Guest Blogger: Counselor Felicia A. Libo Reviews THE UNDERVALUED SELF

It took Elaine Aron 10 years to research and write The Undervalued Self, her most recent book, and it is well worth the wait. She's recognized internationally as one of the leading scientists studying the psychology of love and close relationships.

Aron is a psychologist and the bestselling author of The Highly Sensitive Person (and subsequent books on that subject), which illuminated the lives of many, many people and their children, parents, partners, friends, colleagues and families. I've used her books many times personally and professionally.

Just weeks ago I had pulled out her book, The Highly Sensitive Person in Love (my personal favorite) and wondered if she had written any more books or was going to -- and this one appeared.

She writes in the introduction: "Despite all of our work on improving self-esteem in the past decades, the undervalued self is still with us, tagging along and causing trouble." Research has shown, she says, that "Positive thinking and self-affirmations can make those with low self-esteem feel even worse about themselves."

Aron specializes in social psychology and the study of love and "linking" (our natural tendency to like and support each other) as well as the study of power and "ranking." She integrates her expertise with the highly sensitive person temperament into a book which not only synthesizes 10 years of extensive research, but offers practical steps for improving relationships, communication and the ability to connect with others.

This is a great book for professionals who work in the healing and other professions, as well as for parents, teachers, individuals and others who want to learn more about how to connect better with others as well as heal themselves. I highly recommend this book.

Felicia A. Libo, MA is a freelance journalist specializing in holistic health and healing, and owns a consulting practice specializing in helping people make positive and sustainable changes using the creative process and energy psychology. She has been a licensed counselor in Colorado since 2003. Libo can be reached at www.feliciannlibo.com or at felicia@gratitudeproject.com.