About self-love
On this page you will find therapists who focus on self-love and self-compassion, with searchable profiles that describe approaches, languages and areas of emphasis. Browse the listings below to learn about different styles of care and identify therapists whose focus aligns 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-love 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-love 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-love
Pietro (Pete) Martucci, LPCC
Ref 37848
Calm guidance for stress and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAngela Neary, BACP
Ref 109659
Experienced person-centred counsellor with practical support
Works with: Addictions, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingRoseanne Jackson, LCSW, LCSW-R
Ref 54688
Compassionate, practical help for big life stressors
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingCleo Irish Zorrilla, BACP
Ref 258501
Compassionate, practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingAmanda Parry, BACP
Ref 142169
Therapist using integrative, exploratory approaches
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingApril Lacey, LCPC
Ref 94106
Helping people find steady change and clearer paths
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English
View listingSiyue Zhang, AASW
Ref 243585
Calm, practical therapy focused on real-life change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Mandarin
View listingTiffany Whittington, LMFT
Ref 243569
Compassionate therapist offering practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDr. Wanetta "Nita" Hughes Bise, LPC
Ref 7050
Therapist focused on practical support
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Parenting Languages: English
View listingMary Smith Tyler, LCSW, CSW
Ref 170206
Supportive Georgia licensed social worker
Works with: Relationship, Family, Parenting Languages: English
View listingRose Walsh, LPC
Ref 325810
Practical, empathetic support for emotional recovery
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAnastasia Seale, BACP
Ref 173105
Compassionate integrative counsellor for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Russian
View listingJennifer Hughes, NCPS
Ref 187476
Warm, practical therapy for stress and trauma
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingMalak Alsaidi, LCSW
Ref 203999
Supportive New York LCSW focused on healing
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingAnn Keith, LCSW
Ref 103213
Compassionate, practical therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Grief Languages: English
View listingYumi Lemaster, LCSW
Ref 2633
Skilled, practical therapy for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingPamela DiGangi, LMHC
Ref 26004
Calm, practical therapy for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Parenting Languages: English
View listingSorinthia Varnell, LPC
Ref 314722
Practical support for life changes and identity
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Grief Languages: English
View listingMelody Hatter, LCSW, CSW, LISW
Ref 123632
Practical support for anxiety and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJanet Hardin, LCSW
Ref 55726
Practical, compassionate support for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Bipolar Languages: English
View listingSydney Fisher, LPC
Ref 187550
Compassionate counselor guiding practical growth
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Grief Languages: English
View listingJonathan Wilkes, BACP
Ref 123145
Calm listening with practical skills
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Grief Languages: English
View listingNatalie Benjamin, BACP
Ref 254598
Warm, practical counselling for stress and mood
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJulia Allen, BACP
Ref 193195
Practical support for stress and low mood
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingTeshane Wilson, LCSW
Ref 307908
Support for stress anxiety and family concerns
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingRoselyn Robertson, BACP
Ref 202372
Sensitive, practical counselling for life’s difficult moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingJonetta Wakely, LPC
Ref 124539
Practical, listening-focused counseling for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingCynthia Rumford-Jones, LCSW
Ref 101833
Calm practical therapist focused on progress
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Anger, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingChristine Fleming, NCPS
Ref 227435
Supportive counsellor for stress and grief
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingWendy Mayfield, BACP
Ref 100144
Practical, steady support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingJonathan Stuart, NCPS
Ref 175272
Practical, respectful support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingChris Sergeant, BACP
Ref 104855
Practical support for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingBianca Righetti, BACP
Ref 220095
Practical support for stress, anxiety and life change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingKianni Johnson, LMHC
Ref 279980
Practical therapy for strong emotions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Anger Languages: English
View listingBrittany Elledge, LPCC, LMHC
Ref 11729
Practical, client-centered support for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDawn Nunney, NCPS
Ref 97317
Compassionate person-centred counselling with practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Grief Languages: English
View listingWendi Makus, LPC
Ref 48129
Practical therapy for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingEmma Skoglund, LCSW
Ref 342061
Evidence-based guidance for relationships and trauma
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingBetty Adhokorie, BACP
Ref 118948
Practical support for stress, trauma and life change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingLiisa Hiltunen, PACFA
Ref 317033
Calm practical therapy with coaching focus
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDebbie Griffin, NCPS
Ref 183398
Calm guidance for stress and life change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingKatelyn McCrady, LPC
Ref 345230
Calm, practical counseling for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingLaKeisha Blackwell, LPC
Ref 16819
Supportive counselor for stress and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Anger, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingShannon Mott, LCSW
Ref 108724
Compassionate, practical therapy for life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingJessica Sullivan, BACP
Ref 94142
Compassionate counsellor focused on practical change
Works with: Relationship, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingShawn Alyea, LPC
Ref 14872
Compassionate counselor guiding practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Intimacy-related issues Languages: English
View listingTammy Russell, LMHC
Ref 181426
Compassionate, practical therapy for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJennifer Blaney-Sutton, BACP
Ref 225637
Collaborative psychotherapist for adult challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression Languages: English
View listingMore about self-love
What self-love means and how it shows up in daily life
Defining self-love in practical terms
Self-love is often described as a steady attitude of acceptance, care and respect toward yourself. It is not an unending state of euphoria but rather a set of habits and perspectives that shape how you speak to yourself, how you set boundaries and how you meet your own needs. For some people self-love looks like clearer limits in relationships, and for others it appears as a gentler inner voice when mistakes happen. You may recognize it in small acts - allowing rest when tired, asking for help, or naming and validating your feelings - rather than in grand gestures.
