Therapy for self-esteem in Encino and Los Angeles, California

IIT’S TIME TO QUIET THAT INNER CRITIC.

If you’re kind to everyone but relentlessly hard on yourself, therapy can help you develop a different inner voice. I offer self-esteem therapy in person in Encino, with online therapy available in Los Angeles and throughout California. We’ll work on perfectionism, people-pleasing, imposter syndrome, shame, and the belief that you’re “not enough,” even when others see you as capable and accomplished.

People often come to self-esteem therapy for:

  • persistent self-doubt

  • A harsh, critical inner voice

  • Overthinking decisions and fear of getting it wrong
    • Self-worth feels tied to achievement, productivity, or others’ approval

  • Difficulty setting boundaries or advocating for their needs.

  • Constant comparison to others and feeling “not enough.”

You’re already stronger than you think you are.

I’m here to help you see that.

How I Approach Self-Esteem in Therapy

My work with self-esteem is strengths-based, and humanistic. Instead of focusing only on what’s “missing” or “wrong,” we also pay attention to:

  • your resilience

  • your values

  • your strengths and lived experiences

  • the parts of you that already know how to cope and care

  • your fullest potential and ability to achieve it

We explore the messages you’ve learned about yourself from family, culture, relationships, trauma, or experiences where you felt unseen or not enough — and we consider whether those messages actually belong to you.

Building Self-Trust

Self-esteem isn’t just about liking yourself — it’s deeply connected to self-trust.

The word confidence comes from the Latin confidentia, from fidere, meaning “to trust.”
So at its core, confidence is about self-trust — trusting your feelings, your judgment, your worth, and your ability to handle what comes your way.

In therapy, we work toward:

  • trusting your feelings and intuition

  • honoring your limits and needs

  • building confidence in your decisions

  • relating to yourself with compassion instead of criticism

As you build self-trust, confidence follows naturally.

Reshaping Self-Talk

We will use Narrative Therapy to look at the stories you’ve learned to tell about yourself — where they came from, how they were reinforced, and whether they truly reflect who you are today. Often, self-esteem is impacted by long-standing narratives such as “I have to be perfect,” “I’m not enough,” or “My worth depends on what I do for others.”

Rather than seeing these as absolute truths, we treat them as stories that formed in certain contexts — in families, relationships, school, culture, or moments when you had to adapt in order to belong or feel safe.

Through this approach, we:

  • identify the messages that have shaped your self-talk

  • notice the impact those stories have on your mood, choices, and relationships

  • separate you from the problem (“I’m struggling with self-criticism,” vs. “I am the problem”)

  • intentionally strengthen alternative narratives based on self-trust, strengths, values, and resilience

Living From Your Values

A key part of our work together involves helping you reconnect with your values — the kind of person you want to be and the life you want to build — even when self-doubt or self-criticism shows up. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we will gently shift the focus from “How do I get rid of these thoughts?” to “How do I want to live, even when these thoughts are present?”

We will explore what truly matters to you, and the small, realistic steps that move you in that direction. Along the way, you’ll learn ways to respond differently to difficult thoughts and feelings — instead of fighting them, avoiding them, or letting them run the show.

Self-esteem isn’t about becoming someone different. It’s about coming home to yourself, learning to trust who you already are, and creating a kinder inner voice.

Therapy for self-esteem can help you…

  • Feel more in confident in yourself and your decisions

  • Find validation and value from within, without needing to solely rely on external validation

  • Acknowledge your strengths

  • Accept yourself unconditionally, as you are.

  • Low self-esteem often shows up as persistent self-doubt, harsh self-criticism, difficulty setting boundaries, or feeling “not good enough” despite evidence to the contrary. You may overthink decisions, fear disappointing others, or tie your self-worth to achievement or approval.

    If your inner dialogue feels more critical than supportive, therapy can help you build a steadier, more compassionate relationship with yourself.

  • You might consider working on your self-esteem if your inner voice is more critical than kind.

    If you frequently second-guess yourself, minimize your strengths, fear disappointing others, or feel like you’re never quite “enough,” it may be more than just insecurity. Even high-achieving, capable people can carry quiet self-doubt beneath the surface.

    Therapy can help you build a more compassionate, steady relationship with yourself — one that isn’t dependent on constant proof or perfection.

  • Self-esteem therapy focuses on understanding where negative self-beliefs developed and how they’re reinforced today.

    We explore early experiences, relational patterns, and internalized messages that shape how you see yourself. From there, we build practical tools — including cognitive reframing, self-compassion practices, and boundary work — to help you respond differently to self-doubt.

    The goal isn’t forced confidence. It’s developing a more grounded, realistic, and resilient sense of self-worth.

  • Yes. Many high-achieving individuals struggle with imposter feelings — the fear of being “found out” or not truly deserving their success.

    In therapy, we work on identifying perfectionistic standards, challenging distorted beliefs, and building internal validation so your confidence isn’t dependent on constant external proof.

  • Often, yes. Low self-esteem can fuel anxiety, overthinking, people-pleasing, and difficulty asserting needs in relationships.

    When you feel secure in your worth, it becomes easier to set boundaries, tolerate conflict, and make decisions aligned with your values rather than fear.

  • The length of therapy varies depending on your goals and the depth of the patterns involved.

    Some clients notice shifts within a few months as they begin practicing new tools. Longer-standing self-worth wounds may take more time and exploration. We’ll move at a pace that feels intentional and manageable.

  • You can reach out through my contact form to schedule a brief consultation.

    We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in and what you’d like to change. If we decide to move forward, we’ll create a personalized plan tailored to your goals. I offer virtual sessions throughout California and in-person appointments in Encino when available.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SELF-ESTEEM THERAPY

You don’t have to stay stuck in self-doubt.