What Approaches Help Clients Build Self-Esteem Or Self-Worth in School Counseling?
Counselor Brief
What Approaches Help Clients Build Self-Esteem Or Self-Worth in School Counseling?
Navigating the complex terrain of self-esteem in students requires more than just goodwill; it demands expertise. This article delves into practical strategies like Values-Based Exploration, Strength-Based Therapy, and the concept of a Confidence Wall, all backed by professional insights. Discover how these approaches are shaping positive self-perception in school counseling today.
- Values-Based Exploration and Action
- Strength-Based Therapy
- Creating a Confidence Wall
Values-Based Exploration and Action
I'm Hanna Zipes Basel, a sex and relationship therapist who's spent years helping people untangle the messy, beautiful, and sometimes awkward dynamics of love and connection. My work focuses on understanding attachment, rebuilding trust, and creating intimacy that feels safe and fulfilling. Drawing from my own personal journey (because relationships haven't always been easy for me either) and my professional training in emotionally focused therapy, I help people navigate conflict, rekindle desire, and build relationships that actually work. One approach I've used to help clients build self-esteem is values-based exploration and action. Often, low self-worth stems from measuring yourself against external standards or expectations. To shift this, I work with clients to identify their core values—the things that genuinely matter to them, like kindness, creativity, or personal growth—and then guide them to take small, deliberate actions aligned with those values. For example, one client who struggled with self-doubt identified "helping others" as a core value. Together, we created opportunities for them to volunteer in ways that felt manageable. Over time, their actions reinforced their sense of purpose and worth, shifting their focus from "I need to be perfect" to "I am valuable because I contribute to something meaningful." This approach works because it reframes self-worth as something intrinsic and actionable, rather than dependent on external validation. By aligning their daily choices with their values, clients build a deeper sense of identity and confidence that is rooted in who they truly are.
Strength-Based Therapy
One effective counseling approach I've used to help a client build self-esteem is strength-based therapy. This approach focuses on identifying and amplifying the client's existing strengths and past successes. For example, I worked with a client who struggled with low self-worth and a critical inner voice. Together, we created a "strengths inventory," listing personal achievements, positive traits, and instances where they had overcome challenges.
We then built affirmations and reframed negative self-talk using this list. Over time, the client began to recognize their inherent value and approach situations with more confidence.
Creating a Confidence Wall
In my coaching practice, one effective approach I've taken to build self-esteem and self-worth in clients is the creation of a "Confidence Wall." This involves guiding clients to visually represent their core values, strengths, and achievements, both tangible and intangible. By continuously adding to this wall, clients have a constant and evolving reminder of their intrinsic worth and capabilities.
A specific example involves a client struggling with self-worth after a career setback. We began by identifying their values and skills, then documenting successful projects and personal moments of pride. Over time, as they added more achievements, their self-perception transformed, leading to increased confidence in pursuing new job opportunities.
I've also seen significant changes using the ABCDE Technique from Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy. In one case, a client labeling themselves as "not good enough" worked through their belief system. By disputing these irrational beliefs and observing positive changes in perspective, their self-worth improved, demonstrating the power of structured, reflective techniques.
