Self Esteem

Do you notice a lot of negative self-talk?

Do you experience persistent feelings of inadequacy or inferiority?

Do you have difficulty standing up for yourself or asserting yourself in relationships or social situations?
 
 

What is low self esteem?

Low self-esteem is a common issue that affects many people. It is defined as an overall negative evaluation of oneself, characterised by feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, and self-doubt. Low self-esteem can stem from a variety of causes such as past experiences, negative self-talk, or societal pressure.

People with low self-esteem may have difficulty accepting compliments or positive feedback, setting and achieving personal goals, standing up for themselves, and feeling deserving of love and happiness. This can lead to a cycle of negative thoughts and behaviours that can negatively impact one's mental and emotional well-being. Low self-esteem can also affect one's relationships and ability to function in everyday life. Understanding and addressing low self-esteem is important for improving one's overall well-being and happiness.

How do I know if I have low self esteem?

Low self-esteem can manifest in a variety of ways. Everyone is different and may experience different symptoms depending on the cause of their low self-esteem. However, some common symptoms may include:

• Negative self-talk and negative thoughts about oneself

• Difficulty accepting compliments or positive feedback

• Difficulty setting and achieving personal goals

• Difficulty standing up for oneself or asserting oneself in relationships or social situations

• Avoiding taking risks or trying new things

• Difficulty making and maintaining friendships

• Difficulty trusting others

• Difficulty trusting oneself

• Persistent feelings of inadequacy or inferiority

• Difficulty feeling deserving of happiness or success

• Feeling guilty or ashamed of oneself

• Difficulty feeling worthy of love and acceptance

When should I get professional help or problems with low self-esteem?

It can be helpful to seek professional help if low self-esteem is impacting your daily life and well-being, or if you've been experiencing symptoms for an extended period of time and haven't been able to improve on your own.

Seeking professional help is a sign of strength and a step towards taking care of yourself. A therapist or counsellor can work with you to identify the underlying causes of your low self-esteem, develop a treatment plan, and teach you strategies for improving your self-esteem.

What is the best therapy for low self esteem?

There are a number of effective treatment options for addressing low self-esteem. The best treatment will depend on the individual and the specific causes and symptoms of a person’s low self-esteem. It is important to find a highly qualified and experienced therapist for the best results. It may be that a combination of different approaches may result in the best outcomes.

Some common treatment options include:

• Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT): This type of therapy focuses on identifying and changing negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to low self-esteem. It can help individuals learn new ways of thinking and behaving that can improve their self-esteem and overall well-being.

• Psychodynamic therapy: This type of therapy aims to help individuals understand and address unconscious patterns and experiences that may be contributing to their low self-esteem. It can help them gain insight into their feelings and emotions.

• Compassion focused therapy (CFT): This type of therapy helps individuals to develop self-compassion, which is characterised by self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. It can help individuals to overcome self-criticism and negative self-talk.

• Mindfulness-based therapy: This type of therapy helps individuals to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, without judgment. It can help them to reduce stress and improve their self-esteem.

  
  

My Therapist Online can help you

If you recognise some of the symptoms above, it could be that you are suffering from low self esteem and may benefit from booking an appointment to see one of our therapists.  

Therapist experienced in the treatment of low self esteem at

My Therapist Online

• Casey Bradford - Clinical Psychologist

• Dr Mahdi Ghomi - Consultant Counselling Psychologist

• Dr Christina Theodoridou - Counselling Psychologist

• Dr Kevin Scott - Psychologist

• Dr Annahita Nezami - Chartered Counselling Psychologist

• Dr Katarina Kovakova - Chartered Clinical Psychologist

• Dr Birgit Vote - Counselling Psychologist

• Dr Edina Sütó - Chartered Counselling Psychologist

• Dr Rebecca Shaw - Clinical Psychologist

• Vicky Mcleod - Practitioner Psychologist

• Dr Lee Martin - Clinical Psychologist

• Dr Matina Sotrilli - Counselling Psychologist

• Dr Alexandra Jackson - Chartered Psychologist

• Linda Solbrig - Senior Coaching Psychologist

• Dr Gabriele Cammerata - Clinical Psychologist

• Dr Calin Hopsitar - Clinical Psychologist

• Dr Simone Passos - Clinical Psychologist

• Dr Giulia Schembri - Clinical Psychologist

• Dr Charlotte Cox - Clinical Psychologist

• Dr Wendy Turton - Consultant Chartered Psychologist

• Dianne McCormick - Clinical Psychologist

• Dr Susana Lara - Clinical Psychologist - Anxiety Disorders Specialist

• Dr Naomi Hynd - Clinical Psychologist

• Baanu Baghabani-Irvine - Cognitive Behavioural & Rational Emotive Therapist

• Katherine Burkinshaw - CBT & EMDR Therapist

• Keith Gordon - CBT Therapist

• Stefan Bell - CBT & Schema Therapist

• Lucy Harvey - CBT Therapist - Anxiety Disorders Specialist

• Chloe Formby - CBT & EMDR Therapist

• Sarah Kenny - CBT Therapist

• Clare Blissett - CBT Therapist

• Alex Haeri - CBT Therapist

Recommended Reading for low self esteem problems

• Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself - by Kristin Neff, Ph.D. - This book offers practical techniques for developing self-compassion, which can help individuals overcome self-criticism and negative self-talk.

• Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy - by David D. Burns, M.D. - This book is a classic in the field of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and is designed to help individuals overcome negative thoughts and feelings, such as low self-esteem.

  
  
  
  

• The Self-Esteem Workbook - by Glenn R. Schiraldi - This workbook is specifically designed to help individuals improve their self-esteem. It covers a wide range of topics, including self-talk, perfectionism, and setting boundaries.

• The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt - by Russ Harris

  This book is based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and is designed to help individuals overcome self-doubt and improve their self-confidence.

  
  
  
  

• Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?: The No 1 Sunday Times Bestseller - by Dr Julie Smith

  This is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their life and achieve their full potential. Dr Julie Smith provides insightful advice on how to approach personal and professional development. The author shares her personal experiences and expertise in a down-to-earth manner, making it easy for readers to relate and apply the concepts in their own lives. The book covers a wide range of topics such as effective communication, time management, and stress management, and provides actionable steps for readers to implement positive changes.

We make finding the right therapist easy.

At My Therapist Online, we listen to the problems you are facing and match you with the right therapist for your individual needs. You can meet with them for a free initial consultation to be sure it is a good match before starting your therapy.

We want to make access to the right books easy - so we are an Amazon Associate. We earn a small amount from purchases