Therapy for Self-Esteem and Life Transitions
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. Some may act out by defying authority and even breaking the law.
- 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
- Eating issues
- Codependency
- Self-harm
Treatment for Low Self-Esteem
The good news is that self-esteem is something that can be changed by changing your beliefs, behavior and how you think about yourself. Having said this, most people developed their self-esteem issues in childhood and have been living with low self-esteem for a very long time. For this reason, it is advised that they seek the guidance of a trained therapist.
Having a knowledgeable and supportive therapist in your corner can help you develop a healthier and more realistic sense of self. An arts therapist 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 and positive self expression.
If you suffer from low self-esteem and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out to me.
Life Transitions
Has your life been touched by a major event such as a death, divorce or layoffs at work? Are you having a hard time moving through and past the emotional turmoil? Do you feel completely stuck and like you need guidance getting back on track?
There’s no denying that life often presents us with our fair share of challenges, usually in the form of sudden change. These life transitions, even the positive ones, can throw us into a tailspin and leave us feeling stressed, confused and vulnerable. But with the right tools and mindset, you have the power to not only overcome any adversity but also transform into a more authentic and confident version of yourself.
Change Can be Beneficial
Change, even difficult change that is neither wanted or expected, can influence personal growth. Change gives us the opportunity to see what we’re made of; to become stronger, more confident, and better prepared for what life throws at us next. With each new challenge, we develop new personal skills and obtain a greater awareness of ourselves, our family and our communities.
Some of the most common life transitions we help clients navigate are:
Moving away to college
Adjusting to university life or your first professional job
Getting married
Having a new baby
Parenting
Empty nesting syndrome
Breakup, separation or divorce
Infidelity recovery
Retirement
Job loss or major change in career
Relocation
Financial gain/loss
Serious illness or disability
Issues pertaining to aging
Death of a loved one
Questioning the meaning of life
Questioning your faith/spirituality
Questioning your sexual/gender identity
Is it Time to Speak to Someone?
Sometimes we can handle change and adversity by ourselves and sometimes we need a little help. I’m here to lend that helping hand and offer a warm and encouraging environment where you can speak candidly and receive care, compassion and guidance.
If you or someone you love is struggling with a life transition and would like to explore treatment options, please be in touch. You don’t need to struggle alone.