Growing up in today’s world can be difficult. With increased development in technology, our young people have greater exposure to one another than any other generation. The age of social media has ushered in selfies, live feeds, stories, snapchats, and with it comes comparison, insecurities, cyberbullying, and negative self-talk. This can take an incredible toll on the self-esteem of your child or teen.
Children and teens who have low self-esteem are at risk for developing serious mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, disordered eating, self-harming behaviors, and suicidal thoughts. It may also impact their current and future relationships and decision-making.
Low self-esteem may include:
- Excessive preoccupation of body image or appearance (opposite of this may be a complete disregard for their hygiene and self-care)
- Negative statements about their abilities and appearance
- Harshly criticizes themselves for mistakes or shortcomings
- Blames themselves for things that are out of their control
- Avoids people, places, or opportunities due to fear of failure or embarrassment
- Disengages from school, work, or activities
- Compares themselves negatively to others
- Expresses doubt in being loved or cared for by others
- Becomes easily frustrated and agitated, may give up on projects or activities
- Appears on-edge or irritable
- Engages in self-harming behaviors
- Expresses suicidal thoughts or has attempted suicide
If any of the above describes what your child or teen is experiencing, counseling may be beneficial. In counseling, your child or teen is afforded a confidential space to speak freely and process their feelings. Children and young people are often looking for someone to understand and just listen, which is what our professional counselors can provide. Through a safe and non-judgmental approach, underlying causes for their low self-esteem are discovered and can be addressed. We can also help your child or adolescent develop coping skills and self-soothing strategies to better manage their heavy feelings.
If you believe your child or teen is struggling with low self-esteem and needs support, our affiliated professional counselors are here to help. They practice child-friendly evidence-based techniques such as play, art, and sandtray in their therapy. They may also utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused approaches. Give our office a call today and let’s schedule a time to talk.