Teens, Social Media, and Body Image

May 4, 2026, 1:00 - 3:00pm CST
Virtual via Zoom
Fee: $10 full members; $25 partial members and nonmembers
Continuing Education Hours: 2.0

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Course Description

Body image concerns can start as young as early elementary school for some individuals and body dissatisfaction peaks during adolescence. Poor body image places young people at risk for developing depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. It can also lead to not engaging in sports, school, and other social activities. In the age of ever-increasing social media consumption, body image focus, concern, and distress are higher than ever before. Learn how you can promote positive body image and media literacy in youth. 


Learning Objectives:

• Know how body image develops throughout the lifespan 
• Identify risks associated with poor body image in young people 
• Learn about the effects of social media use on body image 
• Gain skills to promote positive body image among young people 

Heather Gallivan, PsyD, LP

Heather Gallivan has worked in the field of eating disorders as a clinical psychologist for 20 years providing all levels of care to all eating disorder diagnoses in individuals of all ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, and body sizes. She also have years of experience giving presentations to mental health professionals, healthcare professionals, educators, students, community groups, and speaking to the media about eating disorders, treatment, prevention as well as related topics on body image, social media and body image and health behavior change. It is her passion to teach others and to increase awareness in hopes of recognizing individuals struggling with eating disorders sooner and getting them the care they need.