Psychotherapy for low self-esteem in Manhattan (NYC)
What is low self-esteem?
We have low self-esteem when we don't have a good opinion of ourselves, or see ourselves in a negative light. It's made up of the beliefs and feelings you have about yourself, and how you behave with other people. For example,
You believe you don't deserve love or affection.
You put yourself down with negative self-talk.
You think your needs aren't as important as someone else's.
You compare yourself to other people and see yourself as a failure.
You struggle to speak up. Sometimes, you don't think it's worth it.
You apologize a lot, even when you've done nothing wrong.
You let other people talk over you.
You criticize yourself so much, it turns people off.
Are people with low self-esteem depressed?
Some people who struggle with their self-esteem may also have depression, which distorts how we think and how we feel about ourselves. Other people develop low self-esteem due to social anxiety--the more they believe other people are rejecting them, the more they believe it's because they don't have value.
In either case, when people withdraw from social situations they end up reinforcing their negative beliefs.
A lot of people, however, don't have any obvious symptoms of anxiety or depression. They may struggle quietly with low self-esteem for years, and not realize they can get help.
How can therapy help me improve my self-esteem?
You and I start by understanding your thoughts and they make you feel. We'll use different tools to help you challenge those thoughts, so you don't spend so much time beating yourself up.
We'll also focus on your relationships with people, and how when you put yourself down, you make it more likely that people won't see your value either.
By helping you take concrete, piece-by-piece steps to improve your communication, you'll start to feel more secure and confident when you talk to people.
Lastly, we sometimes make mistakes and blow them out of proportion--you find you focus on the negative, and see each slight as a colossal failure. I'll help you practice more self-compassion, so you can accept that sometimes you make mistakes, but they don't need to define you.
Seeing yourself in a more balanced light can let you just be who you are. That way, people will naturally see your value and worth.
If you're in Manhattan (NYC), and are looking to start working on your self-esteem, I'd love to hear from you. Book a free phone consultation with me below.