Self-Esteem & Resiliency

A child’s self-esteem is the foundation upon which their confidence, resilience, and ability to face challenges is built. When children develop a healthy sense of self-worth, they are more likely to take risks, persevere when things get difficult, and develop positive relationships. Conversely, when a child lacks self-esteem, they may avoid new experiences, be overly self-critical, or rely heavily on the approval of others to feel valued. These struggles can hold them back academically, socially, and emotionally.

While low self-esteem often overlaps with depression and anxiety, it can also present independently, with children showing avoidance of new tasks, perfectionism, extreme sensitivity to mistakes, or negative self-talk even in the absence of mood disturbances. Parents frequently notice their child dismissing compliments, focusing excessively on their flaws, or becoming frustrated easily when things do not go perfectly.

Our Treatment Approach At Moroz Child Psychology Group, we view self-esteem as something that is built through action and experience. Children do not **develop genuine self-confidence solely by being told they are wonderful**; instead, they grow their sense of worth by taking on challenges, experiencing success, and learning that they can overcome obstacles—even when they struggle along the way. Our approach is rooted in helping children shift their self-perception from one of helplessness or inadequacy to one of capability and growth.

Key Areas of Focus in Treatment:

• Resilience Through Mastery Experiences: We encourage children to take on tasks that push their comfort zones, starting small and gradually building to more complex challenges. We teach children that true self-esteem grows when they work through frustration, problem-solve, and ultimately succeed. We help reframe mistakes as part of learning, rather than something to fear. We emphasize the difference between striving for excellence versus fearing failure, helping children build trust in their ability to recover after setbacks rather than avoiding mistakes altogether.
• Challenging Negative Self-Talk: Children with low self-esteem often internalize harsh, self-critical thoughts. We work to help children identify these patterns and replace them with more compassionate and realistic inner dialogue. Rather than simply countering with false positivity, we teach children to acknowledge their strengths while also accepting their imperfections.
• Separating Worth from Performance: Many children tie their value to academic success, sports achievements, or others' approval. We help children recognize that their worth is not defined solely by outcomes, emphasizing that effort, growth, and personal values matter just as much as results.
• Developing Competence Across Domains: We support children in exploring and discovering their strengths across multiple areas—whether it be academics, creative arts, sports, or social relationships. We encourage **balanced self-worth**, so children **see themselves as capable individuals beyond any single domain**. We also help children who struggle with perfectionism recognize that **striving for perfection in one area often leads to imbalance in other parts of their life**. We work with them to **reframe their drive for achievement into a broader, more sustainable approach that allows for rest, social connection, and personal growth across different areas**.
• Assertiveness & Boundaries: Children with low self-esteem often struggle to advocate for their needs or assert boundaries out of fear of rejection. We help children develop assertive communication skills, role-playing common scenarios to practice expressing themselves confidently and respectfully.
• Healthy Risk-Taking: We emphasize that avoiding challenges reinforces low self-worth, while stepping into discomfort fosters growth. We work with children to identify fears around failure, encourage gradual risk-taking, and celebrate the courage it takes to try—regardless of the outcome.
• Parent Involvement: Parents are critical partners in fostering self-esteem. We guide parents on balancing encouragement with allowing their child to experience struggle, helping them support their child without rescuing or overprotecting. Parents often play a key role in reinforcing small wins and celebrating effort over perfection.

Our goal is to help children develop a lasting sense of confidence based on their abilities, resilience, and belief in their capacity to handle life’s challenges. We aim to equip children with the tools to view themselves as capable individuals, embracing their strengths and imperfections alike, so they can move forward in life with self-assurance and purpose.