Fat Collective: Exploring
This 8-week group is an opportunity for fat folks to gather in a supportive space,
led by a fellow fat person (that's me, Alexandra!).
You will be invited to explore the systemic, cultural, and intergenerational influences on their fat identity both critically and compassionately.
I'm Alexandra...
a counsellor, consultant, and fat liberationist who is deeply committed to trusting my own body and supporting others to trust theirs.
To learn more about me, my approach to counselling,
and my work, click here.
My approach is grounded in fat liberationist, anti-racist, gender/sexuality affirming, intersectionally feminist, decolonial, and anti-oppressive practices, all of which I continue to grow into.
Anti-fatness alienates fat people from one another and makes us afraid to be seen with other fat people. Have you ever been the only fat friend in a group? I have. There is so much power in fat people sharing space and building community.
Fat Collective: Exploring is for you if...
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You are fat,
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You feel ready (enough!) to explore your life through a lens of anti-fatness & fat liberation,​​​
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You want to build fat community,​
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You want to explore how fatness intersects with your other identities,
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You feel ready (enough!) to look at how you perpetuate anti-fatness
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You are in so-called Canada and are 19 or older,
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& you're sick of hating yourself!​
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You in? Jump to the details.
It sounds simple, but in a world where we are constantly navigating the minefield of anti-fatness and diet culture, it’s vital that we find spaces to explore our experience that are contained and held in a safe (enough!) way.
The intention of this group is to create a space that that centers the experiences of fat people, explores the ways in which anti-fatness shows up, and offers alternative ways of being in relationship with ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities.
I hope this group will feel like a mix of a slumber party and a gender studies class.
The Fat Collective is an opportunity for fat people to
share space & experience.
Here's what you can expect:
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We’ll have some deep conversations that include both social analysis and self-analysis.
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We’ll explore the parts of ourselves that feel icky, those parts that might perpetuate anti-fatness, but we’ll do it together.
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We’ll practice holding space for ourselves and for one another in a safe (enough), values-centered, and non-judgmental way.
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We’ll connect through shared experience, including the levity and joyfulness that is part of the fat identity.
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We’ll name and move through the breadth of our emotions - the deep rage and grief that arise when identifying how anti-fatness has harmed us and our communities.
My hope is that you’ll walk away with a sense of solidarity, a more embodied understanding that you’re not alone in your experiences of facing anti-fatness and oppression.
Through this process, my intention is for you to release some of the self-blame and shame that you may be carrying, while cultivating the building blocks you need to create a different kind of relationship with yourself, food, and movement.
(And you may just walk away with a couple other fat friends to stay in touch with far beyond when our time together ends!)
The Details:
Each call will start and end with a group check-in. We’ll all have an opportunity to share what we’re bringing to the space, how we’re doing, and anything in particular we need from the group that day.
Then, we’ll dive into our topic for the week. I’ll begin by sharing some context and personal examples. Then I’ll introduce a handful of guiding questions to shape our conversation. Everyone will have an opportunity to share your experiences on the call so we can practice sharing our stories in a safe (enough) space, feel less alone, and learn from one another.
We’ll look through both the lens of the broader systemic perspective (colonialism, racism, ableism, etc.), and then zoom the conversations in to ourselves and our own personal experiences.
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I’ll be there to help us all make connection between the various elements we are talking about so our exploration will build on itself, week over week. I’ll also share the prompts from each call, along with a handful of resources, after each session.
Even though there’s some structure going in, the group can still be freeform and responsive to your needs.
The Schedule:
Week 1 - Opening
March 19th
We’ll get to know one another and set guidelines for how we want to hold space together.
Week 4 - Food
April 9th
How has anti-fatness influenced what you know about food? How you engage with food?
Week 2 - Roots
March 26th
Let’s dig into the roots of anti-fatness - within ourselves, culture, and history.
Week 5 - Movement
April 16th
How has anti-fatness influenced what you know about movement/exercise? How you engage with movement/exercise?
Week 3 - Relationships
April 2nd
How does anti-fatness show up in our relationships? Family, friends, found family, colleagues, neighbours?
Week 6 - Reckoning
April 23rd
When did you begin to question diet-culture? Anti-fatness? How are we freeing ourselves from those confines?
Week 7 - Fat Joy
April 30th
What does fat joy look like in your life? What does a fat joy practice look like?
Week 8 - Closing
May 7th
We’ll reflect on our process through the group - where we started, what we want to take with us.
All meetings are Tuesdays from
4:30-6:00pm PST
Investment:
$500+gst
Can be made in 1, 2, or 3 payments
Testimonials of Ali's Facilitation:
“Down to earth, patient, kind, knowledgeable, gives wonderful feedback, loved being able to work with them!”
The Process:
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Applications for this round are currently closed.
Please fill in the form below to be added to the waitlist for the next offering.