About self esteem
Discover therapists who list self esteem among their specialties and explore profiles to find a fit for your needs. Browse the listings below to compare approaches, credentials, languages, and experience that align with your goals.
What to compare in entries
| Credentials | A US state licence, or membership of a professional body such as BACP or NCPS. They are different kinds of thing; each profile shows what was supplied. |
|---|---|
| Focus | Whether self esteem is listed as a main focus or among the wider list of areas. Entries show both. |
| Way of working | The approaches named on the entry. Two people working with the same concern can describe very different sessions. |
| Time in practice | Years in practice, as supplied. A fact to weigh, not a ranking. |
| Language | The languages sessions can be held in, where that matters to you. |
Common questions
How were these entries chosen?
Everyone listed on this page has self esteem among the areas they told the platform they work with. They are not ranked, rated or endorsed by this directory, and the order is not a recommendation.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can contact a therapist through their entry directly. A GP referral is not required for independent online therapy.
What if the first therapist is not right?
Changing therapist is normal and expected, and can be done at any point. One session is a small sample of how someone works.
Entries for self esteem
Savithri (Savi) Jayaweera, NCPS
Ref 151058
Compassionate counsellor for complex life challenges
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English, Hindi, Sinhala
View listingAngela Teasdale, NCPS
Ref 119622
Supportive counsellor focusing on practical change
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Addictions Languages: English
View listingHillary Gonzalez, LCSW
Ref 214393
Person-centered social worker focused on practical change
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Depression Languages: English
View listingCarmen Chaney, LIMHP
Ref 48397
Therapist blending practical skills and compassion
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Family Languages: English
View listingJoy Nussen, LMFT
Ref 13668
Practical, compassionate therapy for adults
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingEleanor Dillon, NCPS
Ref 236009
Compassionate counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Parenting Languages: English
View listingAngelina Jennings, AASW
Ref 323967
Experienced social worker helping with anxiety and life change
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Career Languages: English
View listingCindy Singh, LCSW
Ref 307805
Practical support for stress and life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingHeidi-Christa Adams, LPC
Ref 355066
Compassionate counselor guiding practical change
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDallas Bentley, ACA
Ref 345691
Practical support for stress and relationships
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingSheira Byrne, BACP, NCPS
Ref 182668
Practical, compassionate support for overwhelming problems
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJoanne Maddison, BACP
Ref 276861
Compassionate counsellor blending insight and practical tools
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Grief Languages: English
View listingJames French, BACP
Ref 203032
Practical support for anxiety and life transitions
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDr. Paula Alvarez, LCSW
Ref 29756
Compassionate clinical social worker with practical tools
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingTomasz Konieczny, BACP, NCPS
Ref 199992
Practical, compassionate online counselling
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Polish
View listingSimon Nelson, BACP
Ref 281876
Calm, straightforward support for everyday challenges
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingMargaret Johnston, LMHC
Ref 62092
Calm listening that helps you move forward
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingClement West, BACP
Ref 167549
Gentle, practical support for everyday challenges
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDavid Potts, LCSW
Ref 23255
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingNicola Claydon, NCPS
Ref 183763
Calm, practical support for complex life issues
Works with: Self esteem, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingPamela Benoit, NCPS, BACP
Ref 180577
Compassionate practical psychotherapy
Works with: Self esteem, Relationship, Career Languages: English
View listingChristina Rodriguez, LPC
Ref 286005
Helping people build calm and stronger self-worth
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingRichard Gordon-Smith , NCPS
Ref 120083
Straightforward, experienced counsellor for complex issues
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingIvy Medow, LPC
Ref 300506
Practical counseling for life transitions
Works with: Self esteem, Family, Career Languages: English
View listingAnnette OBryant, LPC
Ref 77726
Compassionate counselor focused on practical change
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingCaroline Woodford, BACP
Ref 203033
Person-centred counselling with practical tools
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingVictoria Postles, BACP
Ref 164179
Practical, person-led counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Grief Languages: English
