Therapy for Self-Esteem
Do you suffer from anxiety or depression? Do you often feel awkward and self-conscious in social settings? Are you constantly comparing yourself to others and finding you never measure up?
Self-esteem is a concept that speaks to how we feel about ourselves. When one has high self-esteem, they feel confident, centered, and worthy of love. People with low self-esteem often feel shame and self-doubt. They often feel critical of themselves and are unworthy of love or praise.
Recognizing Low Self-Esteem
Individuals with low self-esteem typically cope with it using one of the following three models:
Imposter Syndrome – These individuals project false confidence and use their accomplishments to mask their insecurities. We often find perfectionists and procrastinators in this group.
Rebellion – These individuals pretend to not care about what others think of them. Feelings of inferiority may often come across as anger or blame.
Victimhood – In this scenario, low self-esteem causes the person to feel helpless in the face of life’s challenges. They may play the role of the victim and rely on others.
Regardless of how low self-esteem manifests, the results are always the same:
- Depression and anxiety
- Lack of joy in life
- Anger, guilt, sadness
- Self-doubt
- A lack of resilience
- Loneliness
- Isolation
Treatment for Low Self-Esteem
The good news is that self-esteem is something that can be changed! Most people developed their self-esteem issues in childhood and have been living with low self-esteem for a very long time. The recommended treatment is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps you learn to change your beliefs, behavior and how you think about yourself.
Having a knowledgeable and supportive therapist in your corner can help you develop a healthier and more realistic sense of self. He or she will help you connect the dots in your life, discover where your low self-esteem came from, and provide tools so you can absolve your negative beliefs and critical self-talk and replace them with self-love and self-compassion.
If you suffer from low self-esteem and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out to us and schedule a 15-minute free consultation with one of our therapists.