Welcome back, Thrivers. In this episode of Triggered but Thriving, trauma therapist and Asentriarc founder Sarah Ferland Doherty guides you through one of the most personal and misunderstood aspects of healing: self-esteem.

If you’ve ever struggled to feel “good enough,” had trouble accepting compliments, or felt like your confidence comes and goes with your environment, you’re not alone — and you're not broken. Sarah walks you through how your early attachments, survival strategies, and family dynamics shaped your sense of self, and how to gently start rewriting those narratives.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why self-esteem is a state, not a fixed trait

• How attachment wounds and trauma disrupt identity and confidence

• The difference between external validation and internal self-worth

• How to reframe survival strategies (like people-pleasing or dissociation) into signs of strength

• Why fear of being “cocky” might be blocking your growth

• Simple, compassionate ways to start building your authentic self-esteem — today

Sarah also shares personal stories about healing from body image trauma, relationship betrayal, and what it really means to move from anxious attachment into secure love.

By the end, you'll feel a little less alone, a lot more understood, and more equipped to recognize your own worth — even on the days your inner critic gets loud.

Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to your self-esteem era
01:40 Why trauma disrupts self-esteem
04:15 Attachment theory basics
09:00 Anxious vs. avoidant development
14:30 How trauma blocks self-development
18:20 Projecting parents’ insecurities
22:15 Survival strategies as personality
28:30 Reframing people-pleasing and dissociation
34:05 Building trust in self and others
38:50 Sarah’s story: panic, triggers, and learning to trust again
44:20 Self-esteem is a state, not a trait
49:00 Thermometer check: confidence in real time
52:30 Compliments, energy, and letting it land
56:45 Internal vs. external sources of self-worth
59:20 Catching the inner critic
1:01:15 Final strategies to build authentic self-esteem
1:03:15 Wrap-up and preview of Episode 4

Next episode: Relationship 101 with guest Rachel Oliver RSW (@modernlovetherapist)
We’re diving into healing through relationships, attachment dynamics, and how to show up more securely in love.

Learn more or connect with Sarah at asentriarc.com
Follow along @asentriarc
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