Marilyn J. Sorensen, PhD has become and international “expert” for her work on self-esteem, especially her Low Self-Esteem Recovery Program, recognized as a successful guide for those with low self-esteem (LSE). Founder of the Self-Esteem Institute, she has written numerous books on the subject, which have been published in five countries and translated into six languages. She holds a doctorate in clinical/counseling psychology, Western Baptist Seminary. She also holds Masters degrees in counseling and music form University of Nebraska.
An unlikely worldwide success based on the conditions of her early life, Dr. Sorensen’s inner drive to rise above those circumstances propelled her to disprove the doubters and to make a difference in the lives of people worldwide throughout her career. She worked with many, first as a music teacher, then as a therapist, director/owner of a counseling center, and a clinical psychologist. After years of disagreement with the psychology establishment’s evaluation of LSE as a symptom rather than a cause of distress, she gave up her license and became a specialist in self-esteem issues. She has worked individually and in workshop conference settings with hundreds of people. In addition, she has taught her techniques to thousands of counselors and psychologists in seminars in 60 major U.S. cities.
Dr. Sorensen has received many national and international awards and honors for her work.
Her first of many awards came in 1979, when she was named one of the Outstanding Young Women in America while she was working on her third Master’s degree at the University of Nebraska and working as Director of Youth Ministries at First Baptist Church in Lincoln.
In 2014, she was honored to be included in the Bristol, UK Who’s Who for her work on self-esteem, which has spread around the world.
She was named the Top Author of 2016-2017 by the International Association of Top Professionals.
However, one of her greatest rewards came when she received her PhD and received the first-ever standing ovation from the entire student body, faculty, and audience at Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, a nearly all-male school.
Dr. Sorensen grew up with her own low self-esteem. In her early career as a teacher, she saw how her efforts and her philosophy in teaching music and coaching girls’ athletics helped young people feel better about themselves. Understanding low self-esteem issues and developing a successful treatment program to heal herself and to help others became her goal, which led to her first book: Breaking the Chain of Low Self-Esteem, published in 1998.
Dr. Sorensen is currently writing her memoir. She lives in Eugene, Oregon, with her German Shepherd, Jake.