Struggling with self-confidence
🔎 Client Situation: Struggling with Self-Confidence
The client lacks belief in their abilities, second-guesses themselves, or avoids taking action due to fear of failure, judgment, or unworthiness. This can show up in work, relationships, communication, or personal growth.
⚡ Techniques & How to Use Them
1. Strengths Reflection
- How: Guide the client to recall past successes or moments when they felt proud. Reflect on what strengths they used.
- When: To rebuild belief in their natural capabilities.
2. Inner Critic vs. Inner Coach Dialogue
- How: Identify the voice of the inner critic. Then introduce and develop their “inner coach” voice. Let the two have a dialogue.
- When: When negative self-talk is dominant.
3. Affirmation Practice (Personalized)
- How: Help them craft affirmations based on their goals or values. Anchor them in emotional truth and repetition.
- When: To rewire negative self-beliefs and support confidence habits.
4. Confidence Ladder
- How: Break down a big confidence goal into a series of increasingly challenging steps.
- When: When the client is paralyzed by big leaps — this helps create momentum.
5. Future-Self Visualization
- How: Guide the client to visualize their most confident, empowered future self. Ask: “What would they say to you now?”
- When: To embody confidence and create emotional motivation.
6. Values-Based Reframing
- How: Help the client shift focus from “being impressive” to “being in alignment with values.” Ask: “What value are you honoring when you show up confidently?”
- When: When the client ties confidence to external validation.
7. Body & Voice Confidence Practices
- How: Practice posture, eye contact, power posing, or vocal projection in session.
- When: For immediate somatic access to confidence.
8. Visualization of Past Successes
- How: Have the client close their eyes and relive a past moment when they felt strong and successful.
- When: To bring emotional memory and self-trust forward.
9. Reframing Failure
- How: Explore a “failure” story and ask: “What did you learn from this? What strength did it reveal?”
- When: To shift the narrative from shame to growth.
10. Role Modeling Exercise
- How: Ask: “Who do you admire for their confidence? What do they do differently? What can you borrow from their mindset or actions?”
- When: To explore new ways of being.
🔎 Powerful Coaching Questions
- “What evidence do you have that you’re more capable than you believe?”
- “What would change if you trusted yourself just 10% more?”
- “When did you last feel confident? What was different?”
- “What would your future confident self thank you for doing today?”
- “Whose voice is this doubt really — yours, or someone else’s?”
Tip: Confidence doesn’t require perfection — only action with belief. Your role is to help the client remember who they are, what they’ve already overcome, and what they truly value.