Low self esteem is often at the root of many problems that motivate people into coming in for therapy. Many times this low self-esteem can be traced back to earlier childhood incidents. These incidents typically involve family and peers, and may have been intentional or unintentional. Both have lasting effects, as the perception that one has somehow let someone down or has been rejected by those we perceive to be important creates and reinforces negative feelings about ourselves that are not easily changed. Once in place, this way of viewing ourselves prevents us from having confidence in situations where we are interacting socially, and often results in avoiding these situations for fear of failing—even when we are fully able to succeed in those situations.
Learning to change the way we view ourselves is often key to improving our interactions with others and how we approach the world around us.
