Low Self-Esteem Counselling
Low self-esteem is about self-worth or self-value and arises automatically based upon your beliefs; it is linked to your thoughts about yourself, your feelings and inevitably, to your behaviour. Self-Esteem counselling helps you to change your beliefs, be more resilient, and productive in your relationships and in your life. A lack of self-esteem is a common issue – but one which can be remedied through self-esteem therapy.
Self-esteem treatment helps you interpret and understand low self-esteem and find practical solutions across a range of situations – for example, by becoming more assertive with friends, family or in the workplace. Self-esteem therapies and treatments like CBT and integrative therapy can often help you to change in a relatively short timeframe, by helping you tackle unhelpful beliefs and coping linked to low self-worth.
Please get in touch and and arrange to talk to one of our specialist self-esteem therapists about counselling for self-esteem in Newcastle /online- Phone 01915805080 or email.
“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.“Thich Nhat Hanh
Table of Contents
Signs of Low Self-Esteem
Self-esteem affects what you choose to do in your life, your feelings, and your overall level of contentment. Suffering with feelings of low self-esteem and poor self-belief often leads to a lack of self-confidence, and feelings of inadequacy, low mood, or frustration. Low self-esteem is connected to your negative feelings of self-worth – often triggering nagging self-doubt or a critical inner voice (disliking ourselves) or negative self-talk which exhausts our reserves and gets in the way of a happier life.
Low Self Esteem Symptoms:
Symptoms do vary but you may identify with some of the following:
- Negative self-concept/self-loathing
- Low self-belief/self-confidence
- Negatively comparing self to others
- Low levels of assertiveness
- Lack of confidence and avoidance of decisions.
- Feelings of guilt or that you are to blame for things that are not your fault
- Negative self-talk
- Being overly-sensitive and easily triggered.
- “Please Others” mentality.
All that you need is deep within you waiting to unfold and reveal itself. All you have to do is be still and take time to seek for what is within and you will surely find it. Eileen Caddy
How can Therapy for Self-Esteem Help?
The reasons for low self-esteem and low confidence are varied – ranging from a sudden traumatic experience which impacts our sense of self, to difficult early experiences at home, at school or in relationship. For example, a highly critical parent or growing up with constant feelings of disapproval, in not treated, can remain with you. Similarly, a dysfunctional school or work situation can affect a persons self-worth.
In the treatment of low self-esteem, CBT techniques developed by Melanie Fennel have been shown to be helpful and have been widely used. These techniques and new developments ref. mean that we are able to supplement CBT with a wider range of integrative therapeutic methods in treatment. Therapy for low self-esteem and self-confidence looks at the causes, how it affects your day-to-day living, and what you seek to change.
Working with one of our self-esteem therapists will enable you to build upon your strengths, helping you to learn and experiment with new ideas and techniques. For example, overcoming negative thinking and self-criticism, and engaging in positive self-talk boosts your self-esteem and self-confidence. This process reframes your negative thoughts and reinforces core self-concept. Other examples may be helping with goal-setting, which enables you to stay on-track and complete tasks – again building self-confidence. Being supported to improve your skills will empower you to feel more confident and positive in your outlook.
Self esteem counselling helps you to:
- Gain insight and understanding about yourself through exploring thoughts, feelings and behaviours associated with low self-worth.
- Learn to effectively manage your moods and behaviour.
- Improve your self-concept and self-belief.
- Learn new skills and techniques if relevant (e.g. assertiveness is often helpful).
Contemplating Self-Esteem
Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Taking the Next Step for Self-Esteem Counselling
At Reflexions Counselling and Psychotherapy, our experienced therapists are committed to helping you to step into the sunshine, free from the shadow of low self-esteem. Taking the next step is straight-forward: If you are struggling with your confidence or self-esteem, contact us and arrange to talk to one of our therapists about low self-esteem counselling in Newcastle – Phone 01915805080 or email.
Or email:counsellor@counselling-newcastle.co.uk
Resources and Self-Help for Self-Esteem
Explore these self-help resources to further support your journey towards improving self-esteem:
- Self-Esteem Worksheet – produced by Reflexions this is a handy, short practical guide to start to build-up your self-esteem.
- Melanie Fennell. Overcoming Low Self-Esteem – A Self-Help Guide (1999, 2016)
- Melanie Fennell. Boost your Confidence: Improving Self-Esteem Step by Step. (2011)
- Psychology Today: Self-Esteem – Articles and practical tips on enhancing self-esteem.
- Mind.org.uk: Self-Esteem – Information and resources for building and maintaining healthy self-esteem.
- Verywell Mind: How to Build Self-Esteem – Step-by-step guidance on improving self-esteem.
- Self Esteem Shop – Online store with books, workbooks, and resources for building self-esteem.
- Moodjuice: Self-Esteem – Self-help resources and worksheets for improving self-esteem.
- , K.A., Smith, P. and Bridge, L. (2023) ‘Low self-esteem: a refined cognitive behavioural model’, Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 51(6), pp. 579–594. doi:10.1017/S1352465823000048
