Given the messages sent out on a regular basis from our media, it is not surprising that children and teens struggle so often with feelings of low self-worth and self-esteem. Kids today struggle with many forms of unhealthy competition. Our culture tells kids in a variety of ways that they don’t measure up and in one way or another are out of touch with their peers. Loving parents, unknowingly, can often reinforce some of these self-defeating messages. A child counselor or teen counselor at Pathways Psychological Services is trained to listen to the negative messages children are repeating to themselves and help them replace those messages with more productive, positive messages highlighting their unique strengths and talents. When their attitude improves, so do their feelings and behaviors.