The Self-Confidence Workbook for Teens - by Ashley Vigil-Otero & Christopher Willard (Paperback)

About the Book

For teens struggling with self-confidence, this uplifting workbook offers evidence-based mindfulness skills to help young readers trust in their own abilities, communicate assertively, tolerate uncertainty, and handle criticism. Using these skills, readers will also feel more capable in social situations, which will help them succeed in school and out in the world.

Book Synopsis

Gain the confidence you need to succeed--in school, with friends, and in life!

Are you afraid to try new things for fear of failure? Do you second-guess yourself or doubt your abilities? Do you hesitate to speak up in class because you may be wrong, or people might laugh at you? If so, you may have a problem with self-confidence--and you are far from alone. Many teens struggle with low confidence and self-esteem. This workbook can help.

Written by teen mental health experts, The Self-Confidence Workbook for Teens offers powerful mindfulness skills and activities to help you gain confidence in your abilities, be more assertive, and start believing in your own awesomeness! You'll learn how to ease feelings of self-doubt, and quiet that pesky inner critic who says you aren't good enough, smart enough, or attractive enough. Most importantly, you'll find tools to help you cultivate an inner "ally" who always has your back in difficult, stressful, or intimidating situations.

If you're ready to start living with confidence, this workbook will help you believe in you--so you can reach your highest goals!

Review Quotes

"Clear, pragmatic, and lovingly optimistic, Vigil-Otero and Willard offer teens the tools and attitudes to stride confidently through their personal, school, and social lives while being amply buffered against maturation's inevitable challenges. Delivering mindfulness and self-compassion practices geared to the developing mind, this workbook will engage and support teens in countless ways."
--Zindel Segal, PhD, distinguished professor of psychology in mood disorders at the University of Toronto Scarborough--Zindel Segal, PhD

"Modern teens face a world filled with more social pressures than ever before. This clearly written book presents teens with a wealth of helpful guidance for building confidence and dealing with challenging life situations, skillfully drawn from cutting-edge therapy approaches. It then guides them to apply these skills to the common challenges faced by teens everywhere. Highly recommended!"
--Russell Kolts, PhD, professor of psychology at Eastern Washington University, and author of CFT Made Simple and The Compassionate-Mind Guide to Managing Your Anger--Russell Kolts, PhD

"Struggling teens benefit from clear instruction and guidance that promotes action. They also need to hear--over and over again--that their feelings, thoughts, and perceptions are not permanent, but instead are malleable and manageable. This book checks all those boxes: concrete, relatable, and full of steps that teens can use to build a more confident, active, evolving life."
--Lynn Lyons, LICSW, author of The Anxiety Audit; and coauthor of Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents--Lynn Lyons, LICSW

"This caring, compassionate, and well-researched workbook offers teens an invaluable road map to build and rebuild their confidence. This workbook is packed with accessible mindfulness and compassion practices that are of ever-increasing importance in helping youth navigate the challenges and pressures of our current times. With engaging ideas and stories from their own personal and professional lives, as well as clear explanations of the best techniques the field has to offer, Vigil-Otero and Willard write like the warm, humorous, and experienced therapists they are."
--Joan Borysenko, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind--Joan Borysenko, PhD

"This easy-to-understand and easy-to-follow guide for adolescents is a treasure chest of insightful and compassionate ways of understanding why our minds are the way they are, which helps us to reduce feelings of shame and build self-confidence. From mindfulness to assertiveness and positive relationship building, the authors offer invaluable guidance on how to work with our tricky minds and build confidence to pursue goals that are helpful to ourselves and others."
--Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Derby, visiting professor at the University of Queensland, president of The Compassionate Mind Foundation, and author of The Compassionate Mind--Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE

About the Author

Christopher Willard, PsyD, is a psychologist and educational consultant based in Boston, MA, specializing in mindfulness. He has been practicing meditation for twenty years, and leads mindfulness and mental health workshops internationally. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy, and is president of the Mindfulness in Education Network. He has presented at TEDx conferences, and he has been quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, www.mindful.org, and elsewhere. He is author of Child's Mind, Growing Up Mindful, Raising Resilience, and three other books. He teaches at Harvard Medical School.

Ashley Vigil-Otero, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, author, and a program developer at the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM). She has trained at Harvard Medical School and Vanderbilt University, and has taught at the University of South Florida. She practices in Tampa, FL, and has specialized interests in multicultural counseling and compassion-oriented therapy.