Students’ level of self-esteem can, in and of itself, be a deciding factor in their
learning achievement. I use my background as, formerly, a licensed
psychotherapist to help people identify and address unfounded negative self-
images, which impede higher-level learning.
Some students have a sense of shame around their learning abilities. In many
cases, events of feeling embarrassed among peers have ongoing effects on
self-perceptions of their intellectual abilities. Some people became afraid to try
in school. They have intense anxiety over expectations to learn new material in
front of peers. They fear failure and seek, temporary, emotional security by
shutting down or acting out. Some reason, “I did it wrong because I don’t care
and wasn’t really trying to do it right.”
I work with students on how to control their anxiety and, in so, academically
excel among peers. Each student needs a way of balancing their emotions that
is specific to their individual needs. My techniques reflect a process that
customizes students' needs to control anxiety. If students need services that
exceed the scope of a learning specialist, I refer them to psychotherapists, and
work with such professionals.