Founder, Researcher, speaker 

Renae Regehr is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and the founder of Free To Be Talks, a non-profit organization that promotes positive body image to youth, parents, and educators through education in schools, speaking events, and media. Through her MA of Counselling Psychology she developed and tested a research-based curriculum, Free To Be. To date, over 3000 boys and girls  have gone through the program. Renae is also the co-founder of Care For Women, a non-profit that supports and resources new mothers and a contributing blogger for the Huffington Post. Her work has been featured in Time, Darling, Good Men Project, and Everyday Feminism among others. Positive body image is much more than feeling comfortable in your skin, and Renae is passionate about equipping others with practical tools to thrive now, irrespective of what their appearance is.

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Want a bit more background info?

Renae Regehr was a really happy kid, and then in her teens she became very preoccupied with her appearance which resulted in her being anxious, depressed, and floundering in life. She went to counselling and things got better. But they weren't great until her early 20s when she watched Jean Kilbourne's documentary "Killing Us Softly." Her worldview was profoundly changed as she realized how significantly media images and message influence all of us. 

She wished she had understood the nuances of media (and Snapchat and Instagram weren't even around yet), as a teen to avoid wasting energy on things that didn't make her happy.

So, in her Masters of Counselling Psychology she developed and tested her research-based program, Free To Be to equip others to be resilient to pressures that negatively impact  body image and ultimately arm them with tools for a meaningful and happy life.

Be You Girl Event

Renae researches how the representations of men and women in media impact our attitudes, beliefs, behaviour and emotions of viewers. She loves to share her interesting findings on HuffingtonPost and other places. Also, being a mom of two little kids, Renae likes to empower parents and educators with tools to promote positive body image through workshops and events. 

Renae doesn't post frequently to social media, but you can get little snapshots of her life doing things she loves such as hiking in mountains, loving horses (some things never get old), and dreaming about visiting Harry Potter World one day. 

ivivva leadership summit July 2018




Recent Speaking engagements

Regehr, R. (2018, November). The smokescreen of social media, messaging, and beauty ideals. Invited presentation at Collingwood school, Vancouver.

Regehr, R. (2018, November). Nurturing resilient kids, body image and emotion coaching. Parent seminar and tween girl body image workshop in collaboration with ivivva, Vancouver.

Regehr, R. (2018, August). Confronting social media, Free To Be real. Invited guest on Confronting Normal Podcast. Listen to the podcast here.

Regehr, R. (2018, July). Finding freedom to be a leader in school. Invited speaker at ivivva 1st Annual Girls Leadership Summit, Vancouver.

Regehr, R. (2018, April). Media literacy & practical tools for thriving. Invited speaker to Beautiful You girls event at G.W. Graham, Chilliwack.

Regehr, R. (2018, March).  How do we respond to, "I feel fat?" Body image in our children and parenting. Parenting seminar and tween girl body image workshop in collaboration with ivivva, Vancouver. 

Regehr, R. (2018, February). How do we respond to, "I feel fat?" Body image in our children and parenting. Invited presentation at International School of Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, 

Regehr, R. (2018, February). Invited presentation (2nd parent seminar) at International School of Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Regehr, R. (2018, January). What influences body image? Understanding the complexities and helping our youth thrive. Invited presentation at PLEA Community Services, Vancouver, B.C.

Regehr, R. (2018, January). Invited presentation (2nd presentation) at PLEA Community Services, Surrey, B.C.

Regehr, R. (2018, January). Becoming media savvy and confident in my body. Invited presentation for grade 6 & 7 students at James Gilmore Elementary School, Richmond, B.C.

Regehr, R (2017, December). Free to be me: Body image & confidence. Invited speaker to grade 9 students at King David High School, Vancouver, B.C.

Regehr, R (2017, November). Instilling a positive body image: building awareness and practical tools. Invited guest lecture at Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland, Vancouver, B.C.

Regehr, R. (2017, September). The Impact of Media and Developing a Positive Body Image. Invited speaker for Be You Self-Esteem Girl Event at Sevenoaks Mall, Abbotsford, B.C. 

Regehr, R. (2017, April). Free to be me: Body image & confidence. Invited speaker for 1-hour presentation to grade 6 & 7 students at Lord Nelson Elementary, Vancouver, B.C.

Regehr, R. (2017, April). Free to be me: Body image & confidence Invited speaker for 1-hour presentation to 4 & 5 students at Lord Nelson Elementary, Vancouver, B.C.

Regehr, R. (2017, April). Body image: Empowering ourselves and our children. Invited speaker at Lord Nelson Elementary, Vancouver, B.C.

 

Follow us on Instagram @freetobetalks 
 

We’ll just leave this here. 🙌🏼✨ . . #bodyimage #medialiteracy #freetobetalks #freetobeme #nedaweek #antidietculture #antidietproject #bodyacceptance #bodyneutrality #bodyneutral #youareworthy #youareenough #beautysick
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