Developing Self-Esteem & Self-Worth
Ironically, many people have a distorted view of self-esteem. They think self-esteem is all about everyone getting a participation ribbon. It’s not. Self-esteem, sometimes called self-worth, self-value, or self-respect, is an important part of your identity and daily life. The value you place on yourself is often the value assigned to you by others, so developing a compassionate and realistic view of yourself, is important in relationships as well as to your individual mental and behavioral wellbeing. If you undervalue yourself, it can be difficult to change your beliefs, but that is the goal of self-esteem counseling. If you can’t get past feelings of shame or worthlessness, a professional counselor can help you see your innate value and respect your abilities. At Stokes Counseling Services, we can help people struggling with self-esteem and a variety of other concerns in our Naugatuck office. In addition to traditional, in-office counseling sessions, we’re also happy to offer virtual therapy using telehealth software, and for those families participating in our FAM Program, we can bring counseling into your home.
What is Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem or self-worth is often associated with body image struggles or disordered eating, and this can be part of it. However, there are so many other ways that we can undervalue our own worth, and many of these behaviors and thought processes are much more insidious. They sneak in under the radar and become a natural part of our belief systems. If you tell yourself or someone else tells you, “You can’t do that – that’s not for you,” it just makes sense that you would start believing this. Developing self-esteem is all about examining the way you perceive yourself and how that perception translates into action or inaction.
When Should I Consider Counseling for Self-Esteem?
Anytime you’re ready to make positive life changes, including raising your self-esteem, a counselor can help. Some of the situations that trigger people to seek out counseling for low self-esteem include:
- Development of unsafe or unhealthy relationships
- Constant struggles with productivity at work or school
- Difficulty handling criticism or non-positive feedback of any kind
- Body image issues
- Disordered eating
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts or planning
- Inability to or fear of engaging with others
What Happens During Therapy for Self-Esteem?
During therapy for self-esteem, we’ll begin with an intake session. At this first session, we’ll discuss why you chose to seek therapy and what your goals are. This initial appointment should also allow you to ask the counselor plenty of questions to ensure you’ll feel safe and comfortable working with this person to achieve your goals. After the initial session, the following visits will be much more focused on you. You’ll discuss the events of the week, any negative behaviors or thoughts related to self-esteem, and any positive results or improvements. You and your counselor can also work together to develop resources to help you improve your self-worth. Self-esteem counseling may involve “homework.” These tasks are steps you’re taking outside the office to develop a more realistic and compassionate view of yourself. Each session will be different, and your therapist may use a variety of methods or techniques. However, the goal of self-esteem counseling is to help you view and treat yourself with kindness, respect, and acceptance and expect the same from others.
How do I Get Started?
To get started, simply give the Stokes Counseling Services team a call or complete our request form. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and schedule a first session for you in our Naugatuck office. We are also proud to offer telehealth counseling services online, if you would prefer to conduct your sessions virtually.