Counselling for Self-Esteem
Counselling for self-esteem begins with the examination of what is self-esteem.
Self-esteem refers to how we think about ourselves. In a sense, it is the collective of beliefs that run through our mind about ourselves, our worth, and our abilities. When people discuss high self-esteem, they’re likely referring to self-confidence and self-worthiness to pursue the life they want.
Low self-esteem on the other hand, often is plagued with excessive self-criticism, insecurities, and self-doubt. Pervasive negativity toward oneself can result in anxiousness and depression.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy CBT is the most researched, proven effective method to reclaim and build self-esteem.
Building Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem can negatively affect all aspects of your life. Relationships, your productivity at work, your health and mood are all impacted. Fortunately, self-esteem is a matter of self-perception. We can change our perceptions, explore new ones, and reach new levels of realization. Through the development of mind training and challenging perceptions, we alter self-perception and worthiness.
There is an old saying that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder’. The same can be said vice versa for unhealthy or negative perceptions. When we correct our vision, we alter our reality.Through the process of doing cognitive behavioural therapy, CBT one can change and re-frame thoughts, altering how we behave and feel. Challenging thought habits is at the core of CBT.
Let us build resiliency through reshaping thoughts. Self-esteem is the cornerstone of how we construct our lives. Criticism, negative experiences, and past traumas build a collection of negative perceptions that have momentum to negatively affect our current perceptions. Processing the past, reshaping our present thoughts, and building resiliency to express yourself all build healthy self-esteem.
Building self-esteem, enables our ability to achieve our desires and pursue our dreams. Esteem is empowerment, and a firm conviction of our value and worth. Without a healthy belief in our value, our life can have a passive and disempowered momentum.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Improving Self-Esteem
Cognitive-behavioural therapy is the modern-day remedy for many psychological problems. It is designed to be brief, problem-focused, and active.
Rather than focusing on early developmental history and relationships, cognitive behavioural therapy pursues the issues that are happening in the present. This type of therapy may include behavioural activation, assertiveness training and social skills training to name a few of the techniques possibly used.
Behavioral Activation, Assertiveness and Social Skills Training
Behavioural activation reverses despondency and demonstrates in real-time the power of decisive action. Through the process of small actions, one can grow confidence and depend on the activity increase satisfaction and serotonin levels. This confidence can help one to proactively re-engage with life and thereby have more beneficial experiences which in return develops even more self-esteem.
Assertiveness training teaches people how to take steps in controlling the directions of their lives. Oftentimes people with low self-esteem are afraid to ask for what they want or will not say no to situations they are uncomfortable with. Assertiveness coaching assists one in understanding what their healthy boundaries are and how to exert them.
In addition to low self-esteem and social skill deficits, low social opportunities can also result from low self-esteem. Training social capabilities can increase healthy social behaviors and reduce unhealthy behaviors, such as chronic complaining. Also, a person can experience more positive social interactions and develop their self-esteem due to improved social capabilities.
Acceptance and Assistance
Unhealthy self-perceptions aren’t a life sentence. No matter what you have gone through, where you are at or what difficulties you face you can lead a happy life. By allowing yourself to acknowledge and accept circumstances but with the determination to be happy regardless, you empower yourself with good self-esteem.
If you aren’t able to always do this on your own, then getting assistance in doing so will enable you to live a happy life no matter where you started, where you’ve been or where you are at today.
Our counsellors are well trained in assisting clients in counselling for self-esteem growth and we welcome you to reach out to us and book a consultation.