Counselling for Low Self-Esteem at Leone Centre - in London and Online

Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem can manifest in many ways and can be a long-term concern or a sudden onset caused by an upsetting event. Low self-esteem counselling helps understand what self-esteem is and how it works.

Developing self-confidence is fundamental to helping overcome relationship issues, dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety and depression. Automatic negative thoughts, beliefs formed early in life and poor self-image are just a few factors contributing to low self-esteem.

Signs of Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem can manifest in numerous ways, impacting an individual’s feelings, behaviours, and interactions. Recognising these signs is a crucial step towards self-understanding. Some common indicators include:

• Persistent self-doubt or questioning one’s abilities.
• Feelings of sadness, shame, or guilt about perceived shortcomings.
• Difficulty accepting compliments, often dismissing or downplaying kind words.
• Focusing on perceived mistakes or flaws while disregarding successes.
• Hesitation to embrace challenges or new experiences due to fear of failure.
• Feeling undeserving of joy, fulfilment, or meaningful relationships.
• Overwhelming sensitivity to feedback or perceived disapproval.

If these experiences resonate, exploring the development of these feelings and considering ways to shift these patterns can be beneficial.

How Low Self-Esteem Intertwines with Mental Wellbeing

When low self-esteem persists, it can significantly impact mental and emotional well-being. It may lead to feelings of isolation, reduced confidence in social situations, and difficulty making decisions. Over time, this can contribute to feelings of worthlessness, heightened anxiety, or even a sense of disconnection.

The connection between self-perception and emotional health is strong. Diminished self-worth can shape interactions with relationships, work, and personal aspirations.

What Is Low Self-Esteem?

Self-esteem is how you consider yourself and your self-worth. Having positive, healthy self-esteem can encourage self-realisation and overall life satisfaction. It can impact your confidence to move forward, be willing to attempt and take risks, and be more equipped to handle daily challenges.

When an individual experiences low self-esteem, they are more likely to struggle with daily conflicts and assertiveness.

Counselling for low self-esteem helps to understand that self-value is not simply how we outwardly treat ourselves but is much more closely related to how we internally feel about ourselves.

Many individuals believe that their opinions of themselves are intrinsic and inherent facts rather than affected and learned perceptions. We understand that because of the multifaceted nature of low self-esteem, it can seem daunting to begin to take stock of it, to overcome and engage with it.

Whilst low self-esteem is not a specific mental health condition, it has a symbiotic relationship with mental health concerns such as depression and social confidence or social anxiety.

Individuals who experience low self-esteem are often over-critical of themselves and pressure themselves to behave, look or perform a certain way. Low self-esteem can hinder individuals from achieving important goals by perpetuating and feeding negative thought cycles.

Automatic negative thoughts often interfere with daily life and manifest as an individual’s inability to perform, socialise, take risks or even accept compliments.

Solid and good self-esteem can be extremely empowering and energising; On the other end, when self-esteem is low, life can feel difficult, and goals are often unrealistic, bringing a sense of anxiety, depression, worthlessness and helplessness. Building self-confidence is a gradual process and a wholly beneficial and encouraging experience; it can be the starting point for building lasting relationships or reconsidering your career and life choices to become who you want to be without fear.

What Causes Low Self-Esteem?

Counselling for low self-esteem helps understand that self-value is a profound dimension to engage with and is often connected with developing years. Traumatic and challenging events in the formative years can impact how you feel about yourself.

Some common factors and experiences connected with self-esteem concerns;

• Abuse, prejudices or discrimination
• Early formed beliefs about self
• Relational challenges at work
• Concerning relationships or divorces
• Chronic stress
• Loneliness
• Social anxiety

At Leone Centre, we work together in sessions to understand where feelings of low self-esteem originate and how they become rooted. As a comprehensive counselling and therapy service, we are fully committed to helping you regain the good quality of life that poor self-confidence and self-esteem have undermined.

Societal and Media Influences

In today’s interconnected world, societal expectations and media representations can significantly amplify feelings of inadequacy. Social media, in particular, frequently presents a curated and unrealistic portrayal of life, leading to comparison and self-doubt. For example, unrealistic beauty standards in advertising and the pressure to present success as depicted on social media can make it challenging to separate self-worth from these external influences.

Therapy provides a space to disentangle these external pressures, helping individuals differentiate between societal expectations and personal values. By raising awareness of these influences, individuals can approach them with greater clarity and understanding.

Building Self-Esteem

Improving self-esteem is a journey of small but meaningful changes. Focusing on understanding and reflection can encourage a more compassionate self-perspective. Here are some practices to support this process:

Reflect on your values and strengths: Consider what truly matters to you. Writing down personal values and appreciated qualities can shift focus towards grounding and authentic aspects of yourself.

