Let me help you stop judging your appearance,
so you can enjoy your life to the full.
It's never too late to heal, and it's always worth it!
Welcome
Are you…
- constantly judging how you look?
- worrying about what other people think of your appearance?
- rarely, if ever, feeling like your body measures up?
- spending a lot of time, energy and money on trying to improve and/or maintain your appearance?
- feeling too insecure about your body to enjoy dating, romance or intimacy?
- fed up with feeling unattractive and unworthy of love?
If so, you’ve come to the right place!
You see, I understand exactly how you feel and what you’re going through. Because that was me too.
I STRUGGLED WITH BODY IMAGE FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.
I spent 30 years of my life judging my appearance harshly. 😩
I was highly critical of the way I looked and monitored my weight obsessively.
No matter what I did, I always had the sense that I wasn't 'there' yet.
The whole problem weighed me down. It felt like it was the depressing soundtrack to my life, and something I’d never escape from.
I tried so hard to make my body look attractive, and wasted a lot of time, energy and money in the process.
All I wanted was to feel beautiful, and therefore loveable, but the end goal always seemed to elude me.
I STRUGGLED WITH DISORDERED EATING.
One of the worst things about it was that it completely messed up my relationship with food and led to decades of all kinds of disordered eating.
And I didn’t even realise that it was my harsh judgment of my body that was the root cause of my difficulties with eating.
I just thought I was greedy and had to work hard to control myself.
I THOUGHT I'D NEVER RECOVER.
My obsession with my looks affected every area of my life, and I often felt insecure and depressed as a result.
There were even times when I thought that death would be the only way out of this suffering.
Because I’d struggled so long and had tried and failed to recover so many times, I thought that this problem was a part of my identity, and something I’d never be free from.
SIX YEARS AGO I FULLY RECOVERED!
But I’m happy to say that I was totally wrong about that – it’s a very good thing to be wrong sometimes!
And a few years ago I fully healed in this area. I now hardly ever think about what I look like, let alone worry about it! And I’ve never been happier. 🤩🎉
My eating problems are a thing of the past.
These days my relationship with food is easy, natural and problem-free, just as it was when I was a little girl before any dysfunction set in.
And without the preoccupation with my looks and food draining my energy, I now have so much more time to devote to enjoying life, trying out new things and treasuring being with people I love.
I now feel secure in the way I look, not because I conform to all the bogus ‘beauty’ standards that get shoved down our throats throughout our lives, but because I realise, deep down, that real beauty can never be reduced to any metric. It is simply what we see when we observe the world through the lens of love.
I BELIEVE EVERYONE CAN RECOVER.
Freedom is your birth right.
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve struggled with these problems, or how severely they've affected you, please rest assured that you can get better.
You can wake up from the nightmare, and go on to live a fulfilling, enjoyable life.
I NOW HELP OTHER PEOPLE HEAL THEIR BODY IMAGE.
If you’d like to know more about what helped me recover, and find out how you can too, please take a look around and get started with some of my free resources to support your body image healing.
I'm passionate about sharing my insights with others so they can enjoy the freedom I do now.
And if you'd like some more personalised support to help you put this problem behind you once and for all, check out my group and 1:1 coaching offers.
I'd be delighted to be your guide on your journey to a more peaceful, joyful and fulfilling life. 🥰
Lots of love,
Maria 💜💚💛🧡💙
BLOG
Your body is yours to enjoy. It's never too late to heal, and it's always worth it!
List of all blog posts with clickable links
Take a look at the list of topics and click on what appeals to you! If you'd like me to address another topic, please let me know.
The impacts of poor body image on mental health: findings from The Mental Health Foundation, and tips to address the problem
It's no longer just teenage girls who are negatively impacted by poor body image. A study shows that many adults are suffering too. Fortunately, there are things we can all do to address the problem and create a more body positive culture for everyone.
The irresistible temptation of 'the body beautiful'
I was sucked in by the lure of 'the body beautiful' for most of my life. But, no longer! I now know deep within my bones where happiness truly comes from. Everyone is free to discover this for themselves and enjoy the freedom that comes with this merciful insight.
Have you been duped into believing lies because they were stated with conviction? Not all the so-called 'facts' you may have heard about attractiveness are true.
People often speak with great confidence about what is attractive and what isn't, as if they are referring to objective truths. Don't be taken in!
5 reasons why you're underestimating your attractiveness and how to stop.
Your attractiveness can't be reduced to your body's conformity with the so-called 'beauty' standards. And your mind's negative assessment of your appearance isn't as reliable as it seems. Realising the truth of these facts can free you from a lot of insecurity, so you can get on with enjoying intimacy.
Are you a compliment junkie? 4 reasons why other people's praise of your looks won't make you truly happy and how you can find real happiness instead.
When you feel insecure about your body, craving compliments about your appearance can be like an addiction. As you access a more reliable source of wellbeing, the compulsive urge to get external validation will fade.
Are you objectifying yourself? Healing requires you get back to being the subject of your life.
When we objectify ourselves, we forsake our own hopes, dreams, interests and ambitions to try to satisfy the desires of other people. We do this out of the fear that if we don't, we will be cast aside by the world. But the price we pay - betrayal of who we truly are - is too high.
