Support for body dysmorphic disorder
Living with body dysmorphic disorder can feel overwhelming and all-consuming. Our compassionate clinicians are here to help you move forward with evidence-based treatments and a person-centred approach.
Our service provides assessments and treatments for both children (aged 5+) and adults.
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What is body dysmorphia?
Body dysmorphic disorder, or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition characterised by a preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance. These flaws are typically unnoticeable to others.
It is most common in teenagers and young adults, although it can occur at any age. Body dysmorphia can be all-consuming and have a significant impact on school, work and social life. Symptoms include:
Spending lots of time worrying about how a part of your body looks
Seeing flaws others don’t notice
Mirror checking or avoiding mirrors altogether
Comparing how you look to others
Going to great lengths to hide or ‘fix’ the area
Avoiding social situations
Feeling judged or watched because of how you look
Behaviours associated with body dysmorphic disorder
Living with body dysmorphia often involves lots of time carrying out repetitive behaviours and routines. These behaviours may be your way of dealing with the anxiety you have about your appearance. Although they can offer some relief, they can also make you feel worse. Behaviours can include:
Avoiding mirrors, cameras or seeing yourself in photos
Trying to change your appearance with heavy make-up, skin tanning or lightening, or cosmetic procedures
Over-exercising and excessive weight checks
Seeking reassurance from others
Changing your clothes and posture to disguise your shape
Support for adults
Our adult clinical team has helped lots of people overcome and learn to manage their symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder. As a psychiatrist-led team, we can support you through a range of talking therapies, medications or both. Treatments may include:
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Medication if required
Support for young people
We have a dedicated Child and Adolescent Mental Health service, with Psychiatrists and Clinical Psychologists who are specially trained to help young people navigate mental health difficulties. Support for young people experiencing body dysmorphia may include:
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Medication if required
Meet our clinicians
Dr Patrick Davey
MOAI Founder & Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist NHS Clinical Entrepreneur BM BSc PGDip (OXON) MRCPsych
Dr Anthony Brown
Consultant General Adult and Older Adult Psychiatrist MB BS BSc (Hons) MRCPsych
Reviews from MOAI clients
Posted on Google
Amy Quinn1 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I went to MOAI Health for my ADHD assessment and they have been amazing throughout. Dr Davey has a good heart and you can tell he genuinely has your best interest at heart and listens to what you have to say. Who is currently dealing with the exhusting back and forth with the NHS on my behalf. The other person who really stood out and was happy to go above and beyond was Clinical Secretary, Kirsty Phipps who was my first point of contact at MOAI and I imagine it's this way for everyone going through the service. From start to now Kirsty has been there always at the other end of of a call or email. Wether you need help with one of the questionaires, booking an appointment, want to know more about the process or just want to ask for an Update on where things are at. She is a lovely, kind and compassionate person who genuinely cares and just wants to help people. She never made me feel like she was to busy or just trying to get me off the phone. Thank you Kirsty for all you hard work. Thank you Dr Davey for your compassion. And Thanks MOAI Health for actually Caring.Posted on Google
Paul Fonceca5 days agoI genuinely couldn't recommend MOAI Psychology highly enough. From the beginning, the whole process felt professional, supportive and genuinely focused on me as an individual rather than simply treating me as another client going through a service. I completed 12 therapy sessions with Dr Evie Bamigbade, and the experience has had a profound impact on me. Evie has an incredible ability to challenge you and encourage you to look at things differently, while creating an environment where you feel completely safe to be open and honest. I went into therapy wanting to better understand myself and how I deal with my emotions. I've come away with not only a much deeper understanding of myself and some of the patterns I've carried for years, but practical tools that I now use in everyday life. I've noticed genuine changes in how I handle difficult emotions, anxiety, relationships and stressful situations, and people around me have noticed the difference too. What I appreciated most was that I never felt judged or as though I was being told how I should feel. I was helped to understand what was happening, develop the skills to deal with it and ultimately trust myself to use them. I'm incredibly grateful to Evie and the wider team at MOAI for the support I've received. Finishing therapy actually felt bittersweet because I enjoyed the sessions so much, but I think coming away feeling equipped to continue the work yourself is probably one of the best endorsements of good therapy I can give. An excellent service and an experience I'm genuinely very thankful for.Posted on Google
Beth Baird18 days agoThe clinic has been so very supportive of my daughter who at age 17 was diagnosed with dual form ADHD. Dr Singh and then Dr Davey could not have been more helpful, and have been warm, clinically insightful and professional at all times. Thank you all for your assistance in getting her through her exams and off to her chosen University in London. Your secretarial staff are also excellent!Posted on Google
Charlotte Lucas22 days agoProfessional and approachable. Moai carried out detailed wellbeing research, working with our staffing body. Every member of the team fedback that the process was insightful and valuable and management noticed a decline in unexplained absence.Posted on Google
Michael White22 days agoWe were in a very difficult situation with a very unwell member of my family. MOAI Health helped co-ordinate the assessment care needed. I can’t thank them enough for the compassion and empathy they demonstrated.Posted on Google
Christopher Crane22 days agoWe had an excellent experience with MOAI Health when our son underwent an ADHD assessment, and I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending them to other parents. We had become concerned about his concentration and felt that a professional assessment would help us better understand what he was experiencing and, importantly, what we could do to support him. From the outset, the whole process with MOAI Health was extremely professional, efficient and reassuring. The assessment itself was conducted in person by a professional who was excellent with our son. He was made to feel comfortable throughout, and the clinician managed to engage with him in a way that felt straightforward and stress-free. Everything was explained clearly to us, both during the assessment and afterwards, and we came away with a much clearer understanding of our son's needs. The detailed report we received was comprehensive, clearly written and included a range of useful recommendations to help us support our son going forward. It has also been very helpful to share the report with his school, giving them a better understanding of his needs and how they can support him. Overall, we found MOAI Health to be professional, knowledgeable, efficient and genuinely helpful. The whole process was pain-free, and we now have a clear diagnosis together with practical guidance on the next steps. I would certainly recommend MOAI Health to any parent who is considering an ADHD assessment for their child. They made the process straightforward from start to finish and provided us with exactly the clarity and practical advice we were looking for. A thoroughly excellent service.Posted on Google
Jamie Franklin26 days agoSo happy to have gotten the support and help from MOAI and Dr Kiran Shetra. So appreciative that I was able to have access and the opportunity to use the service. Every employer should utilise and offer MOAI Health.Posted on Google
Gus Anderson28 days agoVery good experience with Moai. Helped me get to the route of my issues and suggest methods to maintain moving forward. Quick replies and very supportive therapists. Overall I found the experience hugely beneficial.Posted on Google
Lee Dimmock31 days agoIt was very good, made me think in a different way. My issues haven't gone away but I'm trying to think differently about it.Posted on Google
Gabriel Polak34 days agoGreat place and great people who made genuine positive change in my life. Thank you!
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