Find Your Self-Love Here: A Creative Journal to Help Teens Build Confidence and Embrace Who They Are

A creative journal to help you build confidence and embrace your authentic self.

Do you struggle with feelings of self-doubt or low self-worth? Is your inner critic constantly telling you that you aren’t good enough, smart enough, or attractive enough? Do you compare yourself to others on social media or in real life, or feel like you just don’t fit in? Being a teen in today’s world is tough, and if you’re struggling, you should know that you aren’t alone. But what if you had a place to work through these negative thoughts and feelings? This journal can be your safe space to do just that.

Find Your Self-Love Here is full of creative activities to help you move beyond self-criticism, boost your self-confidence, and love yourself for who you are. Grounded in proven-effective treatment methods like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and neuroscience, the practices in this friendly guide will help you quiet your inner critic, balance intense emotions, and work through negative thoughts and feelings--so you can be the best version of yourself possible. You’ll also learn how to express yourself effectively through writing, art, and more.

Self-love is a way of thinking and behaving that stems from knowing that you are a valuable person--we all have value! It means embracing your authentic self and allowing it to glow and grow. Let this journal be your special place to explore what makes you remarkable and unique. Go ahead and make it yours.

A special note for clinicians and other professionals: Journaling exercises are a proven-effective adjunct to talk therapy--helping teens bypass defenses, explore feelings in a non-threatening manner, and develop trust in their own coping skills. This journal marks the second addition to the Instant Help Guided Journals for Teens series, which offer evidence-based therapeutic tools in a format that appeals to teens.

Lisa M. Schab, LCSW, is a practicing psychotherapist in the greater Chicago, IL, area; and author of 20 self-help books, including The Anxiety Workbook for Teens, The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens and the teen guided journals, Put Your Worries Here and Put Your Feelings Here. She has been interviewed as an expert on the Milwaukee television stations WTMJ-TV and WISN-TV, by The New York Times, Scholastic Choices magazine, Teen Vogue, Psych Central, and Kate Shannon’s Creative Therapy Umbrella podcast. Schab has authored regular mental health columns for Chicago Parent Magazine and The Sun Newspapers. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).