How my relationship with my appearance changed – the process that took me from suffering to freedom
My experience of healing in the area of body image has not been what I expected. It has been much more wonderful than I could ever have imagined! Here I set out the key changes in perspective that brought about this uplifting shift in my consciousness, and therefore my experience of my body and life in general.
Are you open to change? What if you're not? And how do people really change anyway?
Even though most of us would like our suffering to be magically taken away from us, we're not actually open to the kind of profound change which would make that possible. But the good news is that can change! If you're interested in how people really change, and what helps increase readiness for change, read on!
Dreaded photos: how to handle seeing photos of yourself you hate.
If seeing a 'terrible' photo of yourself triggers a spiral of obsessive, desperate thinking, please know that you're not alone. However, the good news is that a shift in perspective can take the sting out of this experience and put it back into a healthy perspective.
You don't have to wait for the world to ditch today's so-called 'beauty' standards in order to heal: you can be the change you want to see instead.
We have more power than we often realise. When you change, you change the world.
I wore a dress! (How I had fun breaking my clothes 'rules'.)
Do you spend ages getting ready to go out? Do you worry a lot about what other people think of the way you look? I did for most of my life. But I'm happy to say I've put all that stress and angst behind me now. Getting dressed is easier when you remember that your body isn't an ornament!
FREE WORKSHOPS
FROM JUDGEMENT TO JOY is a series of free workshops to help you break free from shame, obsession and insecurity when it comes to your appearance, so you can start enjoying your body and your life to the full.
I struggled for most of my life - for around 30 years - with poor body image. Having recovered around 6 years ago, at the age of 40, I started writing a blog to try to articulate the insights that helped me recover.
Each workshop will take one of my blog posts as a starting point for discussion. You can find all my blog posts here: mariamorgan.info/blog
The intention behind the workshops is to create a safe, confidential space for you to explore themes and ideas that will support your healing, growth and change.
When we're suffering with negative thoughts and feelings about the way our bodies look, we are suffering from the impact of believing painful lies about who we truly are, and where our worth and wellbeing come from.
Most of us will have picked up these lies, or misunderstandings, from the culture in which we live - parents, relatives, friends, bullies, the diet / fashion / beauty industries, media etc. When we see through these lies, we free ourselves from their grip and experience a fresh perspective, and our suffering - and all the attitudes, feelings and behaviours associated with it - falls away. Sometimes this happens suddenly. More commonly, it's a gradual process of awakening.
The truth will set you free.
It can be helpful to look in the direction of truth with other people with the same intention. Turning away from your habitual thoughts can feel uncomfortable and scary. It takes courage and humility. Having support often helps to keep you focussed on recovery.
As someone who has already been on this journey, I will be there to guide and encourage you.
FORMAT
- Each workshop will last no longer than 90 minutes.
- I will open each workshop with some introductory words and by reading one of the blog posts - I will let you know the topic in advance of each meeting. Each post is only a 2- or 3-minute read.
- I'll then open up the meeting for discussion and give everyone the opportunity to share their reflections.
- If there are more of us, I will use the breakout room function on Zoom to divide attendees into smaller groups, so everyone can have plenty of time to speak and be heard.
SCHEDULE
I will run the workshops twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Please find the dates and times below.
FEEDBACK ON THE WORKSHOPS SO FAR
"Maria creates a beautiful, safe, and non-judgemental loving space for people healing from body image issues. Thank you Maria!"
Danielle Desiree, U.S.A.
"I was unsure what to expect when I saw these workshops, but I have had the opportunity to see so much in myself and how I view my physical form. Maria is so lovely; looking from her own experience and others enabled me to reflect on myself, to see the similarity in my thinking about my body. I am starting to understand myself more and where my views of my body come from. All this within a lovely, caring safe space. Thank you."
Mic, Isle of Wight
"Maria helps people who struggle with body image or have body dysmorphia and is absolutely amazing at what she does. Her blog posts and free eBook are helping me and I've just been to her online workshop which was really enjoyable! She can help bring a healthier relationship to our own bodies and bring more acceptance and self-love into our lives.”
Mike Unsworth, Stockport, U.K.
"Thank you so much for everything you do! Thank you for the safe space you create with your Zoom meetings. It's incredible how like-minded individuals meet and share similar experiences and how insightful that is. You know I have been around the understanding of the three principles for a while now and because nothing is accidental, I stumbled across you... And something instantly clicked... Your energy, your calmness, your understanding is so uplifting and it's a joy to be around you! The insights you share are so valuable and I resonate with everything you share! Thank you for bringing light, Maria!"
Stela Rafailova, Torquay, U.K.
"The body image workshops are helping me to rethink about my body and how society places unrealistic standards on image that is very unhealthy. Maria provides a safe environment to discuss sensitive topics and lends great advice and guidance to help you learn to love exactly who you are."
Kellie, Vermont, U.S.A.
"I dropped into Maria’s workshops because I had been noticing sad thoughts about the increased size of my body. I was starting to think daily about what I could do to get fitter and healthier and starting to feel disappointed in myself for not moving more and eating better whenever I saw my body in the shower or was feeling uncomfortable in a chair. I knew I needed insights, not outside motivation and willpower. After just a few workshops of being in the kind and interesting conversations, it clicked in my mind - 'well of course my body has changed while I’ve been unwell, and as I recover and increase my health then my body will most likely change again.' I was reminded that my lifestyle decisions and recovery journey will be wise for me and my body when my mood is not lowered by untrue thinking but when I’m ok in the now. Maria gently challenges our thinking and I’ve enjoyed noticing my thoughts about beauty in others."
