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i am Because I Am: A Self-Esteem Conversation with Breanne Moore

  • Writer: Tami West
    Tami West
  • Sep 24
  • 4 min read

Your Opening Hug

Mandy at our Chamber of Commerce said, “You two need to meet,” and she was right. Breanne walked in with a story about a headboard from her grandparents’ farm—something old carrying something new—and it framed our whole conversation: who we’ve been, who we’re becoming, and the space in between.


What Therapy With Breanne Feels Like

Breanne said she meets people exactly where they are—chaotic Aussie shepherd days and all. That safety shows up quickly: clients often share in 15–20 minutes what they hadn’t told previous therapists. She isn’t trying to “rewrite” your story as much as helping you use your story to make healthy changes in relationships, environment, and habits.


Mic drop: “If I expect my clients to show up as they are, I have to do the same.”


Virtual Care and Licensing

She’s licensed in Tennessee and California. Virtual therapy must follow the client’s location laws, which is why crossing state and country lines gets tricky. If you’re in TN or CA and thought, “I’d love to talk to her,” you can!


The Book: I Am Because I Am

Breanne’s self-esteem workbook flows from a biblical lens: created in the image of God → value and worth are planted from the beginning. That doesn’t mean you can’t use it in public spaces; the themes (worth, value, identity not defined by comments or likes) translate anywhere.One review did it as a family at dinner—conversations became eye-opening. We loved that because “busy” erodes connection, and dinner is a quiet antidote.


Social Media and Teens (and Us)

We chatted about how social media morphed from “just your dorm friends” to the whole world. Exposure isn’t the enemy—foundation is. Teach kids (and ourselves) to process negative comments: it’s just a comment; it doesn’t change your worth.

Language swap for adults, teachers, and parents:

  • Instead of: “They don’t matter; your hair is beautiful.”

  • Try: “That hurt. Let’s process it. What do you know is true about you that a comment can’t touch?”


A Question That Changed Us (Page 59 of her book)

“When you’re with the people you call friends, do you feel more like yourself or less?”We both sat with that. Around some people we’re fully us (hi, each other). Around others, we feel like we’re performing. That question belongs in homerooms, youth groups, and grown-up dinner tables.

The Renewal of Your Mind (Page 26)

Breanne gives a simple framework: Thought → Strategy → Action → Result.Tami’s example: Thought = “I’m overwhelmed.” Strategy = “Plan better.” Action = 10-minute walk + voice-note brain dump + a giant weekly butcher-paper board (Mon–Sat), no work on Sunday (Sabbath), and sticky notes for moveable tasks. Result = relief + crumple-the-note dopamine.

“I love how creative you got with it,” Breanne said. “Sticky notes can move. The visual of crumpling one up is powerful.”

Teachers: How to Use the Book

Even without religious language, you can model the themes: steady worth, calm processing, and intentional community. Try hallway questions like:

  • “Who helps you feel most like yourself?”

  • “What could you say to a hurtful comment that honors your feelings and your value?”

  • “If this friend group makes you shrink, where do you expand?”


Finding Your People

From Big Bang Theory to youth friend groups, we circled the same truth: belonging often means moving toward the spaces where you feel most like you. Switching groups isn’t failure; it’s growth.


What Breanne Hopes for You

“That you feel different. That you experience change. That you realize your value and worth are knitted into your soul and cannot change.”


We Promised We’d Share

  • 🐾 Jo (58 lbs) + Teddy (17-week Aussie) cameo stills


  • 📸 Tami’s weekly planner board (butcher paper + sticky notes)

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About Breanne:

Breanne Moore is a marriage and family therapist, writer, and speaker who helps people navigate the space between who they’ve been and who they’re becoming. With a gift for seeing beauty in the messy middle, she blends professional expertise with a creative lens, inviting conversations that are both thoughtful and relatable. Breanne is passionate about exploring self-esteem, relationships, and the unique stories that shape us, always with a touch of curiosity and heart. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time with her two Australian shepherds, Jo and Teddy, and staying active in her community.


Connect with Breanne:

Instagram: @breannethelmft / @he.is.for.me 

Here is the He is for Me facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/heisformexo 


Connect with us


And, until next time..... Consider Yourself Hugged!!

Michelle & Tami



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About Tami & Michelle:

Michelle Kixmiller, PMHNP

Michelle is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Licensed Educator. She works with children and adults with mental health needs including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder.


Tami West, PhD

Stress and Mental Health Expert Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. Tami has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, school nutrition, corporate sales, and 10 years as a public-school teacher. In 2013 she received her PhD in Human Development, studying the connections among stress, emotions, and identity.


Thanks for joining! **Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:


General Resources

National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org

Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org

Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/

 
 
 

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