Guided Exercises to Increase Teen Self-Esteem, an Important Component of Mental Health

John J Liptak, EdD & Ester Leutenberg

Self-esteem is critical for teen mental health and to help teens develop in healthy ways to meet life goals.  Self-esteem is not something people are born with; rather, building self-esteem takes work, but can yield important rewards in terms of mental health. 

This workbook helps clinicians lead sessions in building teen self-esteem. Teens learn to self-reflect and examine their thoughts and feelings and how they affect self-esteem.  Adolescents learn effective tools and techniques to build self-esteem and self-worth.  The book focuses on three main areas in which teens can develop mastery to enhance feelings of self-esteem:

1. Learn to manage agression, by managing aggrissive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
2. Develop skills of self-assessment, using activities such as journaling and role playing.
3. Enhance and nurture empathy, allowing them to have more interpersonal connection with others.

This workbook is divided into five sections:

• Self-Esteem
• Self-Worth
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Responsibility
• Assertiveness

All of the self-assessments, activities and handouts are fully reproducible to use with your clients/participants.