Low Self-Esteem:
Although low self-esteem is not an official mental health diagnosis, many people describe feeling insecure, alongside feels of low self-worth. This can negatively impact their interactions with others or ability to progress in their career or embrace change. It is important in the treatment of low self-esteem that a therapist accurately categorises the problem to ensure that the symptoms of low self-esteem are not better explained through a psychological disorder, such as anxiety or depression. Working with a therapist who has an understanding of different diagnosis is essential when assessing the underlying causes of your low self-esteem.
During your treatment your therapist will assess the components of your low self-esteem and they will work with you to set goals and develop a formulation of the problem. Your therapist will explore the reasons why you have feelings of low self-worth and they will encourage you to monitor your self-criticism. They will collaborate with you to develop a bespoke treatment plan, involving self-compassion, behavioural experimentation and belief modification, to help you hone a more balanced perspective. Relapse maintenance will form an important aspect of your treatment, to help maintain the gains you have achieved during therapy.
What to look out for:
Longstanding feelings of low self-worth.
Chronic self-criticism.
Difficulties saying no and being assertive.
Putting others needs before your own.
Urge to isolate and withdraw from others.
Feeling lesser than others or not good enough.
Treatment FOCUS
Type: CBT
Sessions: 12+
Length: 50 mins
Treatment Focus:
Assessment
Goal Setting
Formulation
Self-awareness
Anxious Predictions
Self-Compassion
Self-Acceptance
Belief modification
Behavioural Experiments
Relapse Prevention
Links
NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/raising-low-self-esteem/
Mind.org
