Courtney’s Counsel: Closet Cleaning

Courtney’s Counsel is a monthly blog by Renewed’s Clinical Director, Courtney Grimes, LCSW. Courtney aims to deliver relevant content by covering the latest trends and offering professional tips and advice. If you feel that you need personalized assistance, please contact the Renewed office at 615.831.9838. 

“To Keep or Not To Keep” (By: Courtney Grimes, LCSW)

To Keep or Not To Keep…..that is the question….

As the warmer weather continues to approach, many of us have our sights set on lighter clothing, spring fashions or the fact we don’t have to wear coats (finally!).  Closets get overhauled – out with the old and in with the new! Sometimes this isn’t so easy.

Deciding what clothing items to keep and what to toss/give away each spring can trigger major anxiety. Older items that may not fit properly anymore can spur obsessive weight loss thoughts, or cause bad body image to spike. Ideas like “if I can just get in these pants again,” or “I’ll just keep this around for one more season” can keep us prisoners to obsessive/compulsive body checking.

This year, give away clothing that no longer fits properly. Refuse to let clothing sizes tell you how to feel about yourself! Don’t keep all your old “sick clothes” around when they only make you feel bad, and continue to reinforce a disordered way of life. Let this be the spring that you take charge of your closet!

Have a question for Courtney? She’d love to hear it! Please email courtney@renewedsupport.org.

About the Author

Courtney Grimes, LCSW, serves as the Clinical Director for Renewed. She was introduced to the organization in 2005 during her own recovery from an eating disorder and has been involved (and in love) with the organization ever since. Courtney attended the University of Georgia and graduated from Belmont University with a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Opera Performance. After leaving the music industry, she went on to receive her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Tennessee. In addition to her work with Renewed, Courtney is a psychotherapist in private practice with Symmetry Counseling Services. She is originally from Atlanta, GA.