Gently challenge negative thoughts: Pay attention to your internal dialogue. When a thought arises that diminishes your sense of worth, question its complete truthfulness and whether it might be an outdated perception.

Focus on self-care: Prioritise activities that nurture your well-being, reinforcing a deeper connection to your inner worth. Examples include engaging in hobbies, spending time in nature, or practising mindfulness. These small acts of care serve as a reminder that you deserve kindness.

Celebrate small steps: Recognise even the smallest moments of progress to shift focus away from perceived shortcomings. For example, acknowledge completing a task or setting and working towards a small goal. These small affirmations can gradually build a more affirming self-view over time. And self-esteem have undermined.

Exploring the Role of Therapy

Therapy provides a safe and supportive environment to explore the roots of low self-esteem. With professional guidance, individuals can understand the origins of these feelings and how they became ingrained in their self-concept. Examining early experiences, life transitions, and personal beliefs can bring clarity and encourage more affirming perspectives.

Therapy is not about eliminating insecurities but rather about cultivating a more balanced view of oneself and the world. Engaging in this process allows for a deeper understanding of self-worth and the development of a greater sense of peace with one’s identity.

Different therapeutic approaches can be helpful in addressing low self-esteem. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns that contribute to low self-esteem. Other therapies, such as psychodynamic therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy, can also be beneficial. Group therapy offers a unique opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges, encouraging a sense of shared experience and support.

Taking the Next Step: Seeking Support

If you are struggling with low self-esteem, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. Therapy can provide personalised guidance and support on your journey to building a stronger sense of self-worth.

Building Self-Confidence with Counselling

As mentioned above, self-esteem is an internal occurrence, whilst self-confidence is an external experience. This does mean that they are not mutually exclusive; individuals can have high self-confidence and perform confidently but still experience low self-esteem, for example.

Self-confidence is situation-based and reflects feelings about abilities, knowledge or skill. Building self-confidence is similar to learning a new skill, as it is an external entity that can be more easily identified. At the same time, self-esteem is an internal reflection of an individual’s sense of self. External achievements or successes cannot improve self-worth and low self-esteem.

At the Leone Centre, we work with you to help develop your self-confidence so that you can move towards your personal goals in the best possible way.

We offer committed professional service and work in a safe and secure environment for our clients to feel comfortable exploring their emotions and emotional and mental health. We can also integrate multiple approaches, including CBT or energy works, to positively change your life.

Building self-confidence can also be vastly beneficial to your relationships. Becoming co-dependent on another person, experiencing difficult feelings or struggling to trust your partner can all be a manifestation of low self-esteem.

If you are experiencing anxiety, social withdrawal, eating disorders, poor self-image or work-related issues or any of the other concerns mentioned, get in touch with one of our qualified counsellors, who will be glad to help. Contact us to begin your journey and to meet the better you!

Choosing a Counsellor

When considering counselling, explore your preferences and what feels most comfortable. Each therapeutic experience is unique and finding a counsellor you connect with can create a sense of ease.

When selecting a counsellor, consider:

1. Does this person seem approachable and aligned with your values?
2. Do they demonstrate an understanding of the challenges you wish to explore?

Taking the time to explore these questions can help you find someone well-suited to your self-discovery journey.

 

FAQs

What are some signs of low self-esteem?

Low self-esteem can show up in various ways. Some common signs include constantly doubting your abilities, feeling ashamed or guilty about perceived shortcomings, struggling to accept compliments, dwelling on mistakes while ignoring successes, avoiding challenges due to fear of failure, feeling undeserving of happiness or meaningful connections, and being overly sensitive to feedback or disapproval.

How can therapy help with low self-esteem?

Therapy offers a safe space to explore the root causes of low self-esteem. It helps you understand where these feelings come from and how they affect your self-perception. By exploring past experiences, life changes, and personal beliefs with a therapist, you can gain clarity and develop a more affirming perspective. It’s important to note that therapy isn’t about erasing insecurities entirely, but rather about developing a more balanced and accepting view of yourself. Finding a therapist who aligns with your values and understands your challenges is important for a successful therapeutic experience.

What are some practical approaches for building self-esteem?

Building self-esteem is a gradual process. Some helpful practices include reflecting on your values and strengths, gently challenging negative thoughts, and focusing on self-care activities that make you feel good. Spend time thinking about what truly matters to you and identify the qualities you appreciate in yourself. When negative thoughts arise, question their validity and consider whether they’re based on outdated perceptions. Prioritise activities that nourish your well-being, such as hobbies, spending time in nature, or practising mindfulness. Remember to celebrate even small achievements to reinforce your sense of accomplishment.