View listingDanielle Horn, LMSW
Ref 272733
Focused therapy that digs to the root
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJemma Heath, NCPS
Ref 197911
Support for stress, relationships and confidence
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingWellington Cesar Assis Bueno, BACP
Ref 226813
Healing emotions, building clearer choices
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, LGBT Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingKizzie Wells-Daniels, LPC
Ref 67515
Therapist for stress, parenting, and life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Parenting Languages: English
View listingAllysia Steward, LCSW
Ref 331970
Compassionate skills-based therapy for daily life
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Grief Languages: English
View listingJennifer Blundell, PACFA
Ref 233210
Respectful, practical therapy for stress and trauma
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJanos Bene, BACP
Ref 277642
Calm, practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingRebecca "Becca" Mather, BACP
Ref 236007
Compassionate, practical support for life’s pressures
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingJoanne Rothery, NCPS
Ref 179003
Compassionate counsellor for stress and trauma
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Addictions Languages: English
View listingDr. Heather Clark, LPC
Ref 126027
Calm-focused therapy with practical tools
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJennifer Lee Sylvester, LCSW
Ref 116075
Experienced LCSW offering respectful, practical care
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJessica Hobart, LCSW
Ref 201728
Practical support for stress and life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Grief Languages: English
View listingSara Lowe, LPC
Ref 104527
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Depression Languages: English
View listingTamara Folaron, LCSW
Ref 349708
Compassionate mind-body therapy for everyday challenges
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Anger Languages: English
View listingJulie Peterson, LCSW
Ref 315653
Compassionate, practical support for life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Family Languages: English
View listingMichael Pfisterer, LCSW
Ref 6636
Practical goal-focused therapy
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Parenting Languages: English
View listingFrank Centonze, LPC
Ref 297421
Direct, practical counseling for emotional recovery
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Addictions Languages: English
View listingLauren Anzelone, LCSW
Ref 70436
Supportive LCSW guiding practical change
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Anger Languages: English
View listingSara Deal, BACP
Ref 175917
Person-centred counsellor for everyday struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingJudith Ramsay, BACP
Ref 135275
Counselling that focuses on practical change
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Career Languages: English
View listingAlexandra Matustik, LMFT
Ref 350108
Compassionate therapist for life transitions
Works with: Self esteem, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingMore about self esteem
Understanding self esteem and how it affects daily life
Self esteem is the internal sense of your own value and worth, and it shapes the way you relate to yourself and others. It influences decisions you make, the risks you take, how you respond to criticism, and whether you allow yourself to pursue goals. For some people self esteem is relatively stable and resilient; for others it can feel fragile, fluctuating with circumstances, relationships, work feedback, or comparisons to social media images. You may notice that low self esteem can feed a cycle of self-criticism, avoidance, and missed opportunities, while inflated self esteem may mask underlying insecurity. Understanding where your feelings about yourself come from - including childhood messages, cultural expectations, and recent life events - can help you begin to shift unhelpful patterns.
Because self esteem touches many areas of life, it often shows up through behaviors as well as emotions. You might experience difficulty accepting compliments, trouble setting boundaries, harsh internal dialogue, or a habit of apologizing even when you are not at fault. These patterns can affect relationships, career choices, and your overall sense of wellbeing. Therapy that focuses on self esteem aims to help you identify the beliefs and habits that shape your self-view and to build more consistent, compassionate, and realistic ways of relating to yourself.
Signs you might benefit from therapy for self esteem
If you are wondering whether focused work on self esteem could help, notice the ways your self-view shows up in day-to-day life. You might repeatedly downplay achievements, avoid applying for jobs or opportunities because you expect rejection, or feel paralyzed by perfectionistic standards. Social situations may cause intense self-consciousness, or you may feel that other people's opinions determine your mood. Relationships can reflect self esteem struggles through patterns of people-pleasing, staying in unhealthy dynamics, or becoming overly dependent on reassurance. You might also find yourself ruminating about past mistakes or fearing that others will discover perceived flaws.