How a lack of self-love can affect everyday functioning
When self-love is diminished you might notice persistent self-criticism, people-pleasing, chronic indecision or avoidance of new challenges for fear of failure. These patterns can shape career decisions, friendships and romantic relationships, and they can make routine stress feel heavier. You may find yourself replaying negative messages from your past, discounting achievements, or feeling unworthy of care. Therapy that focuses on self-love aims to help you recognize these patterns, build alternatives and create practices that support sustainable self-regard.
Signs you might benefit from therapy focused on self-love
Emotional and behavioral signals
If you regularly harshly criticize yourself, compare yourself unfavorably to others, or have difficulty accepting compliments, these are common signals that working on self-love could be helpful. You might notice perfectionism that leads to procrastination, or difficulty taking up space in conversations and at work. Repeated cycles of self-sabotage - where opportunities are undermined by fear or doubt - can also indicate that underlying beliefs about your worth are affecting choices. Therapy provides a space to notice these automatic responses and understand their origins.
Situational signs that point to self-love work
Often life events trigger the decision to focus on self-love. A breakup, a job transition, becoming a parent, or recovering from burnout can reveal a depleted internal resource for care. You may find that when external supports shift, your sense of self is fragile. If you are seeking greater resilience, clearer boundaries, or a kinder inner dialogue, targeted therapeutic work can help you strengthen the habits and beliefs that underpin self-respect.
What to expect in therapy sessions that emphasize self-love
The beginning of the process
Early sessions typically focus on building rapport and mapping your current struggles and strengths. You and your therapist will explore the patterns that undermine self-compassion and identify moments when your inner critic is most active. This phase is often about increasing awareness: noticing how thoughts, feelings and body sensations interact when you are hard on yourself. You can expect to be invited to describe real-life moments rather than only speaking in abstract terms, because concrete examples make it easier to test new responses.
Ongoing work and practical exercises
As therapy continues you will likely practice alternatives to self-critical habits. That work can include developing kinder internal language, experimenting with boundary-setting in a low-stakes context, and learning strategies to soothe intense emotion when it arises. Homework may be suggested to integrate new skills between sessions, such as short reflective exercises, journaling prompts or small behavioral experiments. Progress tends to be gradual and nonlinear, so you will work with your therapist to set goals that are realistic and measurable.
Common therapeutic approaches used to support self-love
Talk-based and cognitive approaches
Therapists who list cognitive-behavioral approaches among their methods often focus on identifying and testing negative self-beliefs. You may learn to notice automatic thoughts that drive self-judgment and practice reframing or questioning those thoughts. Acceptance-based approaches emphasize noticing painful inner experiences without escalating them, which can create more space for self-compassion. Narrative approaches invite you to examine and rewrite the stories you tell about yourself, helping to shift identity from a fixed set of flaws to a more nuanced account of strengths and struggles.
Experiential, somatic and creative approaches
Some therapists who list somatic or body-centered methods among their approaches work with the physical sensations that accompany shame and self-criticism, guiding you to regulate the nervous system and reconnect with bodily signals of safety. Therapists who include mindfulness or compassion-focused exercises offer practices for grounding attention and cultivating a kinder inner voice. Others who list art or expressive therapies among their approaches provide alternative ways to explore identity and self-image through creative processes, which can be especially useful if words feel limiting.
How online therapy works for self-love work and how to choose a therapist
What online therapy is like for this specialty
Online therapy for self-love typically uses video sessions, phone calls or messaging to create an ongoing therapeutic relationship. Many people find the familiarity of being in their own environment makes it easier to bring real-life examples into sessions. When you work online, your therapist can help you translate insights into your home context and practice new behaviors in the same setting where you encounter old patterns. Online care also allows for flexible formats - for example, shorter frequent check-ins or longer in-depth sessions - so you can shape the rhythm of support to match your needs.
Practical tips for choosing the right therapist for self-love
When you review profiles, pay attention to how therapists describe their focus and their language around self-compassion. Look for clinicians who explicitly mention work with self-esteem, inner critic, boundaries or self-compassion as part of their emphasis. Note the therapeutic approaches listed and remember that an approach name is an indicator of style rather than a guarantee of outcomes; some therapists list cognitive, mindfulness, narrative or somatic approaches among their methods. Consider the languages spoken and any cultural competence or population focus that matches your identity or life context. It can also be helpful to read therapist biographies to get a sense of whether their tone and values resonate with you. Trusting your initial impression about whether you can be open with someone matters because the relationship itself is a central part of change.
Questions you might bring to early sessions
In an initial conversation you might ask how the therapist typically structures work on self-compassion, what kinds of homework they suggest, and how they measure progress. You can ask about the balance between insight-oriented discussion and practical skill-building. Some people also find it useful to ask how the therapist supports emotion regulation during intense moments, or how they incorporate cultural context into self-worth work. These questions can help you gauge whether the therapist's approach aligns with your preferences for pace, style and practical focus.
Choosing to focus on self-love is a gradual process that involves both internal shifts and behavioral practices. With reflective work and supportive therapeutic guidance you can develop habits that lead to more consistent self-regard, kinder self-talk and clearer boundaries. Use the listings below to explore profiles, approaches and languages so you can find a therapist whose emphasis matches the kind of growth you hope to achieve.