Some of the most fundamental aspects of a child’s interior life are motivated by three strong drives: the image she has of herself and how she attributes worth to that image (self-esteem); the feeling that they are loved and accepted for who they are; and the feeling that they belong and have a purpose in the context of their families and in society at large. These aspects of being human never go away, of course, though they can be twisted and malformed or repressed altogether in the lives of people who develop personality disorders; however, the degree to which they are experienced in a child’s life, the more likely the child will live a healthy adult life in the future.
Raising children is partly intuitive, but it is also partly proactive. It’s really difficult to just go with the flow and know how to nurture your child’s self-esteem, ability to love and be loved, and his life’s purpose without knowing what you are doing and having some guidance, especially if things have been going off the track. That’s why there is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking the advice and help of a professional therapist in Boca Raton should the need arise. Some time ago, to do so might have connoted a certain stigma, and parents might believe that there must be something really wrong with them or their child if they needed to see a mental health professional such as a counselor or therapist. But that is not true at all. The fact that you would even consider it means that you are concerned, and that is a far healthier attitude than that which is exemplified by a huge number of people in our present culture!
There are specific ways you can help to nurture the self-esteem in your child, and a therapist can work with you or with your whole family in developing ways to do so in a creative way that may people even consider fun. The office of a therapist is more or less a safe place where growth can occur and should be regarded as such both by you and your children. Children also learn how to love most effectively by being loved, and the most practical way you can begin to show love for your child is by giving him attention even when you are tired and don’t feel like it, or even when it might intrude on your favorite nighttime soap opera. This kind of focused attention and action are some of the first steps towards raising happy children.
