What You See In The Mirror Worksheet
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Worksheet updated on May 23rd, 2024
Many clients in therapy struggle with low self-esteem. They often do not have a strong sense of identity or are unhappy with who they are. Facing yourself in therapy can be scary, so a therapist needs to be equipped with helpful tools to help their clients boost their self-image and self-esteem.
A poor self-image can contribute to many challenges for a client, including anxiety, depression, difficulty with relationships, and poor coping skills for stress. Boosting self-esteem and helping a client develop a healthy sense of identity can help them recover and feel better about themselves.
About This Worksheet
Exploring the way that clients see themselves can be a helpful exercise when working on building self-esteem. Low self-esteem is based on insecurities, and to boost self-esteem, a client must confront these insecurities and develop a healthier perspective.
The What You See In The Mirror worksheet helps clients illustrate how they see themselves and how the image is based on their insecurities. It can serve as a starting point for understanding and modifying negative self-talk that is contributing to low self-esteem.
This worksheet is great for working with clients who struggle with depression, anxiety, fears of abandonment, body image issues, and more. It can be used with adolescents and adults and may be used with older children at the therapist’s discretion. The therapist may also choose to use this worksheet in individual, group, or family therapy settings.
Instructions
For this worksheet, ask the client to draw a self-portrait, assuring them that their artistic capabilities are not important to completing the exercise. When the client is finished, reflect on the image they created, talking about specific elements in the picture and how they relate to the client’s self-image.
You may consider having the client complete this exercise again after noticing progress in building self-esteem. Compare the two portraits with your client to consider how the client has improved their self-image.
