ABSTRACT
T he relationship between the development of self-esteem and trauma in early life is an important one for mental health professionals to understand because the way that our clients think and feel about themselves and the relative safety of the world around them has meaningful implications for mental wellness and quality of life. Despite the importance of this relationship, little research has been done to address the question of the origins of self-esteem or the impact that trauma during early life has on its development. However, counseling theories on personality development and what is known about the psychological sequel to trauma may provide a means for mental health professionals to begin to understand the potentially complex dynamic between the two. What follows is an explanation of trauma, including incidence and clinical indicators, as well as theoretical information from object relations and attachment theory traditions, that may provide a useful framework for thinking about the origins of self-esteem and the impact of trauma on its development.