Emotional signs can include persistent self-criticism, feelings of shame, or a sense that you are not enough. You may notice difficulty enjoying compliments, or you may compare yourself unfavorably to others in ways that erode motivation. These experiences do not mean something is wrong with you - they are common human responses to complex influences - but they are meaningful signals that targeted therapeutic work could provide practical tools and a supportive space to shift those patterns.
What to expect in self esteem-focused therapy
When you begin therapy focused on self esteem, you can expect a collaborative process where you and your therapist clarify goals and learn concrete skills. Early sessions often involve understanding your history, the messages you received about yourself, important relationships, and situations that trigger negative self-views. From there you and your therapist can identify a few practical goals - for example, reducing self-critical thoughts, practicing self-compassion, or trying new behaviors that reflect your values.
Therapy sessions commonly combine exploration of underlying patterns with active skill-building. You may work on recognizing automatic thoughts and testing them against evidence, rehearsing assertive communication, or experimenting with small behavioral steps that challenge avoidance. Homework between sessions can help you practice new ways of thinking and acting in real life. Progress may feel gradual and sometimes uneven; many people notice small shifts in confidence and self-talk that accumulate into more noticeable changes over weeks and months. Throughout, a key part of the process is learning to treat yourself with more curiosity and kindness rather than harsh judgment.
Common therapeutic approaches for self esteem and how they differ
You will encounter a range of approaches in the profiles of clinicians who work with self esteem. Therapists who list CBT among their approaches often focus on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and replacing them with more balanced alternatives, combined with behavioral experiments to test new beliefs. Therapists who list psychodynamic approaches among their methods may explore how early relationships and recurring internal narratives contributed to current self-perceptions. Practitioners who list humanistic or person-centered approaches among their approaches tend to emphasize acceptance, empathic listening, and building an authentic therapeutic relationship as a way to foster self-worth.
Other clinicians may list compassion-focused or acceptance-based approaches among their work and use strategies to cultivate self-compassion, mindfulness, and willingness to feel difficult emotions without judgment. Therapists who list narrative approaches among their approaches may invite you to re-author the stories you tell about yourself, separating your identity from limiting labels. Some profiles will include trauma-informed language or mention approaches like EMDR among their approaches; in those cases the focus is often on how painful experiences have shaped self-image and on methods to reduce the power of traumatic memories. Each approach offers different tools and emphases, so consider which style resonates with your preferences for insight, structure, or experiential practice.
How online therapy works for self esteem and tips for choosing the right therapist
Online therapy can be a practical way to work on self esteem because it allows you to meet with a clinician from home or another comfortable environment. Sessions commonly take place by video and may also include phone or text-based messaging for between-session support. In an online format you can still engage in reflective conversation, receive guided exercises, and practice behavioral experiments in your everyday setting, then discuss outcomes with your therapist. Many people find that working from their own environment makes it easier to try out new behaviors and notice how they feel in real time.
When choosing a therapist for self esteem work, look beyond titles and focus on fit. Pay attention to how a clinician describes their approach, whether they list self esteem among their specialties, and whether they mention populations or life experiences similar to yours. Consider the languages they offer and any notes about cultural competence or lived experience that matter to you. Think about the style you prefer - whether you want a more directive, skills-based approach or a relational, exploratory process - and read therapist profiles to see which descriptions align with that preference. It can be helpful to look for descriptions of typical session structure, how they measure progress, and whether they assign practice between sessions. Trust how you feel when you read a profile or introductory message; rapport matters for meaningful change.
Practical considerations for online work include testing your internet connection, finding a quiet area where you can speak without interruption, and deciding whether you prefer video or phone sessions. If you need accommodations such as language support or accessibility considerations, note those in your search. While browsing profiles, compare approaches, credentials, languages, and experience to find therapists whose descriptions match what you want to work on. Starting with a clear sense of your priorities - for example, building assertiveness, reducing self-criticism, or improving body image - will help you narrow options and choose a clinician who aligns with your goals.
Working on self esteem is often a process of small experiments and steady practice. With a therapist who matches your needs and a willingness to try new ways of thinking and behaving, you can develop a more balanced view of yourself and more reliable confidence in everyday life.