DEFINITION OF SELF-ESTEEM:

Dr. Harter best describes self-esteem as “how much a person likes, accepts, and respects himself overall as a person”.

WHY WOULD SOMEONE BE INTERESTED IN A SELF-ESTEEM PROGRAM?

The Teen Health Centres’ self-esteem program is educational, interactive and focus’ on maintaining a healthy sense of self-esteem or tools and skills to increase a sense of low self-esteem. Anyone at any age can benefit from learning new skills and feeling better about themselves. The program is not intended to inflate the ego or promote or encourage unrealistic ‘positive thinking’, but to help individuals develop a personality trait that is essential to mental and physical well being. We want teenagers to feel capable, worthwhile, have a sense of belonging and to grow and develop into healthy adults able to make decisions and set realistic goals for themselves.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM:
A teenager with low self-esteem will:

• Demean his own talents

• Feel that others don’t value him

• Feel powerless

• Be easily influenced by others

• Express a narrow range of emotions

• Avoid situations that provoke anxiety

• Become defensive and easily frustrated

• Blame others for their own weaknesses

Low self-esteem has been correlated with low life satisfaction, loneliness, anxiety, resentment, irritability and depression.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH SELF-ESTEEM:
A teenager with high self-esteem will:

• Act independently

• Assume responsibility

• Be proud of accomplishments

• Approach new challenges with enthusiasm

• Exhibit a broad range of emotions

• Tolerate frustration well

• Feel capable of influencing others

High self-esteem has been correlated with academic success in high school, internal locus of control, high family outcome, positive sense of self-attractiveness.

Becoming your Best:

• Is available at the Teen Health Centre for adolescents aged 12 – 15. You can refer yourself or you can be referred by a teacher, parent, counsellor, etc.

• Is available in the school system grades 7 through OAC. Groups can be a specific class or a selected group of students (minimum of eight students per group).

• Is available for specific agency groups at your agency or at the Teen Health Centre.

• Is educational and interactive, meaning we teach tools and skills in small and large groups that you can use on daily basis.

• Covers a wide variety of topics such as recognizing your self-talk, examining comfort zones, effective communication skills, keys for success, goal setting, and relaxation techniques.

• Range from presentations to multi-sessions of 5 – 8 weeks usually about an hour in length.

Health card and nominal fee required.

Call Jodi Pearce at 253-8481 ext. 248 for further information or to register.