About
Our mission, values, vision and Founder
Mission
To empower women to actively pursue their unique goals for health, success, connection or leadership in their ‘now’ body.
Core Values
Respect…
for body diversity and inclusion
Balance…
in measures of health and wellness
Compassion…
for the struggles of self and other
Vision
To create a community of wise-bodied women who will shape future generations of women.
The Founder- Dr Salena Bhanji
Founding The Wise Body Hub has been a long term dream of mine. As an experienced psychologist, I deliver therapy for a wide range of mental health issues, but one of my main passions over the past decade has been working with disordered eating and body image issues.
In doing this work, there is never a shortage of goose-pimply, lightbulb moments when I get to witness a woman choosing herself over and above the disordered expectation- “I need to be thin for that”.
This choice doesn’t come without effort or resistance, but when I get to hear stories from those who ditch dieting to embrace intuitive eating, start to enjoy moving their body without guilt, buy the desired outfit in a bigger size, or shrug off swimwear self-consciousness to enjoy the sand and sun, it’s a wonderful thing to co-celebrate.
It’s also empowering to empower other women; particularly those who have been affected by the negative social impacts of existing in a bigger body or having had difficult experiences that have disconnected them from their body or made it feel unsafe to be their authentic selves.
So I wish to put my own expertise and lived experience out there in the world to support any woman who wishes to thrive in our body-obsessed world by strengthening the most attractive attribute we have- our wise and unique selves.
Professional background…
Currently Endorsed as a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist in Australia and the UK respectively;
Fifteen years of therapeutically working with people who have disordered eating and body image issues;
Over ten years of delivering engaging, skills-focussed online interventions for improving mental health and wellbeing.
Professional training completed within the NHS (UK), Butterfly Foundation (Australia) and Monte Nido treatment facilities (USA);
A current Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician (CEDC) with the Australia & New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders (ANZAED);
Continuing professional development in applying the principles of Health at Every Size (HAES) and lifestyle science into my teaching.
Outside of the clinic..
I enjoy local bush walks in the lovely, leafy Hills District and also love beach walks along the beautiful coasts of Sydney.
With my family, I relish any opportunity to experience theatre, live music, art, yummy gelato or VR experiences together.
And for R&R, I’d be satisfied with a Harlan Coben crime thriller, a good indie film or a binge sesh of “A Place in the Sun”
Would you love to be able to live peacefully in your body?
