Kaylee Misener, PhD.
Talk 1: Creating Body-Safe Health & Fitness Spaces
As clinicians, providers, coaches, and instructors in health and wellness spaces, we aim to improve the wellness of our patients or clients. Addressing body image and promoting body positivity is a critical component in supporting people's holistic health and wellness, however, this component is often overlooked. Moreover, it can be difficult to know how to provide care or instruct our classes in a way that is aligned with body positivity.
Dr. Misener’s talk will provide essential body image knowledge to support those who work in health, wellness, and fitness settings so that they feel equipped to provide services in a way that is body-sensitive, inclusive, and appropriate. This talk will illuminate the critical role of body image in our relationships with health and wellness, and provide actionable steps about how to create an atmosphere that bolsters, rather than hinders, positive body image. Specifically, Dr. Misener’s talk will provide professionals with the information needed to deliver services in a way that is body safe, such as by knowing how to use body-inclusive language and goals in discussions with patients/clients, and effectively cultivating a body-safe space and culture. Health and fitness professionals have a significant impact on our relationships with our bodies, and with the knowledge and training provided in Dr. Misener’s talk, your space can be part of the solution to the global body image problem.
After this talk, attendees will be able to…
Be knowledgeable about the body image problem, and what contributes to it
Understand how body image, both negative and positive, impacts our health behaviours
Understand how to promote positive body image in ways that cultivate optimal health behaviours
Know how to adapt your physical space and professional interactions to be body safe and enhance the overall wellness of your clientele
Talk 2: Foundations of Positive Body Image
The way we feel about our bodies impacts our mental health, our behaviour in groups, and our engagement in professional settings. In a culture where body-related information surrounds us, and where the majority of this information sends us unhealthy or negative messaging about our bodies, it has never been more important to equip ourselves with the knowledge needed to combat these negative effects. However, knowing how to address body image in a way that is sensitive, inclusive, and appropriate, and how to promote positive body image, can feel overwhelming. Moreover, creating an environment that is body positive (e.g. by language we use, questions we ask) is essential to cultivating cohesion and a sense of belonging among groups.
Dr. Misener’s talk equips attendees with the knowledge that is needed to create a body positive and empowering atmosphere, and the tools to foster a positive body image in themselves. Dr. Misener disentangles the science from the myths when it comes to body image and provides essential knowledge on how body image impacts our health, relationships, and workplace involvement. Attendees will gain valuable insight about how to use safe language around bodies, and other ways to cultivate a body-positive atmosphere. Dr. Misener will illuminate how body-safe culture in our spaces can enhance inclusion, group cohesion, and participation in the workplace.
After this talk, attendees will be able to…
Understand how the relationship with our bodies impacts our own mental health and wellness, and the wellness of those around us
Gain foundational knowledge about the impacts of body image
Become knowledgeable about practical ways to promote body-safe spaces, both at work and at home
Be equipped with evidence-based strategies to improve your own body image and enhance overall well-being
Interested in a positive body image talk? Get in touch!
Dr. Kaylee Misener provides services on positive body image in Victoria, BC, and virtually across Canada. She also loves to travel, so contact us to inquire about opportunities in other cities.
Dr. Misener also provides talks that provide body image information for parents, and how to understand body image and eating disorders from an intersectional lens, upon request. Contact us to inquire about Dr. Misener’s talks, which can be customized to fit your wellness education needs.
About Dr. Kaylee Misener
Dr. Kaylee Misener (she/her) completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Kaylee completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and her Psychology Residency at Vancouver Coastal Health in Vancouver. Kaylee is a clinical researcher, supervised therapist, certified yoga instructor, and professional speaker, and is currently pursuing registration to become a Clinical Psychologist.
Dr. Misener has been providing talks on body image, eating disorders, and wellness for nearly a decade. Dr. Misener has delivered numerous talks on positive body image for a variety of organizations, including for local body image groups, universities, Hudson Pacific Properties, and the Interior Health Authority. She has also delivered more specialized talks on body image, such as looking at how social, political, and diversity factors impact body image and eating disorders for The Eating Disorders Community of Practice Professionals, and providing information about body image concerns in youth for parents. Dr. Misener’s speaking expertise also extends beyond body image, and she has provided several talks and workshops on mental health, particularly in the area of stress management.
In addition to talks, Dr. Misener has shared her expertise on body image through the development and teaching of her original undergraduate psychology course, The Psychology of Body Image, at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Dr. Misener is a recurring invited panelist for the annual Mind of Mine Foundation’s Mental Health Matters advocacy event, and has been an invited guest on the Mind of Mine podcast. Additionally, Dr. Misener is also an invited author for the Women’s Health Blog with the UBC Okanagan’s Women’s Health Research Cluster, and is passionate about promoting awareness for women's health issues. Dr. Misener’s broad set of skills also includes practice in leading yoga and meditation - you can find her on the Insight Timer meditation app, where she has several mindfulness and body image-focused meditations available.
Finally, Dr. Misener is an accomplished researcher in the field of body image, investigating topics such as body image across cultures, how to prevent negative body image in young people, and how to foster positive body image for those looking to improve their relationship with their bodies. Dr. Misener has been the recipient of numerous awards, both in recognition of her research accomplishments and her mental health advocacy work, including federal research fellowships and national and institutional scholarships. She has published multiple research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including two in the premiere journal in her field, Body Image.