Tackling Negative Self-Perceptions Through Self-Esteem Therapy in Watertown, SD
Do you often feel awkward and self-conscious in social settings? Are you constantly comparing yourself to others? 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, on the other hand, often feel shame and self-doubt. They may be highly critical of themselves or believe themselves unworthy of love or praise. At Aspen Counseling Services, we’ve seen many people in this position, which is why we offer self-esteem therapy. Our therapists are here to help clients in Watertown, South Dakota, and surrounding areas build confidence, shift negative self-perceptions, and develop a healthier relationship with themselves. It all starts here!
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 not to 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.
Regardless of how low self-esteem manifests, the results are the same:
- Depression and anxiety
- Lack of joy in life
- Anger, guilt, sadness
- Self-doubt
- A lack of resilience
- Loneliness
- Isolation
- Eating issues
- Codependency
- Self-harm
So how does one put a stop to these unhealthy cycles?
Treatment for Low Self-Esteem
The good news is that self-esteem can be improved by changing your beliefs, behavior, and how you think about yourself. Having said this, most people developed their self-esteem issues in childhood and have been living with low self-esteem for a very long time. For this reason, it is advised that they seek the guidance of a therapist.
Self-esteem therapy is more than just feeling better—it’s about changing how you see yourself, how you talk to yourself, and how you show up in your life. Having a knowledgeable, supportive therapist in your corner can help you develop a healthier and more realistic sense of self. He or she will help you connect the dots, discover where your low self-esteem came from, and provide tools so you can absolve your negative beliefs and critical self-talk and replace them with self-love and self-compassion.
What to Expect With Therapy at Aspen Counseling?
Through self-esteem counseling at our practice, you’ll learn to identify and challenge the inner critic that fuels self-doubt. Our therapists use evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to reframe harmful thought patterns and replace them with realistic, empowering beliefs. CBT is especially effective in helping clients recognize how distorted thinking shapes their image… and how to change it.
At Aspen Counseling, we believe that self-esteem therapy should be both encouraging and actionable. Your therapist will collaborate with you to set goals, track progress, and celebrate personal growth. By the end of your time with us, you’ll have gained practical skills to improve self-talk, establish boundaries, and build confidence in your daily life.
It’s Time to Turn Things Around
If you suffer from low self-esteem and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out. Together with a self-esteem therapist at Aspen Counseling Services in Watertown, SD, you’ll be on your way to building a more empowered future!