Marissa Knox is a PhD candidate in Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She also works as a research assistant to Kristin Neff. In her work, Marissa focuses on exploring how self-compassion acts as a source of resilience for healthy body image and stress management. Her dissertation, in particular, examines whether or not a self-compassion writing intervention helps college students reduce body image concerns.

Marissa offers so much wisdom here: how to relate to our bodies, others, and ourselves from a place of compassion and kindness. Her words and insights are such a strong and beautiful contrast to the world’s often-unforgiving beauty standards.