Leah Hobson, Barnard Castle, U.K.
"I absolutely loved the workshops with Maria that I attended. I love the way she shares the three principles understanding in relation to body image. It’s really helped me to relax about the way I look. Conforming to current beauty standards has always been difficult and I love the possibility that this is no longer required. Already I feel a sense of freedom in that."
Julie, Scotland
TUESDAY WORKSHOPS
Time
U.K. 10.30am - 12pm
For other timezones, go to: https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/
Upcoming Workshops
- 22 October - NO WORKSHOP
- 29 October - NO WORKSHOP
- ‼️THURSDAY 7 November at 2pm‼️ - Topic: Are you objectifying yourself? Healing requires you get back to being the subject of your life.
- 12 November - Topic: How my relationship with my appearance changed – the process that took me from suffering to freedom
- 19 November - Topic: The places Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) might not reach: how exploring your spiritual nature can help you heal your body image woes
- 26 November - Topic: Is healing complicated?
- 3 December - Topic: Are you open to change? What if you're not? And how do people really change anyway?
- 10 December - Topic: You can trust your emotional pain to teach and heal you. (The importance of embracing all our emotions)
- 17 December - Topic: Love brings out the best in us.
Past workshops
18 June - Topic: How the problem with our appearances starts - COMPLETED
25 June - Topic: What is beauty? - COMPLETED
2 July - Topic: You can't believe your eyes - COMPLETED
9 July - Topic: You Are Not A Product - COMPLETED
16 July - Topic: No one looks any better or worse than you - COMPLETED
23 July - Topic: The Ecstasy Of Being Alive And The Misleading Associations That Get In The Way - How The Glorification of 'The Body Beautiful' Keeps Happiness Out Of Reach - COMPLETED
3 September - Topic: Grieving the right thing: why you don't need to accept the 'fact' you're ugly or unattractive - COMPLETED
10 September - Topic: Fear of weight gain: the terror that binds us, and how we can free ourselves from its grip - COMPLETED
17 September - Topic: Do you feel insecure about your attractiveness because you don't think you look feminine or masculine enough? Here's why you don't have to. - COMPLETED
24 September - Topic: For people who get upset when they see themselves in a photo or in the mirror...
1 October - Topic: 5 reasons why you're underestimating your attractiveness and how to stop - COMPLETED
8 October - Topic: How a natural pleasure turns into a coping mechanism: my history of disordered eating and You're not greedy. What's really going on when we find ourselves overeating - COMPLETED
15 October - Topic: Are you a compliment junkie? 4 reasons why other people's praise of your looks won't make you truly happy and how you can find real happiness instead. - COMPLETED
SATURDAY WORKSHOPS
Time
U.K. 4.30pm - 6pm
Eastern Time U.S. 11.30am - 1pm
Pacific Time U.S. 8.30am - 10am
For other timezones, go to: https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/
Upcoming Workshops
- 19 October - Topic: How a natural pleasure turns into a coping mechanism: my history of disordered eating and You're not greedy. What's really going on when we find ourselves overeating
- 26 October - Topic: Are you a compliment junkie? 4 reasons why other people's praise of your looks won't make you truly happy and how you can find real happiness instead.
- ‼️SUNDAY ‼️ 3 November - Topic: Are you objectifying yourself? Healing requires you get back to being the subject of your life.
- 9 November - Topic: How my relationship with my appearance changed – the process that took me from suffering to freedom
- 16 November - Topic: The places Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) might not reach: how exploring your spiritual nature can help you heal your body image woes
- 23 November - Topic: Is healing complicated?
- ‼️SUNDAY‼️ 1 December - Topic: Are you open to change? What if you're not? And how do people really change anyway?
- ‼️ SUNDAY‼️ 8 December - Topic: You can trust your emotional pain to teach and heal you. (The importance of embracing all our emotions)
- 14 December - Topic: Love brings out the best in us.
Past workshops
22 June - Topic: How the problem with our appearances starts - COMPLETED
29 June - Topic: What is beauty? - COMPLETED
6 July - Topic: You can't believe your eyes - COMPLETED
13 July - Topic: You Are Not A Product - COMPLETED
10 August - Topic: No one looks any better or worse than you - COMPLETED
17 August - Topic: The Ecstasy Of Being Alive And The Misleading Associations That Get In The Way: How The Glorification of 'The Body Beautiful' Keeps Happiness Out Of Reach - COMPLETED
7 September - Topic: Grieving the right thing: why you don't need to accept the 'fact' you're ugly or unattractive - COMPLETED
14 September - Topic: Fear of weight gain: the terror that binds us, and how we can free ourselves from its grip - COMPLETED
21 September - Topic: Do you feel insecure about your attractiveness because you don't think you look feminine or masculine enough? - COMPLETED
5 October - Topic: For people who get upset when they see themselves in a photo or in the mirror...- COMPLETED
12 October - Topic: 5 reasons why you're underestimating your attractiveness and how to stop - COMPLETED
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Once you register for the workshops at the link below, you'll be emailed the Zoom details.
💞«CLICK HERE to be emailed the Zoom link and schedule for the free workshops»💞
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Who are the workshops for?
The workshops are for you if:
😩 You constantly judge how you look, and you rarely, if ever, feel like your body looks ‘good enough’.
