Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW-R, QCSW, DCSW

May 14th, 2013

Most people have a sense of self. This is different from self-esteem. Where the latter refers to someone's ability to recognize his intrinsic aspects and, through these, feel positively about himself, the former is often based simply on preconceived notions, without introspection, that tell a person something about who he is. Though the goal should be for sense of self and self-esteem to become synonymous, this is, for most people, a very diffic …
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Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW-R, QCSW, DCSW

May 14th, 2013

What is self-esteem? This elusive term is often bandied about by professionals and laymen alike. "I have no self-esteem," "You need to build your self-esteem," and "My self-esteem took a hit" have become common phrases. Building self-esteem has, in many ways, become the mantra of contemporary society. It is often a concern of parents, educators, mental health and other professionals. Yet, what does it really mean? Many parents view their childre …
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Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW-R, QCSW, DCSW

May 14th, 2013

I have, in the past, defined true self-esteem as a positive feeling about oneself based on intrinsic attributes, similar to the way that we feel about others for whom we have esteem. What are the benefits of having true self-esteem, and what are the consequences of not having a positive sense of self? While there are many mental health issues that can be strongly impacted by low self-esteem, anxiety and depression appear to be the most common. In …
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Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW-R, QCSW, DCSW

May 14th, 2013

I don't believe that anyone can reach the peak of true self-esteem. We all view ourselves externally at least to some extent. The goal is to reduce externally based feelings about ourselves and to increase those intrinsically based. Some people will focus on building self-esteem so as to reduce or eliminate depressive or anxious feelings. Others can continually work toward an increasingly better sense of self. The great irony of self-esteem is th …
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Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW-R, QCSW, DCSW

May 14th, 2013

Most people have a sense of self. This is different from self-esteem. Where the latter refers to someone's ability to recognize his intrinsic aspects and, through these, feel positively about himself, the former is often based simply on preconceived notions, without introspection, that tell a person something about who he is. Though the goal should be for sense of self and self-esteem to become synonymous, this is, for most people, a very diffic …
0 comments

Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW-R, QCSW, DCSW

June 11th, 2018

Dear Therapist: I know this sounds almost cliché but I can’t get my wife to stop spending money. Sounds like a bad joke no? I work hard and make a very nice living but she seems to have no awareness of financial responsibility. Whenever I speak to her she feels bad about it but it doesn’t really stop her. I don’t want to turn this into a huge fight, and she is sensitive to confrontation, but I’m telling you it&rsquo …
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Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW-R, QCSW, DCSW

June 11th, 2018

Dear Therapist: There is a specific issue that I have been holding in for a long time. I understand that it is something that is very serious and needs to be discussed with a therapist. The issue is that it is a very serious thing that I am worried will need to be brought to the attention of the authorities. This is something I don’t want to happen. So, I am stuck, not getting the help that I need. Obviously, I can’t be specific …
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Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW-R, QCSW, DCSW

June 14th, 2018

Dear Therapist: I am a 19-year-old...I have tremendous emotional difficulties: anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive looping, and depression. I also struggle with trauma and an unhealthy childhood. While I was skeptical of therapy, I decided to give it a try. I saw a highly recommended therapist for 8 months and found it to be a disappointing experience.  While it helped me gain clarity about myself and a brilliant understanding of mindfulness, …
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Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW-R, QCSW, DCSW

June 25th, 2018

Dear Therapist: Thank you so much for your insightful column each week. I gain a tremendous amount from your suggestions and advice. I am hoping that you can guide us. We...have a wonderful almost 10-year-old son; he is a fantastic kid, smart, conscientious, studious, well-behaved, bright...The problem is that he likes to eat and has been steadily gaining since 5 years old. First it was 10 pounds, then 20, and now more each passing year. At almos …
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Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW-R, QCSW, DCSW

June 28th, 2018

Dear Therapist: My son is a very sensitive boy and every time I tell him “no” or reprimand him for something, as I would to any of my other children, he always looks deeply hurt. Should I treat him differently than, or the same as, my other children? I feel that in life he will have to deal with “no”s and not everything will go his way and people will tell him off. Am I correct in my judgment?   Response: Your questio …
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