A Psychologist’s Opinion Contd
Ellen Domm, Registered Psychologist, answers a few more questions.
Psychologist Ellen Domm talks her position as a campus psychologist in a continuation of our previous interview.
Q: What do you notice about the student’s relationships to their bodies? Is there a difference between the guys and women? What message are they sending?
A:There's such a difference between the way the women and men present themselves on campus. The guys tend to dress for comfort, and the women, well there are certainly those who dress for comfort as well, but there is another type of female student I often identify. Her outfit is carefully put together from her hair to her high heels; she wears a lot of makeup, and she projects a sense of discomfort with herself. I wonder if these beautiful girls (and they are almost always very naturally pretty) are fearful of presenting themselves in a light other than one that objectifies them, rather than allow themselves to be viewed as the thoughtful, insightful individuals they often are. In other words, I know there's more beneath the surface than they're letting on.
Q: How do you encourage your clients/students to have a positive body image?
A: I do a lot of discussion on eating behavior, effects of dieting, identifying eating disorders, All Made Up media portrayal of bodies, etc. I try to dispel the myths that people have about good food/bad food, and offer a safe forum for students to talk about their issues.
Some years, there may not be a whole lot that people are willing to talk about in class, but I may get students coming to talk to me during office hours. I encourage those who seem to be willing to talk about their problems to Get Help, and always have referral numbers and book titles handy.
I hope that I'm always seen as an approachable instructor who can relate to her students. I want my students to have the best college experience they can have, and use their mental energy to empower themselves. I'll keep "walkin' the walk, and talkin' the talk," one class and one student at a time.
Ellen Domm, Registered Psychologist in BC
(778) 881-3979
