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.

If you struggle with feelings of self-worth or confidence, therapy can be a place to work on self-esteem.  Self-esteem refers to your beliefs about yourself, how you believe others perceive you, your estimation of your abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.  The combination of these variables can create your overall sense of self-worth.  Self-esteem is not just liking yourself - it also impacts what you feel you deserve, whether you respect your own thoughts, feelings, goals, boundaries, and limits, and it can impact relationships and motivation.

• 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.