Healthy self-esteem is crucial to overall well-being. If you or someone you love is living with low self-esteem, it can negatively impact all aspects of life. Qualified professional counseling can provide compassionate support and practical strategies to increase self-esteem to experience improved confidence and more joy-filled life. Here are three life-changing ways counseling helps increase self-esteem:
#1: Identifying and Challenging Negative Self-Talk
What is negative self-talk? It\’s an inner dialogue that tells you that you are not good enough. It can include self-blame, refusal to believe anything positive about oneself, continually focusing on the negative things that can happen, and rehashing or reliving encounters you interpret as unfavorable. In simple terms, negative self-talk is putting yourself down and keeping your mind focused on the negative.
Many people talk to themselves like they would never talk to another human being. A counselor can help you identify negative self-talk and bring awareness to your thought patterns through effective techniques and practices.
Stopping negative self-talk can be challenging. However, a counselor can help you become more aware of the habit and learn to replace negative self-talk with positive. Once you switch your internal dialogue, you will be amazed by how your self-esteem and perspective on life changed for the better.
#2: Developing Self-Compassion
Part of replacing your negative thoughts with positive ones includes developing self-compassion. The truth is it\’s hard to say good things to yourself if you don\’t think you are worthy of love and kindness. A counselor will guide you to forgive yourself for past mistakes that may be holding you back. They\’ll also help you recognize that no person is perfect, and it\’s okay to make mistakes. No matter what is in your past, you are a human being who deserves love and compassion.
A counselor can be a person who will provide the unconditional acceptance you need. Perhaps you didn\’t receive that acceptance as a child, or maybe it has eroded over time. Whatever the situation, your counselor can help you learn to accept love and kindness from others and give it to yourself. Developing this skill can be transformational in your self-esteem journey.
#3: Goal Setting
Setting and achieving personal goals is an excellent self-esteem booster. When you feel stuck and down on yourself, it isn\’t easy to envision yourself in a thriving place. Your counselor will help you set appropriate goals for therapy and your life, so you can experience a sense of accomplishment.
Feeling proud of yourself is also the perfect antidote to negative self-talk. The more goals you accomplish—no matter how small—the more you can push back on negative thoughts with the reality of your successes.
Ready to Conquer Low Self-Esteem Once and For All?
So, if you are ready to experience the transformational results that increased self-esteem can bring to you or a loved one, reach out to Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Jessica Bassett at Positive Living Psychotherapy. She is committed to helping clients of all ages find healing and better self-esteem through multi-systemic therapy techniques and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Jessica also specializes in Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for adolescents.
Schedule an appointment with Jessica at Positive Living Psychotherapy today to experience the life-changing ways counseling helps increase self-esteem. Call 770.552.0333 or connect with Jessica online to schedule a free phone consultation.