Noelle Benach Counseling & Consulting, LLC

04/15/2026

I used to get so many unsolicited comments about how I may be perceived, who I could be, or what I could do because of my size.

I remember in graduate school, I felt panicked that people wouldn’t want to work with me because I’m fat.

I worried they’d see me as lazy, incompetent or less capable than my straight sized peers based off a profile photo on psychology today.

That fear didn’t come from nowhere…it came from living in a world steeped in anti-fat bias.

I’ve done a lot of work to unlearn those beliefs and separate what’s mine from what was taught to me. I still sometimes need to contend with those thoughts, not because I’m not doing the work, but because we’re all navigating a culture that continues to reinforce it.

I plan to keep challenging myself and others to operate from a lens of body neutrality… and I’ll continue to be a bunch of folks’ favorite therapist while I’m at it. 💁🏼‍♀️

04/07/2026

Here’s a hill I’m willing to die on… Therapists should not be recommending GLP-1 medications to their clients.

I get it… these drugs are everywhere. It seems like every other advertisement or conversation involves them. It’s estimated that 1 in 8 American adults are currently taking a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic or Wegovy to treat chronic conditions or lose weight.

However, Body diversity has always existed and always will. Weight is influenced by many factors. Talking about body size is incredibly complicated.

However, rather than suggesting a GLP-1, I recommend that therapists consider centering client autonomy and informed, non-coercive care to support your clients deacon making process.


I invite therapists to think about a few things as you read through this post….

�Are your clients fully aware of the benefits, risks, and side-effects of these medications? (News Flash: It’s not just mild nausea!).

Can you support your clients in making decisions about their body, even if it does not align with your understanding of health?

Do you have your own internalized and externalized weight-bias to work through that may be influencing your clinical work?


I deeply believe in body autonomy, meaning people get to decide what they do with their own bodies. I respect and support clients whether they choose to use GLP-1s or not.

This post is simply inviting therapists to think critically about how we talk about these medications with clients.


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04/02/2026

I’ve got beef with people I’ve literally never met. Wild, right?

As a therapist, I come to really care about my clients. So when people do them wrong… I feel it too.

However, because of the beauty (and responsibility) of confidentiality, that care stays in the room.


Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy. Just because I’m a therapist on the internet doesn’t mean I’m your therapist.

03/25/2026

Ugh, it is the best feeling.

However, the magic isn’t coming from me as a clinician.

Therapists hold space, ask questions and sometimes offer suggestions... but our clients are the ones who actually create the change.

03/19/2026

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that life has felt particularly heavy lately. Between the state of our world, navigating fertility treatments, and existing and a q***r, fat, and neurodivergent person… it all adds up.

Swipe through for a few ways that I maintain my wellbeing through it all.

I’d love to hear how you’re supporting yourself in the comments below!

03/17/2026

Had to hop on this trend.

03/13/2026

03/13/2026

Yesterday I visited .align for my first Craniosacral therapy appointment.

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on bodywork technique that aims to support the body’s natural healing processes by applying very light touch, often about the weight of a nickel.

It’s a great tool for babies, children, and adults alike and works to ease tightness and tension patterns in their body and bringing balance to the central nervous system.

I worked with .nourish.align and it was such a positive experience. I caught myself falling asleep during the session, so I know that I was incredibly relaxed. I felt cradled and cared tor during our entire hour together.

As a psychotherapist, I take self care pretty seriously. I think craniosacral therapy will be a wonderful addition to some of the other ways I care for my body and mind, like acupuncture, talk therapy and physical therapy.

Curious to learn more? Check out their Instagram pages and website: www.nourishandalign.com

03/11/2026

Instead, I’ll just hit them with a “and how does that make you feel?” 😂

Disclaimer: This account is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment.

03/09/2026

☀️ PSA: Don’t stop going to therapy just because it’s warm out.

When the heaviness of seasonal depression starts to lift, it can actually create more space for meaningful work.

When you have a bit more energy and clarity, you may find it easier to able to dive into deeper topics, strengthen or refine your coping skills, and notice patterns that may or may not have been serving you during the colder months.

You don’t need to be in crisis for therapy to have value.

And if you’re feeling ready to taper down your session frequency, take a pause, or even graduate from therapy, that’s something worth talking about with your therapist. Thoughtful transitions are part of the process too.

Don’t worry, I practice what I preach. I know I’ve been celebrating the start of longer days and warmer weather… AND I’m still going to see my therapist weekly.

CounselorsofIG

03/04/2026

🤷🏼‍♀️ People often ask me why I became a therapist.

To be honest, it’s complicated. I had to learn to hold space for other people’s emotions when I was way too young. Whether it be nature or nurture that shaped me, I know myself to be an empathic and curious person, which works out well in the mental heath field.

It’s a privilege to help people build self-understanding, resilience, and pleasure in their lives while also recognizing that healing is connected to dignity, justice, and collective care.

🤷🏼‍♀️Why practice sx therapy?

Sx therapy is a highly specialized area of psychotherapy that is designed to help both individuals, couples, polyamorous folx to address medical, psychological, personal, or interpersonal factors impacting their pleasure, connection, and satisfaction.

A big part of that work is LGBTQIA+ affirming care. I recognize that sxuality, gender, pleasure, and relationships exist across a wide spectrum of identities and experiences. It’s a privilege to actively challenge shame, stigma, and misinformation that many q***r and trans people have been taught about their bodies, desires, and relationships.

I view sxual health as a fundamental human right, and a crucial element of overall wellness. I find so much meaning if helping folx define and explore what works for them.

🤷🏼‍♀️People also ask me why I care so much about fat liberation.

Because it’s directly harmed me, you, and everyone we know. Anti-fatness isn’t just about body size… it’s a system of stigma and discrimination that teaches all of us that our worth, desirability, and health are tied to how closely our bodies fit a narrow standard.

When we reject that idea that only certain bodies should be treated with dignity and care, we create a world where people can access healthcare without shame, experience intimacy without stigma, and move through their lives with greater freedom and ease.

Obviously, these are all over-simplied answers for the sake of fitting into an instrgam caption… but if you want to talk deeper, feel free to reach out.

03/03/2026

Last week I had the pleasure (hehe, get it?) of presenting at the National Sx Ed Conference (NSEC) hosted by the .

I’m grateful to the folks who attended and participated in my session, titled, Curves Unbound: Sxual Pleasure as Liberation for Fat Women.

In just 90 minutes, we:
▪️Traced the historical roots of anti-fatness
◾️Debunked four persistent myths about fatness as it pertains to sxuality
▪️Explored pleasure as a pathway to liberation
◾️Highlighted toys, tools, and accessories designed with fat bodies in mind

When fat people believe they are worthy of experiencing pleasure, they directly resist against a culture that characterizes them as undesirable and unloveable.

A theme I noticed throughout the different presentations I attended last week was that Liberation always benefits the collective. When the most marginalized bodies are free, everyone’s range of possibility expands.

The NSEC is more than an annual gathering… it’s an invigorating, capacity-building space and a strategic investment in the future of sx education and the people moving this work forward.

In just a few days, I had the opportunity to connect with folks who deeply understand the value of sx education and expand my knowledge in ways I’m excited to integrate into my clinical practice.

Thank you so much to NSEC for having me. I’m already looking forward to next year’s conference.