Self-Esteem
Understanding difficulties related to low self-esteem
It is not uncommon to struggle with self-esteem at some points in life, but when this becomes a consistent theme, it can be helpful to explore this further.
Although occasional dips in self-esteem are normal, if low self-esteem persists it can be helpful to explore it in psychological therapy. Therapy can support you in understanding your true value and worth, and in building a life where you feel empowered and able to assert your needs with confidence.
Struggling with self-esteem
Common experiences with low self-esteem include:
- Negative self-belief, thoughts such as: “I’m not good enough, I’m a failure, other people are better than me.”
- Harsh self-criticism
- Comparing yourself negatively to others
- Difficulty accepting compliments
- Sensitivity to criticism
- People pleasing
- Relationship issues
Common causes of low self-esteem
- Challenging early life experiences
- Trauma or major life setbacks
- Social and environmental pressures
- Long-term stress
- Mental health conditions
- Unhealthy thought patterns
What it feels like to experience low self-esteem
- Experiencing strain in relationships
- Avoidance of opportunities (career, social and personal growth)
- Accepting and tolerating being treated poorly
- Chronic stress and emotional exhaustion
How to improve self-esteem
Engaging in therapy to help you make sense of the past and how experiences have contributed to this.
Through psychological therapy and workable strategies, we aim to work together in helping you to develop social acceptance, success and mastery in life, self-acceptance and improve your integrity and living life according to your values.
Therapy assessment to gain understanding
Change starts with understanding and acceptance
It is important to first understand the nature of your difficulties and to accept current strategies may not be working. To strive to drop this struggle, and to focus on what is most important. To find a more positive life direction, and consider your life values, and the person you most want to be.
Therapy is a collaborative and explorative process
This involves a period of assessment and various steps:
- Initial contact discussion to identify areas of difficulty and if these may be appropriate for therapy through CST
- To consider whether CST would be the best fit for you and what you are currently struggling with. The therapeutic relationship is a key factor in positive and helpful therapy
- Assessment phase to evaluate your history and understand specific symptoms and their impact on your life
Once therapy has started, sessions will include:
- To collaboratively set goals and consider a plan for therapy
- To meet for regular sessions and where appropriate, include exercises to do outside of therapy sessions to build skills and strategies
- To regularly check-in and maintain a fully collaborative, safe, supportive and confidential therapeutic alliance throughout the process
- To think about a positive ending to sessions, and work towards a helpful conclusion, though the door is never fully ‘closed,’ and at times follow-up appointments, therapeutic breaks and recommencement of therapy may be indicated