😩 You worry a lot about what other people think of your appearance and crave constant validation. Or you’re simply resigned to feeling ugly.
😩 You spend a lot of time, energy, and money (if/when you have it) on trying to improve and/or maintain your appearance.
😩 You feel too insecure about your body to enjoy dating, romance, or intimacy.
😩 You engage in obsessive behaviours, including weighing yourself, mirror checking, over-exercising, taking selfies, taking hours to get ready, disordered eating etc.
😩 You worry about the impact of ageing on your appearance.
😩 You keep your life small to avoid the pain of being criticised or rejected.
And if you'd like to:
🥰 learn how to appreciate your own unique true natural beauty;
🥰 free yourself from the burden of worrying about what you look like, especially as you get older;
🥰 feel more secure in your own sense of unconditional self-worth;
🥰 have the confidence to go on dates or enjoy your relationship with your current partner more fully;
🥰 enjoy the sensual and sexual pleasures your body has to offer you, as it is right now;
🥰 spend your money on useful/fun things rather than on risky/costly attempts to change your body;
🥰 start thriving instead of just surviving.
Is there anyone who the workshops would NOT be suitable for?
If the following apply to you, the workshops probably won't be right for you at this time.
❌ You have a fundamental belief that recovery is not possible for anyone, and you find it insulting for anyone to suggest that it is.
❌ You are in a crisis and are in need of urgent medical care. Please note that I am not a doctor and I don't diagnose anyone or treat any specific medical condition. I share my experience of healing, which many people find beneficial, but it is no substitute for medical intervention. If you have concerns about your health, please consult a qualified physician in the first instance.
❌ You are only looking to commiserate with other people about how awful it is to struggle with body image issues. During the workshops you'll have space to fully and openly express your pain and suffering which is so important for healing, but I will also encourage you to explore your potential to heal, learn, grow and change.
❌ You are solely interested in finding ways to change your appearance and do not recognise the psychological component of your suffering at all. You are most welcome to participate if you'd like to look different and if you are doing things to change or to try to change your appearance. But if that's all you're interested in, then these workshops won't be for you.
❌ You are not willing to respect differences when to comes to people's sexuality, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, values, socio-economic background, ability or health. And you make assumptions about people on these grounds which you're not willing to question.
❌ You are not willing to respect the confidential nature of the meetings and refuse to keep what's shared private.
❌ No bullying, shaming or harassment of other attendees or myself will be tolerated.
❌ You are looking for 1:1 coaching and are not willing to share the time fairly with other attendees. I will provide individual support as much as time allows, but there are limits to this in a group setting.
Will the workshops be recorded?
No, the workshops will NOT be recorded. This is for several reasons. My intention is that this will help attendees feel more comfortable to open up about issues they feel vulnerable about. I also think presence and participation can be very important factors in healing, so I want to encourage you to come along and take some time for yourself and enjoy being in the company of people who can relate to what you're going through.
Do I have to have a Body Dysmorphia Disorder (BDD diagnosis) to attend?
- Absolutely not. I never sought or received a diagnosis myself. The workshops are open to anyone who struggles with a negative preoccupation with their appearance to any degree. This could be a mild sense of dissatisfaction or it could be severe, to the point that it is massively impacting your daily life.
- I have some controversial views on the BDD diagnosis, and on diagnoses, in general. If you'd like to know more about them, you can read Chapters 1, 3 and 6 of my free eBook, Making Peace With Your Appearance: the top 10 misunderstandings that get in the way of your recovery, which is available as part of my free course. My story of recovery has also recently been featured in a new book, Beyond Diagnosis: a paradigm shift from pathology to innate health by Chana Studley, which covers this topic in more depth.
Do I have to appear on camera?
If you feel self-conscious about how you look, you are welcome to attend with your camera switched off. I'd encourage you to be brave and switch your camera on if you possibly can, even if it's just briefly, but you'll be put under no pressure to do this.
Will I have to speak?
- The workshops are meant to be interactive. After I have read the blog post and briefly introduced the topic, I will invite attendees to share their reflections.
- My intention is that each attendee will have at least ten minutes to speak, if they wish.
- If six or more people attend, I will use the breakout room function on Zoom and split attendees into smaller groups, so each person has plenty of time to share and doesn't have to speak in front of a large group, which some people find intimidating.
How much do the workshops cost?
They are completely free. I'd be grateful for honest feedback on how you find them if you attend.
Are you a therapist? What are your credentials?
- No, I am not a therapist. I do not treat or diagnose medical conditions. If you need medical advice, please consult a doctor.
- I simply share the insights that helped me stop judging my appearance and start enjoying my body and my life to the full after a decades-long struggle with body image and disordered eating.
- I have found it helpful to explore an understanding of who we truly are, and how our experience of life is created, often referred to as The Three Principles, as articulated by Sydney Banks, in my healing journey. This informs the perspective I share.
- I participated in a 6-month coach training programme with Rohini Ross and Angus Ross to study this understanding.
How can I know if the workshops are right for me?
- You can watch my free one-hour talk to see if my perspective resonates with you.
- You don't have to share my perspective to participate in these workshops, but there must be respect for different points of view and a willingness to explore different perspectives in the interests of experiencing less suffering and more wellbeing.
- Also, they are free, so why not come along and give them a go?! You don't have to come back if you don't like it!
Do you offer more support?
