Low self-esteem can affect the way you see yourself, the relationships you have with others and the choices you make. You may find yourself questioning your worth, comparing yourself to other people or feeling as though you're never quite good enough. 

You might be very hard on yourself, focus on the things you think you've done wrong or find it difficult to recognise your own strengths. Maybe you worry a lot about what other people think of you, struggle to accept compliments or need reassurance but then feel uncomfortable asking for it. You may find yourself saying yes when you really want to say no, putting other people's needs before your own or avoiding things because you're frightened of getting them wrong.
 

Sometimes the way we see ourselves has been shaped by experiences we've had throughout our lives. Criticism, bullying, difficult relationships, rejection or feeling that we had to behave or be a certain way to be accepted can all influence the beliefs we develop about ourselves. Over time, those beliefs can become so familiar that we don't always question whether they are actually true.
 

As an integrative counsellor with a Person-Centred foundation, I offer a warm and non-judgemental space where we can gently explore how you see yourself and where some of those beliefs may have come from. I'm not there to tell you that you should feel more confident or give you a list of things you need to change about yourself.
 

Together, we might notice the way you speak to yourself, the expectations you place on yourself or patterns that show up in your relationships. We can explore what happens when you put your own needs first, set a boundary or allow yourself to take up space without feeling that you need to apologise for it.
 

Counselling isn't about turning you into a more confident version of somebody else. It's about giving you the space to understand yourself more deeply and perhaps begin to question some of the beliefs you've carried about yourself for a long time.
 

You don't need to become a different person to be worthy of kindness, acceptance or understanding. You can bring the self-doubt, the uncertainty and the parts of yourself you find difficult to accept too. There is room for all of you.