A healthy dose of confidence can get you far in life, but where does it come from? We all know those seemingly fearless, unselfconscious individuals who can just handle any situation without even batting an eye…and if you’re wondering where they learned that skill from, join the club. Turns out the way that we are nurtured as children has a lot to do with the confidence we carry throughout the rest of our lives. As a mother of two, and a woman who admittedly has some deficits in the confidence department, I decided it best for me to take my questions to a professional. Read on for the full scoop on how to raise confident kids, according to a mental health expert.

Dr. Bethany Cook, PsyD, MT-BC, is a licensed clinical psychologist and author of For What It’s Worth: A Perspective on How to Thrive and Survive Parenting. She is a highly-sought after therapist and quoted media expert who brings accessible, real-world guidance to families of all socioeconomic and mental health backgrounds, based on over 20 years of clinical experience in the field.

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