- Yes, I offer one-to-one coaching on Zoom. You can find out further details here: mariamorgan.info/coaching
- I also intend to create a membership to support people who are struggling with body image in the future. You can find out about that and join the waitlist here: mariamorgan.info/the-lens-of-love-community You'll then be notified when I launch it.
ANY QUESTIONS, JUST SHOUT!
You can email me at maria@mariamorgan.info.
Love,
Maria
💜💚🧡💙💛
FREE resources
WORK WITH ME
CONTACT ME
Please feel to email me: maria@mariamorgan.info
THE LENS OF LOVE COMMUNITY
I know how hard it can be to stop judging the way your body looks, especially in a world which seems to be constantly ramping up the pressure to look ‘perfect’. But I'm here to tell you that it is possible to stop.
It's time to end the war with your body and feel comfortable in your own skin without spending years in therapy or making your life pitifully small to avoid all ‘triggers’.
Recovery can be hard when you try to do it by yourself.
That's where The Lens of Love Community comes in. In this online membership, you will get all the support you need to replace the filter of judgment you’ve been seeing yourself through with a lens of love. In this way, you can start seeing yourself as you truly are – a unique and beautiful being with a valuable contribution to offer the world.
💞«CLICK HERE to join the waitlist for my online membership - The Lens of Love Community - to get support and guidance to heal insecurities, shame and obsession about your appearance»💞
💜💚🧡💙💛
If you often find yourself judging your appearance, I get it. I spent 30 years of my life doing the exact same thing.
Around five years ago, I fully healed in this area, and I can't wait to help you do the same. So if you're feeling like this👇then The Lens of Love Community is for you.
Is this you?
😩 You constantly judge how you look, and you rarely, if ever, feel like your body looks ‘good enough’.
😩 You worry a lot about what other people think of your appearance and crave constant validation. Or you’re simply resigned to feeling ugly.
😩 You spend a lot of time, energy, and money (if/when you have it) on trying to improve and/or maintain your appearance.
😩 You feel too insecure about your body to enjoy dating, romance, or intimacy.
😩 You engage in obsessive behaviours, including weighing yourself, mirror checking, over-exercising, taking selfies, taking hours to get ready, disordered eating etc.
😩 You worry about the impact of ageing on your appearance.
😩 You keep your life small to avoid the pain of being criticised or rejected.
💜💚🧡💙💛
So, if you’re ready to…
🥰 learn how to appreciate your own unique true natural beauty;
🥰 free yourself from the burden of worrying about what you look like, especially as you get older;
🥰 feel more secure in your own sense of unconditional self-worth;
🥰 have the confidence to go on dates or enjoy your relationship with your current partner more fully;
🥰 enjoy the sensual and sexual pleasures your body has to offer you, as it is right now;
🥰 spend your money on useful/fun things rather than on risky/costly attempts to change your body;
🥰 start thriving instead of just surviving;
💞«CLICK HERE to join the waitlist for my online membership - The Lens of Love Community - to get support and guidance to heal insecurities, shame and obsession about your appearance»💞
💜💚🧡💙💛
In the Community, you will:
✅ receive ongoing coaching, in regular live Zoom meetings. There will be three meetings per week at different times (U.K. daytime, evening and weekend) to accommodate people in different timezones. You'll be free to drop into whichever meetings suit your schedule.
✅ be part of a tight-knit group of like-minded souls who’ll be able to empathise with your struggles and celebrate your progress.
✅ get encouragement to keep growing and getting out of your comfort zone when you’d otherwise be tempted to give up and go backwards.
💞«CLICK HERE to join the waitlist for my online membership - The Lens of Love Community - to get support and guidance to heal insecurities, shame and obsession about your appearance»💞
💜💚🧡💙💛
I look forward to supporting you on your journey to freedom and happiness. 😊
And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.
Maria
💜💚🧡💙💛
TESTIMONIALS
Before I started coaching with Maria, I didn’t think it would be possible for sessions over Zoom to really make any difference to me.
So I was genuinely surprised by how much each session with Maria changed my thoughts, and how that change would impact me the following day.
I was also surprised to see that I really could change my relationship to food and the way I thought about myself.
Before the sessions I had very little hope of becoming free of my "food addiction", but now I feel like I’m about to break free from that restricted life of punishments and hatred.
Maria offers a safe space to talk freely and is very open and understanding, even when it comes to what some people might consider ‘weird’ thoughts.
For me, it often felt like the kind of gentle hug I needed as a small child.
It gave me a better understanding of my history and my actions.
Maria’s coaching is very helpful if you want to learn to love yourself and take better care of yourself.
She also has lots of knowledge on the topic and related topics, and many inspirational mantras and other readings.
I write this as someone who had been to therapy for eating disorders among other things for ten years.
I’ve also had lots of psychiatric treatments, and all those years being in hospital or going to therapy didn’t help me as much as Maria’s coaching.
I have been able to see another truth and love both myself and others more.
Thanks to Maria’s help, I have been able to access the wisdom that I had inside all along – it had just been covered up by painful and misleading beliefs.
Sophia Hector, Sweden I would recommend Maria to anyone who is struggling with intense emotions and intrusive thoughts.
She is a great listener and is very good at sharing her experiences with anxiety, eating disorders, and body dysmorphic disorder in a way that will help you with your own struggles.
