Self-Esteem

The term self-esteem refers to our overall subjective emotional evaluation of our own worth – in other words, it’s your attitude towards yourself. Self-esteem begins to take shape in childhood and can be influenced by many factors, including early experiences at home or school, familial relationships, the media, your age and role in society and how people react to you. It is totally normal for your self-esteem to fluctuate – for example feeling down about yourself once in awhile. However, most individuals develop a baseline self-esteem that remains fairly constant over the course of their lifetimes. If you are struggling with low self-esteem, you likely spend significant time criticizing yourself and you may experience frequent feelings of shame and self-doubt. The good news is that, with work, you can change your baseline self-esteem. Therapy for self-esteem issues can help you work toward feeling confident, valuable, and worthy of respect. Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s self-esteem experts today.

Need help finding the right therapist?
Find Your Match

Meet the specialists

 

I help people develop confidence and positive self esteem so they can be successful at work, at home and in the Social world.

— Suzanne McColl, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Branford, CT

Low self-esteem is often a by-product of other things that happen in life, whether that be an unhappy marriage, struggles around depression and anxiety, or other internalized expectations placed on us by family, work, and society. I have experience helping my clients regain their self-esteem and learning to love who they are through self-exploration as well as gaining skills to navigate their current struggles and overall pressures of life.

— Michelle Hawksworth, Marriage & Family Therapist in Warner Robins, GA
 

I wish I could change this to "self-compassion". Every challenge we experience, I would argue, can come right back to how we were taught to feel about ourselves in childhood. Attachment wounds, trauma, mental illness etc. all have deep seeded roots in our sense of self. True healing comes from learning to love the parts of yourself that you've been taught to exile. Phrases like "inner child", "reparenting", "shadow work", all fall under this category. This is the deepest work you will do!

— Jordan Wolfe, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Portland, OR

So many of us live in a constant state of disconnection. Disconnection from ourselves, from those around us, disconnection from our joy. So many of us are carrying around stories that were passed down to us from our families of origin, society, friends, and social media, all of which can overshadow how we feel about ourselves and the value we believe we hold. These old beliefs limit our ability to recognize our worthiness.

— Mallory Kroll, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Concord, MA
 

We live in a society that consistently sets us up to compare ourselves to those around us. This can have such a negative impact on our self-esteem. It is so valuable to give yourself the care and compassion you deserve in order to cherish the most authentic version of yourself. This includes considering all of the different parts of yourself, even the ones you may not want to shine a light on, and love these parts just as they are and the purpose they serve.

— Lindsay Davis, Associate Professional Counselor in , GA

I have worked with many individuals boosting their self-esteem, working on building more healthy relationships etc.

— Robyn Veazie, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in great barrington, MA
 

You feel like a mess, full of insecurities and indecision.  It’s even hard for you to take a compliment.  The voice in your head is your worst critic.  You know it’s time to do something about your low self esteem. I use a combination of exploring the root causes of your low self esteem and practical strategies to employ immediately so you can strengthen your self-confidence/  self-esteem, and begin developing the life you are capable of having and deserve.

— Jon Waller, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Whether its racial, cultural, gender, sexual orientation, or even work/career - you might be feeling overwhelmed with trying to figure yourself out. I can help you make better sense of yourself, develop deep self-compassion, and move through identity integration. Let’s get into some radical self-love practices and celebrate who you are!

— Jackie Jacobo, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor in San Diego, CA
 

So many of us live in a constant state of disconnection. Disconnection from ourselves, from those around us, disconnection from our joy. So many of us are carrying around stories that were passed down to us from our families of origin, society, friends, and social media, all of which can overshadow how we feel about ourselves and the value we believe we hold. These old beliefs limit our ability to recognize our worthiness.

— Mallory Kroll, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Concord, MA

I take a focus with almost all of my clients, to help them to develop a more positive self-image and self-acceptance. Low self-esteem often can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms. By addressing the way we view ourselves we can change the way we view the world. Self-compassion and positive talk has been a integral and transformative part of the work I have done over the past 5 years.

— Nicole Benedict, Creative Art Therapist in Rochester, NY
 

One of the most fulfilling aspects of helping people in my practice is restoring a positive self image, self worth, and discovering inherent strengths. I like to use cognitive restructuring but also mindfulness visualization to build up an ideal version of oneself.

— Michael Nolan, Therapist in New York, NY

Self-esteem and self-confidence issues are very common, though many suffer silently alone. I used to be like this. I wish I had sought counseling much earlier in life. My passion today is helping people feel comfortable and understand why they feel this way. I know how to help people transform their lives so that they can feel confident and live the lives they truly want to live. Feel free to set up a complimentary session on my website and let's discuss how I can help you.

— Timothy Long, Psychotherapist in Boulder, CO
 

Addressing self-esteem issues is vital in helping people reach their goals. Low self-esteem may result in difficulty in relationships and work. You can easily become discouraged and take things personally. Talk-therapy is just one proven way to help with those who suffer from low-self esteem. I will explore with you ways to strengthen your sense of self by helping you discover your values and other changes you can make to help you feel more empowered.

— Karen Maloney, Licensed Professional Counselor in Portland, OR

I focus on fostering a supportive environment where clients can explore and enhance their self-esteem. Using various techniques, we work together to identify / challenge negative self-perceptions and beliefs, cultivate self-compassion, and recognize personal strengths. I also guide clients to exploring potential roots to low self-esteem and help them find ways of healing past wounds.

— Janet Park, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Los Angeles, CA
 

Self-esteem or self-worth lies at the very core of our being. We often develop our sense of self through relationships with others and early life experiences. Understanding how and why we believe things about ourselves can free us up to adopt new beliefs - such as worthiness, okay-ness, and even self-compassion.

— Katie Webb, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in Austin, TX

I specialize in helping individuals improve their self-esteem and develop a stronger sense of self-worth. If you’re struggling with feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, or negative self-image, I provide a safe and supportive space to explore these challenges. My goal is to help you develop a positive, empowered sense of self that allows you to navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience and self-assurance.

— Melissa Knapp-Green, Psychologist in Milford, MI
 

I understand how low self-esteem can impact many areas of life, from relationships to career and personal growth. Together, we’ll work on building a stronger sense of self, embracing your unique strengths, and challenging the negative beliefs that hold you back. Using supportive tools from mindfulness and acceptance practices, I’ll help you develop confidence and resilience to approach life’s challenges with greater self-assurance and compassion.

— Annastasia Ramig, Therapist in New York Mills, MN

I help people understand the difference between self and Self, as well as self-as-context through an Acceptance and Commitment Therapist Lens. We will work together to untangle negative influences on your self esteem and try to understand how having a low self esteem is serving you, if at all. If you have low self esteem, I hope to empower you in taking committed action to work towards a more realistic, flexible, and optimistic view of yourself.

— Jasper Mather, Marriage & Family Therapist in San Francisco, CA