Health & Medicine
Feeling Worthy
“The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to reflect their inner beliefs.” ~James Allen By Allison Masters, LMHC
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ost of us take for granted the small everyday things when we are in healthy relationships that make us feel valued and respected. We bask in the moment of feeling good about ourselves, and the people we love. However, when things are not going well or when we feel we are being treated unfairly our perspective changes. The fact is that most people never think about whether or not he or she feels worthy because we often focus on what is being done to us. For example a woman who stays in a relationship with a man who treats her disrespectfully doesn’t think, “I am unworthy of respect” instead she might be mad at him for being rude and not treating her well. If we questioned her about the relationship and why she chooses to stay we might uncover more information from her such as, “there is not a lot to choose from out there” or “those great love stories are not for people like me.” And there lies the core belief of feeling unworthy. The core belief of feeling unworthy can be harder to identify. It’s like trying to peel back the layers of an onion to get to the center. Concrete feelings like anger, happiness and fear are easier to identify due to the fact that they are usually a result from a direct action. Feeling worthy, on the other hand, weaves itself through other aspects of ourselves such as self-esteem, respect and love. Also feelings of worthiness are often set in childhood experiences when the child might have been told he or she was not enough, not loveable, deserved the punishment or caused some family strife. We often forget these words or do not realize the impact they truly have until adulthood. Core beliefs often act like unseen magnets that attract experiences to validate the belief. For example, the previous mentioned woman that chooses to stay with
the man who mistreats her will most likely find a pattern in all her relationships. If she feels unworthy of respect and love she most likely attracts friends who also treat her poorly, her children might not listen to her and her coworkers might push things off on her because, “she will take it.” The woman never sets out to attract these situations but if her core belief is unworthiness, she unconsciously allows herself to be treated less than she truly deserves. Feeling worthy allows you to put boundaries up around unhealthy relationships, it allows you to say what you want, it allows you to state what you deserve and it allows you to walk away when you are not treated well. Changing the core belief of feeling unworthy requires the use of therapeutic tools, which both challenges the old negative belief while helping you to create a new belief that replaces it. Allison Masters has dedicated her career to helping others discover the core beliefs that hold them back from creating a life filled with love, joy and respect. There is nothing better in this world than realizing you are worthy. Please call 904.797.5680 or 904.612.1655 to make an appointment with Allison today. Allison has a Master’s degree in Psychology from Antioch University, Seattle and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor as well as a Registered Art Therapist. She has been working with children and families in both the home and school settings for over 10 years. She has also provided coaching skills to many adult clients seeking to make gains in his or her career as well as personal life. Her approach to counseling combines the powerful tools of behavioral therapy along with spiritual awareness and sensitivity. She specializes in depression, anxiety, grief, life changes, women issues and family and couple counseling.
ST. AUGUSTINE’S BEST COUNSELORS 2011-2014 April/May 2015
Kathleen Abbott,
Licensed Mental Health Counselor & Clinical Director
“Kate” has a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Florida State University and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She has over 25 years of experience as a therapist and as a business leader. She coaches managers on best practices, is a regular speaker on creative and practical life strategies and believes “transformation begins with a renewing of the mind.” Her clinical expertise is broad with specialties in eating disorders, PTSD, women, couples, teens and faith-based counseling. She is also highly experienced in providing counseling and crisis intervention training to various organizations in our community. A former licensed foster care parent and mother of two daughters, she is able to equip others in managing life’s many changes and challenges.
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John R. “Jack” Jones, Jr,
Licensed Mental Health Counselor & Certified Family Law Mediator
“Jack” has an MBA from Columbia University, a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Florida, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Clinical Hypnotherapist and a Certified Family Law Mediator. A former CPA with over 20 years of international business experience, he now specializes in working with teenage and adult substance abuse, family and couple discord, parental alienation syndrome, trauma, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. Practicing what he calls Cognitive Soul Therapy, dramatic results are sought using both science and spirituality. He is also familiar with the courtroom through his experiences as a Family Law Mediator, Guardian Ad Litem volunteer, licensed foster care parent, and adoptive father.
Lasting Results Through Science & Spirituality an We are now ic Amen Clin Affiliate
Kathleen Abbott, LMHC John “Jack” Jones, LMHC Melody Ott, LCSW Thomas Swisshelm, MEd, EdS Melissa Muller, LMHC Barbara Jenkin, M.A., CAP Megan Kegan, LMHC Allison Masters, LMHC Liggett M. Cato, CECP Liz Villaneuva, RMCHI
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(904) 797-5680
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