How Outpatient Programs Rebuild Self-Esteem

When struggling with mental health, one of the first affected areas is our self-esteem.

When our self-esteem is low, it may affect how we view ourselves, the world and others. As a result, we may find it more difficult to handle the challenges and setbacks that life throws at us.

Getting our self-esteem back on track is sometimes easier said than done. Fortunately, outpatient programs provide an effective avenue for rebuilding self-esteem.

Understanding Outpatient Programs

Outpatient programs refer to any type of mental health treatment where the patient commutes (or telecommutes) to their sessions and returns home afterward. This is in contrast to inpatient programs, where patients reside in a behavioral health center during treatment.

Outpatient programs typically take place in a behavioral health center, doctor’s office or hospital. Some outpatient programs also offer virtual sessions for their patients. Sessions occur anywhere between 3-5 times per week depending on the intensity of the program.

Outpatient programs treat a wide range of mental and behavioral health issues and employ different therapeutic techniques to achieve the desired results. Each patient’s treatment is adapted to their unique goals and needs, making them a great option for someone struggling with self-esteem issues.

Benefits of Outpatient Programs

Outpatient programs offer many benefits to those who decide to partake in one. Benefits of outpatient programs may include:

• Flexibility: Outpatient programs enable patients to seamlessly fit therapeutic sessions into their schedules without having to take prolonged leaves from other responsibilities (such as work and school). Given this, outpatient programs let patients retain a sense of normalcy during their lives while still gaining the tools they need to improve their self-esteem.
• Support system: Outpatient programs also enable patients to build support systems. Mental health professionals may assign group therapy or other support groups, which can be incredibly beneficial in rebuilding self-esteem.
• Personalized treatment: Outpatient programs enable therapists to tailor treatment plans to the individual’s specific needs, ensuring that they receive the most effective care. For example, Branches Midtown’s outpatient treatment is based on the patient’s assessment results.

Common Outpatient Program Techniques for Self-Esteem

During an outpatient program, different techniques may be used to help patients rebuild and improve self-esteem.  Some common techniques include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a popular technique that focuses on identifying, addressing and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. CBT bases its treatment on the premise that our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are interconnected. As a result, how we process our thoughts can lead to improvements in behaviors and emotions.

This is especially beneficial to people struggling with low self-esteem and confidence. Low self-esteem generally generated from negative thoughts and self-perceptions. CBT can help people develop healthy coping mechanisms to better deal with these negative thoughts, which can lead to improvements in confidence.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is another type of therapy that is based on the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It’s primary goal is twofold: to help people accept their reality while also challenging their situation by learning new helpful behaviors.

Those struggling with low self-esteem and confidence may do so partially because of environmental factors. In DBT, they can learn how to better accept and process these factors while also actively working toward improving their situation with constructive behaviors.

Group Therapy

Group therapy can also help people struggling with low self-esteem, as it provides a safe and supportive environment for people to share their thoughts and feelings.

Sometimes, a person may struggle with low self-esteem as a result of their mental illness. They may believe that their condition makes them somehow ‘unworthy’ or not ‘good enough’. Group therapy challenges these notions by enabling patients to learn from others’ experiences and receive encouragement and support.

This can help them realize that they are not alone, which can boost their self-esteem and foster a sense of community.

Here to Help

Branches Midtown is here to help. We are an outpatient-only behavioral health center located in the Midtown Forth Worth area treating adults and older adults. We provide IOPs, PHPs and a dedicated outpatient program for first responders called the Honor Strong First Responder Program.

Give us a call at 682-235-3132 to get started on your journey to improved mental well-being today.

If you think you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 or get to the nearest emergency room.