I have had a while to reflect on our conversation and I wish that when I was struggling with my eating disorder and trauma someone would have told me I would be fine if I took a moment to just exist and that I didn’t have to spend every single moment constantly trying to improve myself or work on healing.
It would have made life so much less overwhelming than it felt at the time.
In just one session over Zoom, Maria provided me with insight that changed my perspective on things in a meaningful way.
I thought I understood what it meant to live in the moment, but I honestly did not.
This lack of understanding of what it means to just let yourself exist in the moment is at the root of my anxiety.
I did not think I could have a life free from anxiety, but talking to Maria made me see that I really can if I let go of the conditioning that I impose upon myself.
What I appreciated the most about our conversation was that she encouraged me to reflect on my thoughts and experiences in a way that felt empowering.
When I walked away, I did not feel like I had a list of things I needed to do before I will be OK like I did when I would leave my therapist's office.
I felt like I am OK right now and I really needed that.
Erika Steele, Alabama, U.S.A. Collaborating with Maria as my coach/guide was truly transformative.
Maria's profound listening created a space where I felt genuinely supported and cared for throughout our journey.
Whenever I encountered obstacles, she skillfully guided me toward alternative perspectives, opening my eyes to new possibilities.
Maria's non-judgmental approach allowed me to express myself freely, and through her insightful questions, I discovered solutions that were previously hidden.
Her presence is gentle and inviting, yet her commitment to helping others is both authentic and powerful.
I wholeheartedly recommend working with Maria; she will empower you to reach the next level in pursuit of your aspirations.
Siarra Decomi, Arizona, U.S.A. Maria has been a joy to work with and has shared a good deal of valuable information and resources that I will be referring back to for a long time.
Her careful listening and gentle, insightful responses have very positively impacted my life, mind, thoughts, and heart. I'm having night dreams of transformation of myself.
Today I shared some of the information with a friend who was able to relate to it immediately, and to feel differently about the coming anniversary of his daughter's suicide.
This work has far-reaching implications, and I am very appreciative to have this opportunity to experience and benefit from it.
Dr. N.S. Goodman, Missouri, U.S.A. Dear Maria, Thank you for your time and for providing a space for me to talk and reflect on things I've been struggling with.
I found it easy to talk to you and at no point felt like you were 'interrogating' me or manipulating the conversation.
You were gentle and patient but also warm and encouraging.
I liked that you made yourself human too and allowed me a glimpse of some of your struggles.
I am grateful for our sessions and feel they have helped me find some inner peace and now feel able to reflect on things in a more positive way.
T.H., Devon, U.K. Thank you, Maria, for sharing your insights with me and being a listening ear.
You have helped me to see clarity again whilst I had been overworked and almost burned out.
Thank you for your warmth, wisdom, kindness, and most of all, time.
Maria is a true beacon of light and has so much to offer in her divine service.
Thank you.
Sarah, Cheshire, U.K. I have had the pleasure of working with Maria as my coach for the last several months.
She is very kind and understanding.
It is very clear that she has had some major insights around the understanding of how our thoughts create our feelings, especially when it comes to food issues and body image.
She was helpful in pointing me in the direction of not taking my conditioned thinking too serious and directing me back towards my inner guidance and following my wisdom.
I would recommend her as a coach for anyone who is struggling.
E.H., Florida, U.S.A. Maria helps people who struggle with body image or have body dysmorphia and is absolutely amazing at what she does. Her blog posts and free eBook are helping me and I've just been to her online workshop which was really enjoyable! She can help bring a healthier relationship to our own bodies and bring more acceptance and self love into our lives.
Mike Unsworth, U.K.Workshop Attendee Maria creates a beautiful, safe, and non-judgemental loving space for people healing from body image issues. Thank you Maria!
Danielle Desiree, U.S.A.Workshop Attendee I was unsure what to expect when I saw these workshops, but I have had the opportunity to see so much in myself and how I view my physical form. Maria is so lovely; looking from her own experience and others enabled me to reflect on myself, to see the similarity in my thinking about my body. I am starting to understand myself more and where my views of my body come from. All this within a lovely, caring safe space. Thank you.
Mic, Isle of WightWorkshop Attendee Thank you so much for everything you do! Thank you for the safe space you create with your Zoom meetings. It's incredible how like-minded individuals meet and share similar experiences and how insightful that is. You know I have been around the understanding of the three principles for a while now and because nothing is accidental, I stumbled across you... And something instantly clicked... Your energy, your calmness, your understanding is so uplifting and it's a joy to be around you! The insights you share are so valuable and I resonate with everything you share! Thank you for bringing light, Maria!
Stela Rafailova, Torquay, U.K.Workshop Attendee The body image workshops are helping me to rethink about my body and how society places unrealistic standards on image that is very unhealthy. Maria provides a safe environment to discuss sensitive topics and lends great advice and guidance to help you learn to love exactly who you are.
Kellie, Vermont, U.S.A.Workshop Attendee I dropped into Maria’s workshops because I had been noticing sad thoughts about the increased size of my body. I was starting to think daily about what I could do to get fitter and healthier and starting to feel disappointed in myself for not moving more and eating better whenever I saw my body in the shower or was feeling uncomfortable in a chair. I knew I needed insights, not outside motivation and willpower. After just a few workshops of being in the kind and interesting conversations, it clicked in my mind - 'well of course my body has changed while I’ve been unwell, and as I recover and increase my health then my body will most likely change again.' I was reminded that my lifestyle decisions and recovery journey will be wise for me and my body when my mood is not lowered by untrue thinking but when I’m ok in the now. Maria gently challenges our thinking and I’ve enjoyed noticing my thoughts about beauty in others.
