Self Esteem Therapists in Wilmington, NC

Do you have an idea of how you want your life to be but feel like you just can't get there? Often times, feelings of anxiety, guilt, shame, or low self-esteem keep us stuck in old patterns leading to problems in our lives. My goal is to help you identify your ideal life, the barriers keeping you from that ideal, and the steps we can take to get you there. Understanding parts of yourself and working to develop healthier patterns of thinking can help you make those changes a reality.

Working with children and families has long been a passion of mine, with my current area of focus being college students and young adults. I specialize in the areas of stress and anxiety management, self-esteem, adjusting to life transitions, boundary setting, emotion regulation, depression, repairing family systems and parent-child bonds, and behavioral and academic challenges. I am committed to working alongside you as you uncover your truest, most authentic self. I am a firm believer that connection is at the root of all healing, and am ready to hold space for you and meet you where you are in your healing journey.

I'm passionate about helping people! I enjoy working with individuals who struggle with anxiety, trauma, depression, self-esteem, and life transitions. One of my primary goals is to help my clients learn to embrace their authenticity, explore their challenges, and empower them as they dig deep into areas of their life they have neglected because they are afraid of what they may find. My therapeutic style is warm, genuine, compassionate, and curious. Coming from a multicultural and diverse background, I can offer a safe and compassionate space.

I use hypnotherapy to help individuals make positive changes in their lives. My areas of focus include changing habits and behaviors, anxiety, relaxation, self-esteem and personal growth. Hypnosis is a brief treatment that can offer long-term benefits and can complement other healing modalities. My approach is client-centered and strengths-based, and my passion is working with imagery and the unconscious. I will guide you in connecting deeply with your inner self in order to move towards your authentic path and what is truly important in your life.

Hello and welcome! Typically, I see client's ranging from ages 10-30. I enjoy helping clients work on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, family dynamics, life transitions, suicidal ideation and self-harm. I believe in walking alongside clients while providing a supportive and nonjudgmental space.

Our lives are made up of a variety of experiences, some creating a lasting impact in one way or another. Working collaboratively in therapy can assist in uncovering and focusing on the positive components of our lives, as well as processing events or negative memories that impede our functioning. I specialize in working with young adults who have experienced traumatic events, have difficulty managing anxiety, struggle with self esteem and are dealing with life transitions. I offer Christian counseling, am LGBTQ+ allied, and am a sex-positive therapist, here to help you reach your goals.

I work primarily with individual adults and couples who are experiencing difficulties ranging from major mental illness to situational problems that are interferring with their daily living. My work with clients is designed to determine the most effective approach to assist them in reaching their goals in developing a healthy and satisfying life. I am experienced in working with individuals with mood disorders, anxiety disorders and substance abuse as well as indiviuals who additionally are experiencing a personality disorder. In couple's therapy I address communication patterns that cause roadblocks to the couple's ability to build a healthy and close relationship.

Individuals and couples who come to me are usually feeling frustrated and stuck in a variety of ways, and are unable to see how to move ahead. We begin by working together to find a shared understanding of their difficulties from which we chart a path toward constructive change. My listening with respect and understanding can be helpful in itself. The assistance of a trained eye can reveal patterns of behavior and emotional reactions which are self defeating for my clients. Constructive alternatives to these patterns can then be considered and practiced with my guidance.

Do you have big goals and dreams for your life, but find that self-doubt sneaks in & shrinks them down? Does “I’m not good/attractive/smart/strong enough” sound all too familiar? Maybe these same doubts have crept into your relationships & led to a sense of loneliness & disconnection. We are not born with these doubts. Our life experiences shape the way we see ourselves and the world. If our environments growing up were not able to meet our universal need for safety, love, nurture & belonging, we may find ourselves believing we are lacking in some way, it’s unsafe to trust others, or a myriad of beliefs that keep us feeling stuck.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received my advanced clinical training working with adolescents, children and families at the Yale Child Study Center, a department of Yale University Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut. When addressing issues related to anxiety, depression, AD/HD, parent-child conflict, couple/marital issues, trauma, and/or substance abuse/addictions, I apply a variety of treatment modalities and therapeutic interventions to best address the individual situation.

Are you a human? Great! You can benefit from therapy. Only semi-joking. On a real note, if you are anxious, depressed, stressed, unable to sleep at night, scared, mentally absent, have low self-esteem, experience flashbacks, nightmares/terrors, misuse substances or have a loved one that missuses substances, have difficulty focusing and staying on task and/or have a child that has ADHD, experience anger outbursts and/or abrupt mood changes, carry around childhood wounds from which you have never healed, have difficulty adjusting from a life-changing event, or are riding out the waves of grief, then you are a good fit for therapy.

Alisa Valente, Ph.D. is a Licensed Psychologist with 16 years of experience in outpatient, inpatient, long-term care and forensic settings. Dr. Valente received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and she completed her undergraduate studies at Penn State, University Park Campus. Her current works focuses on individual therapy with adults in an outpatient setting, with both telehealth and in-person sessions available.

Thanks for taking the time to see if I am the right fit before you make the important decision to start therapy! I specialize in working with children, teens, and young adults (up to age 25) on anything and everything related to growth and change. Maybe you need to reflect on your thought process and coping strategies to improve anxiety, depressive symptoms, or struggles with anger. Maybe you need to process past events and negative views to improve self esteem . Maybe you need to talk through personal conflicts to improve your relationships and communication. Maybe you need to explore your needs further with a professional like me!

Have you found yourself struggling with difficult adjustments, finding the strength to move forward after a challenging or traumatic experience, or finding the motivation to keep up with daily tasks? I’m here to help and offer insight and guidance during these times.

At one point or another every person faces difficulties in their life, especially in today’s world. With over 60,000 thoughts a day, most of which are negative, it is hard to combat the emotional distress that builds over time. My specialty is helping you build tools that can assist you in working through those difficulties on an individual level or within a dynamic relationship. I offer a compassionate, supportive and unbiased environment to explore life’s difficulties.

I am passionate about working with all teens through adults struggling with life cycle changes, role obligations, school/work transitions, anxiety, depression, family issues, performance anxiety, communication struggles, emotional regulation, self-esteem, or anger management. If you ever have felt like “adulting” is too much, that life feels unbalanced, or that you are in a perpetual state of exhaustion, we can start by working together to find out what balance looks like for you. I am also a member of, and I am passionate about working with the LGBTQIA+ population and addressing concerns specific to that population.