Self-Esteem
Developing a Conscious Sense of Self in Therapy and Clinical Supervision
“Self-esteem is the reputation we acquire with ourselves.” ~ Nathaniel Branden
As a psychotherapist and supervisor, I am dedicated to supporting individuals to enhance their self-esteem and confidence. More specifically, I specialize in working with direct-care clients and clinicians to develop authentic self-esteem. My clinical efforts are based on significant study of numerous scholarly and popular sources specific to the knowledge of self-esteem and their intentional practice. Whether you seek therapy for personal growth or supervision for professional development, self-worth issues are often at the core of our being - shaping how we relate, choose, and carry ourselves in the world:
- Orth, Robins, and Widaman (2024) conducted a longitudinal study that revealed stable self-esteem predicted long-term well-being more reliably than income or romantic partnership.
- Smith, Zhao, and Hernandez (2023) conducted a meta-analysis and found that high self-esteem strongly predicts emotional regulation, resilience, and life satisfaction across mental health diagnoses and demographics.
- A 2023 American Psychological Association survey reported that 67 percent of young adults struggle with chronic self-doubt, often rooted in an inner split between who they are and who they believe they're supposed to be.
Self-esteem is more than confidence or self-liking. Building self-esteem involves cultivating self-awareness and practicing self-alignment. Whether in supervision or therapy, the goal isn’t perfection or performance but presence and integration.


Ready to boost your self-esteem?
Contact H.L. Vargas, Ph.D., LMFT today for a consultation.