Self-Esteem Counselling Therapy

What is Self-Esteem?

Self-esteem is a word that describes how we feel about ourselves in terms of self-worth and personal value. In other words: how much we like, appreciate, and approve of ourselves. It falls on a spectrum from low to high, and is impacted by a number of factors such as our age, health, genetics, and life experiences.

People with high self-esteem tend to feel valuable, confident, and worthy of self-respect. They have a positive attitude towards themselves and others, assert healthy boundaries, and have loving and respectful relationships.

People with low self-esteem tend to feel inadequate, self-critical, and unworthy of love. They have a negative attitude towards themselves, focus on their weaknesses and faults, and often carry feelings of shame. People with low self-esteem are also hyper-sensitive to signs of rejection and disapproval, and are more likely to tolerate unhealthy and toxic relationships.

Having low-self esteem can have serious drawbacks. The energy spent on negative thinking, self-criticism, and comparing oneself to others takes away from pursuing goals and ambitions. It can also impair work and school productivity, and cause a person to shy away from taking risks that may move them forward in life. Sometimes the feelings of self-doubt are so strong that a person may feel completely overwhelmed with even day-to-day tasks, and it is common for social anxiety and depression to follow suit.

People with low self-esteem often feel inadequate, self critical, and unworthy of love.

Signs of Low Self-Esteem

If you relate to any of the following, you may be struggling with low self-esteem:

• Never feel you are “good enough”
• Believe that you are inferior to others
• Struggle to express your needs
• Always fixate on your weaknesses, perceived flaws, or shortcomings
• Often experience feelings of shame, depression, or anxiety
• Approach life with a negative outlook
• Feel terrified of failure or being “found out” (e.g. imposter syndrome)
• Have trouble accepting compliments or positive feedback
• Find it hard to say “no” and have poor boundaries
• Consistently place others’ needs above your own
• Lack confidence
• Critical of yourself and others

Counselling Therapy for Self-Esteem

Healthy self-esteem is essential for a healthy life. Living with low self-esteem can affect your mood, interfere with your ability to complete responsibilities, and lead to anxiety about others’ perceptions of you. It can make you feel overwhelmed and alone, and contribute to the development of mental health issues.

If you are looking to build or even rebuild your self-worth, therapy can help. A professional counsellor can work with you to identify the sources of your low self-esteem, and create space for you to process difficult experiences of the past. They can also help you identify destructive thinking patterns, connect with your inner strengths, and uncover your more authentic self. You will learn to embrace your unique identity, and foster more self-compassion and self-acceptance.

By repairing the most important relationship in your life – the one with yourself – you can live a happier and more satisfying life.

To learn more about counselling please request a consultation below.