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
Pietro (Pete) Martucci, LPCC
Ref 37848
Calm guidance for stress and life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, LGBT Languages: English
View listingAngela Neary, BACP
Ref 109659
Experienced person-centred counsellor with practical support
Works with: Self esteem, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingRoseanne Jackson, LCSW, LCSW-R
Ref 54688
Compassionate, practical help for big life stressors
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingCleo Irish Zorrilla, BACP
Ref 258501
Compassionate, practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAmanda Parry, BACP
Ref 142169
Therapist using integrative, exploratory approaches
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingApril Lacey, LCPC
Ref 94106
Helping people find steady change and clearer paths
Works with: Self esteem, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingMark Dexter, BACP
Ref 188313
Practical therapy for mood and life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, LGBT Languages: English
View listingSiyue Zhang, AASW
Ref 243585
Calm, practical therapy focused on real-life change
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English, Mandarin
View listingTheresa Huggins, LPC
Ref 219114
Therapist focused on practical emotional tools
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingTiffany Whittington, LMFT
Ref 243569
Compassionate therapist offering practical tools
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Addictions Languages: English
View listingDr. Wanetta "Nita" Hughes Bise, LPC
Ref 7050
Therapist focused on practical support
Works with: Self esteem, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingMary Smith Tyler, LCSW, CSW
Ref 170206
Supportive Georgia licensed social worker
Works with: Self esteem, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingRose Walsh, LPC
Ref 325810
Practical, empathetic support for emotional recovery
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingAnastasia Seale, BACP
Ref 173105
Compassionate integrative counsellor for everyday struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English, Russian
View listingJennifer Hughes, NCPS
Ref 187476
Warm, practical therapy for stress and trauma
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Addictions Languages: English
View listingMalak Alsaidi, LCSW
Ref 203999
Supportive New York LCSW focused on healing
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAnn Keith, LCSW
Ref 103213
Compassionate, practical therapy for life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingRebecca Gilmour, BACP
Ref 279125
Flexible pluralistic counsellor for everyday struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Addictions Languages: English
View listingYumi Lemaster, LCSW
Ref 2633
Skilled, practical therapy for real-life struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingPamela DiGangi, LMHC
Ref 26004
Calm, practical therapy for real-life struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Family Languages: English
View listingWilliam Signey, BACP
Ref 113870
Practical, person-focused counselling for life challenges
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingSorinthia Varnell, LPC
Ref 314722
Practical support for life changes and identity
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Family Languages: English
View listingMelody Hatter, LCSW, CSW, LISW
Ref 123632
Practical support for anxiety and life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingJanet Hardin, LCSW
Ref 55726
Practical, compassionate support for life challenges
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Bipolar Languages: English
View listingSimran Nandhra, BACP
Ref 160587
Compassionate, person-focused counselling
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingSydney Fisher, LPC
Ref 187550
Compassionate counselor guiding practical growth
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Addictions Languages: English
View listingThomas Dukes, LMHC
Ref 44134
Experienced counselor with practical focus
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Addictions Languages: English
View listingMarni Tartack, LCSW
Ref 303765
Strength through practical steps
Works with: Self esteem, Grief, Depression Languages: English
View listingJonathan Wilkes, BACP
Ref 123145
Calm listening with practical skills
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Family Languages: English
View listingNatalie Benjamin, BACP
Ref 254598
Warm, practical counselling for stress and mood
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Grief Languages: English
View listingLaMeshia Lipscomb, LPC
Ref 106169
Warm, practical counseling focused on goals
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Addictions Languages: English
View listingJulia Allen, BACP
Ref 193195
Practical support for stress and low mood
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingTeshane Wilson, LCSW
Ref 307908
Support for stress anxiety and family concerns
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Family Languages: English
View listingRoselyn Robertson, BACP
Ref 202372
Sensitive, practical counselling for life’s difficult moments
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingJonetta Wakely, LPC
Ref 124539
Practical, listening-focused counseling for life challenges
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingCynthia Rumford-Jones, LCSW
Ref 101833
Calm practical therapist focused on progress
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Anger Languages: English
View listingChristine Fleming, NCPS
Ref 227435
Supportive counsellor for stress and grief
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Grief Languages: English
View listingWendy Mayfield, BACP
Ref 100144
Practical, steady support for everyday struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingAmie Schuman, LCSW, CSW
Ref 287342
Practical support for stress and life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Eating Languages: English
View listingJonathan Stuart, NCPS
Ref 175272
Practical, respectful support for everyday struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Career Languages: English
View listingChris Sergeant, BACP
Ref 104855
Practical support for stress and relationships
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingBianca Righetti, BACP
Ref 220095
Practical support for stress, anxiety and life change
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingKianni Johnson, LMHC
Ref 279980
Practical therapy for strong emotions
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingBrittany Elledge, LPCC, LMHC
Ref 11729
Practical, client-centered support for life changes
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDawn Nunney, NCPS
Ref 97317
Compassionate person-centred counselling with practical tools
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingWendi Makus, LPC
Ref 48129
Practical therapy for stress and relationships
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Relationship Languages: English
View listingJoseph Setchel, LMHC, LCMHC
Ref 58744
Practical, collaborative counseling for everyday struggles
Works with: Self esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Depression Languages: English
View listingEmma Skoglund, LCSW
Ref 342061
Evidence-based guidance for relationships and trauma
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.