Leah Hobson, Barnard Castle, U.K.Workshop Attendee I absolutely loved the workshops with Maria that I attended. I love the way she shares the three principles understanding in relation to body image. It’s really helped me to relax about the way I look. Conforming to current beauty standards has always been difficult and I love the possibility that this is no longer required. Already I feel a sense of freedom in that.
Julie, ScotlandWorkshop AttendeePOEMS AND CREATIVE WRITING
Sometimes prose is not enough to help us break free from our mental prisons, and only poetry will do!
When I'm No Longer Here
Marriage
Stop Hiding!
When body image turns ugly: the male victim
COACHING
If you're ready to end the war with your body, but have been struggling to change by yourself, I'm here to help.
Having a non-judgmental space to explore your thoughts and feelings, as well as guidance and encouragement from someone who's been where you are, but has made it to the other side, can get you where you want to go faster and easier than if you just keep trying to figure it all out by yourself.
You don't have to heal alone, and I don't think we're meant to.
SUPPORT CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
I've found it invaluable to have support along my healing journey, and I'm now passionate about supporting people who are still struggling.
If that's you, let's work together to put this body image problem behind you, so you can get on with enjoying your one and precious life.
Our time on earth is finite, and we have to make the most of it.
Please don't postpone your happiness and freedom indefinitely.
HOW MY PERSPECTIVE AND APPROACH DIFFER FROM TRADITIONAL THERAPY
- I share from my own experience of suffering and healing from body shame, insecurities and obsession. Most therapists are not allowed to talk about themselves. My approach is more personal. I will talk about what helped me on my own healing journey.
- I believe that everyone can fully heal from body image difficulties. I don't think that you must resign yourself to coping with these problems for the rest of your life. I can't guarantee that you will heal, or how long it will take, of course, but I believe that human beings have the capacity to learn, grow and change. I don't believe the way we think and the way we relate to our thoughts - the source of our suffering - are fixed. I believe in the possibility of transformation.
- I don't think recovery is something that you have to 'work at'. I don't see it as a battle. I don't think sustainable healing is about trying to make yourself believe something different from what you believe now. Rather, I believe healing is a result of a shift in consciousness that usually arises from relaxing our minds, letting go and becoming open to something new.
- Although you may be suffering deeply, I don't think that means that there is something fundamentally wrong with you. I don't believe our experiences, suffering or any labels or diagnoses we may have been given, define us. The past need not determine the future.
- I do not diagnose or treat mental health diagnoses. I am NOT a psychologist or psychotherapist. I do not have medical training. While diagnoses can help people feel less alone in their suffering and sometimes give them access to effective support, I believe that identifying with them too strongly can limit our capacity to heal, learn, grow and change.
- For more details on how my perspective and approach differ from traditional therapy, you can:
- read this blog post - The Places Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Might Not Reach - or
- watch this 30-min video - 14 Ways My Approach Differs From Traditional Therapy. I made the video about a group programme I was offering, but the principles apply to all my work.
FREE DISCOVERY CALL
Get in touch now to arrange a FREE, no-obligation discovery call to see if we're a good fit to work together.
Email me at maria@mariamorgan.info.
I will reply to schedule a mutually convenient time for a chat on Zoom.
I allow up to 80 minutes for this introductory session.
This session will be an opportunity for you to talk about what you're struggling with, and to ask any questions about the coaching packages I offer.
After this initial conversation, the ball will be in your court, and it will be up to you to decide whether you want to invest in coaching with me.
You can read testimonials of other people I've already helped heal their body insecurities, shame and obsession here.
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COACHING PACKAGES
I offer coaching packages of various durations to support you on your journey to freedom from body image/eating issues.
Here are the details:
- I allow up to 80 minutes for each 1:1 coaching session.
- All sessions will be held on Zoom.
- These sessions can be scheduled during my working hours between 9am - 2.30pm U.K. time (BST/GMT) Mondays to Thursdays and 9am -1.30pm BST/GMT on Fridays, subject to availability, during the school term.
- If you are unavailable during these times, please get in touch to see whether we can find a time that works - I take up to one client at a time outside these hours.
- You can check the time in your time zone here: https://www.worldtimebuddy.com
- All packages need to be paid for upfront in full via bank transfer, or Stripe if you don't live in U.K.
- Please note that you will be free to book further sessions when the package comes to an end if you choose. We all heal at a different pace, are in different financial circumstances and require different types and levels of support at different points in our lives. There is no one size fits all.
COST
24-SESSION COACHING PACKAGE
Cost is £720. (Works out as £30 per session.)
18-SESSION COACHING PACKAGE
Cost is £630. (Works out as £35 per session.)
12-SESSION COACHING PACKAGE
Cost is £480. (Works out as £40 per session.)
6-SESSION COACHING PACKAGE
Cost is £270. (Works out as £45 per session.)
3-SESSION COACHING PACKAGE
Cost is £150. (Works out as £50 per session.)
Please don't hesitate to email me at maria@mariamorgan.info if coaching is of interest to you and you have further questions.
