Self Esteem Therapists in 93121
Anne Marsham
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
8 Endorsed
Santa Barbara, CA 93121
I practice a type of somatic therapy that helps people increase contact with their physical experience. Too often, we lose contact with our bodies through trauma or social conditioning. By working to develop somatic awareness, we can refine our emotional intelligence and thus our sense of self-agency: If you know what you feel at a gut level, you can be clearer in your discernment, and empowered to ask for and claim what you need in your life.
I practice a type of somatic therapy that helps people increase contact with their physical experience. Too often, we lose contact with our bodies through trauma or social conditioning. By working to develop somatic awareness, we can refine our emotional intelligence and thus our sense of self-agency: If you know what you feel at a gut level, you can be clearer in your discernment, and empowered to ask for and claim what you need in your life.
Self Esteem Therapists
When should a person seek therapy for low self-esteem?
When self-esteem problems begin to disrupt the healthy daily functioning of an individual, it may be a good time to look into therapy. If a person finds that they are not engaging with friends for fear of being judged, not completing work assignments because they don’t think they’re capable, or not finding romantic love because they don’t feel they’re worthy of it, a therapist may be able to help.
What are the signs of low self-esteem?
Low self-esteem is a common issue that can affect a person's mental and emotional well-being. Some common signs of low self-esteem include negative self-talk, perfectionism, social anxiety, difficulty making decisions, an inability to set boundaries, people-pleasing, and others. A lack of belief in oneself or one’s abilities and a feeling of not being worthy or deserving underlie most of these characteristics.
What causes low self-esteem?
Feelings of low self-worth can begin in childhood or adulthood. Being raised by a highly critical parent or growing up feeling constant disapproval can stay with a person well into adulthood. Specific issues in adulthood may also be a cause of low self-esteem. An unhappy relationship, a dysfunctional work or school experience can impact a person’s feelings of self-worth.
How can therapy improve self-esteem?
Therapists can help identify negative thought patterns that keep the client stuck in a loop of destructive self-talk and develop coping skills to change the voice in their head. A therapist can help with goal-setting, so that clients are better able to stay on task and build confidence from successfully completing work they’re proud of. Coaching a client on how to better communicate can improve relationships. These skills can result in someone with low self-esteem feeling empowered and living with less fear.