DD also catcher/3rd and has 187 PAs and been hit 23 times. Helps her .530 OBP. She wears elbow guard that has saved her more than a few times. If your DD is a yes yes yes hitter, she will naturally lean over the plate a little. In my observation, players that never get hit aren't very good hitters generally. Catcher have an advantage when they play 3rd because they have been naturally taught to block the ball. Pet peeve time.... runner on first trying to go from 1st to 3rd on base hit to to RF and the (non catcher) 3rd baseman lets ball thrown get past them and run scores. Then the player that got base hits gets to 3rd on the late throw home. GRRRRRR. I have said it before but will say it again, using tennis balls with a tennis racquet and blasting the balls at her from about 50 feet works. Hit them hard. Tennis balls will sting but not break bones.My kid is one of those, too. She's been the HBP leader of almost every team she's been on. Her current stats have her at 7 (out of 57 PA), with second place at 3.
As for using her body on defense...well...she's a catcher. Goes with the territory.