I look forward to hearing from you! 🥰
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VIDEOS
FREE COURSE
GET ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY TODAY
This free course is designed to give you a strong foundation for healing your body image, so you can stop judging your appearance and get on with enjoying your life to the full.
FREE eBOOK: MAKING PEACE WITH YOUR APPEARANCE
It is based on my 34-page eBook, Making peace with your appearance: the top ten misunderstandings that get in the way of your recovery, which sets out what helped me recover after around 30 years of struggle.
10 COMPANION VIDEOS
When you sign up, you'll be emailed a copy of the 34-page eBook and the ten companion videos straight away.
The videos are designed to reinforce the points in the eBook to consolidate your learning.
PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS AND REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT!
If you would like to ask questions or share your experience as you go through the course, please come along to my free body image healing discussion workshops. 😊
KEEP ACCESS TO THE COURSE FOR LIFE
You will have lifetime access to the course content.
💞«CLICK HERE to access the free eBook & video course, Making Peace With Your Appearance»💞
FREE TALK
FROM JUDGEMENT TO JOY is a one-hour FREE talk to help you break free from shame, obsession and insecurity when it comes to your appearance, so you can start enjoying your body and your life to the full.
In the talk I cover:
- The two fundamental beliefs underpinning our suffering when we don't like the way we look.
- How we get sucked into buying into these beliefs through a lifetime of cultural conditioning.
- The crucial difference between the so-called 'beauty' standards and real beauty.
- How trauma can make us more susceptible to pressures to look different/'better'.
- The impact of our beliefs on how we see ourselves, whether we're aware of these beliefs or not.
- How we heal - willpower and effort don't tend to help us in the long term, so I spoke about what actually helps instead.
- Three qualities/attitudes that facilitate healing.
- How our suffering can be an opportunity to learn more about who we are, and have a deeper, more fulfilling experience of life.
- How we can enjoy the way people look so much more when we replace the filter of judgement with the lens of love.
- And lots more!
ANY QUESTIONS, JUST SHOUT!
You can email me at maria@mariamorgan.info or send me a direct message me on Facebook.
Love,
Maria
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book club with a twist!
Then maybe my book club will be for you!
It is FREE of charge, and takes place on Zoom.
Please note that this book club is open to all, and is not specifically related to body image/eating, though you are very welcome to talk about books on those topics if you wish.
➡️CLICK HERE⬅️ to sign up to the Book Club mailing list, and you will get notified of future meetings and receive the Zoom link.
FURTHER DETAILS
I love reading, and these days I always seem to be reading amazing books that get me very excited, so excited, in fact, that I want to share the brilliant and helpful ideas in them with other people! And I love hearing about what other people are reading too, even if I might not want to read the same books at the same time.
I believe the books we feel drawn to, at any particular time, are a very personal matter. So, the books that I’m currently getting so much out of might be ones that you would never pick up. That’s why I’m starting a book club where we can all talk about the different books each of us is reading, rather than feeling obliged to all read the same book. That way, we’ll enjoy hearing about what lights other people up, and can have the chance to share what we’re enthusiastic about. And we might get ideas for other books we’d like to read too!
There are no rules as to the books we can talk about – they could be fact or fiction, scientific or spiritual, political or philosophical, lowbrow or highbrow(!), poetry or prose, a classic which most people may have already read or an unknown work. The point is to share about what YOU got out of the book.
The books can be in any language (though the language of the group will be English because that’s the language that is most commonly spoken by my friends). If English is not your first language, and you don’t feel confident about speaking in English, please don’t let that put you off. Everyone will want to understand you and won’t care if you struggle for words sometimes, as we all do anyway.
The spirit of this group will be that you talk about things in the book that have inspired, helped, interested or educated you. How has the book enriched your life?
Feel free to come along even if you’re not reading a book at the moment. You could either just listen to other people sharing or you could speak about a book you’ve read in the past that has impacted you. If you’re an author, you could even talk about your own book (in progress or complete). Why not?!
We can read SHORT passages of the book which we particularly like as part of our sharing, as long as we stay mindful of the time.
If lots of people come, and not everyone who wants to share gets a chance to talk about a book, then I will make a note of the names of people who didn’t speak, and make sure we start with them in the next meeting.
When discussing ideas that we’re passionate about, sometimes things can get heated, so I hope we’ll all do our best to express disagreement respectfully. Let’s try to be mindful of the wise words of Marvin Gaye, “We’re all sensitive people with so much love to give.” If anyone uses hate speech or is persistently rude or aggressive, then they will no longer be welcome in the group. I want it to be a safe space where people feel comfortable sharing from their hearts.
This will be an open group, so feel free to tell your friends and invite them to sign up to the mailing list. But please don’t post the Zoom link publicly on social media. I don’t want people turning up for the wrong reasons.
FORMAT
- At the start of the meeting, we will take a show of hands to establish how many people will want to speak about a book.
- We will take it in turns to talk about a book we’re currently reading or have read in the past. Depending on the number of people who want to talk about a book, we will give a certain number of minutes to each person, e.g. 10 minutes, to talk about their book without interruptions.
- Then other people will be able to ask them questions or make comments if they want.
- Then we will move on to the next person who wants to talk about a book.
- If lots of people want to talk about a book, we will reduce the sharing time per person.
➡️CLICK HERE⬅️ to sign up to the Book Club mailing list, and you will get notified of the future meetings and receive the Zoom link.
