshine Coast clinic!). Chaired by our esteemed colleagues, Megan Bray and Catherine Houlihan, and featuring workshops by Carolyn Costin and Evelyn Smith, we are beyond delighted to be the event's silver partner. Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders Megan Bray The Carolyn Costin Institute #aws2022 #anzaed
A gentle reminder ahead of your social engagements this weekend... When we are preoccupied with our appearance, we have a diminished capacity to be present with and to connect with those in our company. Our lack of sincere interest in and presence with others is often reciprocated, leading to a perpetuating cycle that further fuels our insecurity and experience of disconnection from others. If you can relate to this, you might like to consider redirecting some of the time and attention spent getting dressed for a social event towards being intentional about how you will emotionally show up for and connect with the people at the event. People may be drawn to your appearance but they will stick around for your personality and the way that you make them feel.
Today is National Cheese Lovers' Day. At CFH, we agree wholeheartedly that loving cheese is worthy of its own National day. We also believe that there's a lot to learn about acceptance, beauty and diversity from our love of different cheeses. As a show of solidarity, I'll be enjoying cheese & crackers for afternoon tea as well as embracing the characteristics of my personality & appearance that I usually feel most insecure about. I'd love to hear how you're enjoying cheese today as well as the ways you've committed to reframing and/or embracing your own "flaws" or insecurities.
This month we celebrate 1 year of working alongside our esteemed colleague and valued team member, Dietitian, Renee Curran. During her time at CFIH, Renee has enthusiastically and compassionately supported individuals to overcome eating and/or body image concerns. Renee is passionate about working alongside clients as they develop healthy relationships with food and their bodies through learning to listen and trust themselves. Please join us in congratulating Renee on 1 year with us. Thank you, Renee for your investment and contributions to date. We are so grateful to work alongside a cheerful, kind and passionate practitioner like yourself. #MeetTheTeam #DreamTeam #Dietitian #HAESDietitian #EdDietitian
Today our psychologist Marthe gave a webinar for Education in Nutrition on the topic ‘Fear of Food’. Mathre spoke to: - definition, signs and symptoms - criteria for diagnosis (ie. clinical impairment) - identifying other diagnoses that might be involved. - management/treatment - and case examples If you’re a health professional looking for PD on this topic, you can view the webinar here: https://educationinnutrition.com.au/presentations/view/fear-of-eating Well done Marthe!
We appreciate that much of the advice given to those living with an eating disorder is “easier said than done”. In fact, we believe wholeheartedly that if it were as easy as being told what to do, you would have done it already. That’s why we aren’t here to judge, criticise, or tell you what to do. We’re here to combine our expertise in eating disorders with your expertise of yourself and navigate the path to recovery alongside you. Every step of the way. #eatingdisorders #recoveryispossible #recoverywarriors #edrecovery #edtherapist #lifewithouted #recoveryisworthit #therapy #CBT #anorexia #bulimia #bingeeating #mentalhealth #therapymemes
Encouraging young women to change, conceal, or alter their bodies in any way is not the solution to body-image concerns - it is the cause of them! More importantly, please leave our future generation of women to focus on becoming the brilliant & innovative leaders and creators they're destined to be rather than distracting them with outdated patriarchial standards. Full infuriating story here: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/teens/high-school-girls-offered-shapewear-to-assist-with-body-image/news-story/3b2c82dc9cf2477a8483026d4a950620 Original tweet here: https://twitter.com/ashleyheun/status/1481042695904796675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1481042695904796675%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Flifestyle%2Fparenting%2Fteens%2Fhigh-school-girls-offered-shapewear-to-assist-with-body-image%2Fnews-story%2F3b2c82dc9cf2477a8483026d4a950620 #effyourbeautystandards #smashthepatriarchy #morethanmybody #aintmyweight #feminism #womenempowerment #girlpower #feminista #genderequality #weightneutrality #haes