Self-esteem is the way you think about yourself and the value you place on yourself. When self-esteem is persistently low, it can affect confidence, motivation, relationships, decision-making, and the way you cope with setbacks or criticism.1
At Mind Health, we support people in Parramatta and Sydney who struggle with low self-worth, a harsh inner critic, shame, insecurity, or repeated self-doubt. Treatment focuses on understanding where those patterns come from and building a steadier and more realistic sense of self.
Important: Low self-esteem is not just “thinking negatively.” It can shape choices, relationships, work, and emotional wellbeing in deep ways. Support can help change patterns that have felt fixed for a long time.
Signs & Symptoms
Low self-esteem can affect thoughts, emotions, behaviour, and relationships. Common signs include:1
- frequent self-criticism or talking to yourself in harsh ways
- feeling inferior, inadequate, or not good enough
- dismissing compliments or achievements
- avoiding challenges for fear of failing or being judged
- difficulty setting boundaries or expressing needs
- people-pleasing, over-apologising, or needing repeated reassurance
- feeling ashamed, worthless, or easily crushed by criticism
- repeated relationship or work patterns driven by insecurity
Causes
Low self-esteem often develops over time. Contributing factors may include:1
- bullying, criticism, rejection, or not feeling valued while growing up
- trauma, neglect, or difficult family environments
- social comparison, perfectionism, or repeated experiences of failure
- relationship experiences that reinforced shame or insecurity
- anxiety, depression, or body image concerns
For many people, low self-esteem is maintained by the stories they have learned to believe about themselves, even when those stories are incomplete or inaccurate.
Our Approach to Self-Esteem Support
At Mind Health, support for self-esteem focuses on reducing self-criticism, understanding the origins of the pattern, and building a more grounded sense of worth that does not collapse under pressure or comparison.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT can help identify negative self-beliefs, all-or-nothing thinking, and the behaviours that keep self-doubt going, such as avoidance, over-preparing, or reassurance-seeking.4
Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy can be especially useful when self-esteem difficulties are linked to long-standing shame, defectiveness beliefs, or painful early experiences.5
Supportive Counselling
Counselling can help with self-acceptance, confidence-building, boundaries, and the emotional impact of repeated criticism or relational hurt.
Tips on Improving Self-Esteem
- Notice the inner critic. Many people speak to themselves in ways they would never speak to someone they care about.
- Challenge all-or-nothing thinking. One mistake does not define your worth.
- Practise accepting positives. Dismissing achievements and compliments keeps the old story intact.
- Strengthen boundaries. Self-worth usually improves when your behaviour starts reflecting respect for your own needs.
- Get support if shame is longstanding. Deep patterns of low self-worth often shift more effectively in therapy than through self-help alone.
What to Expect
Your first appointment will usually focus on how low self-esteem shows up in your thinking, relationships, work, and emotional life, and what experiences may have shaped it. We also consider whether anxiety, depression, trauma, or perfectionism are reinforcing the pattern.
Sessions are typically 50 to 60 minutes. Treatment is collaborative and paced. Some people benefit from focused short-term work, while others need longer support where the pattern is older and more entrenched. Telehealth may also be suitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is low self-esteem the same as low confidence?
Not exactly. Confidence usually relates to how capable you feel in a particular area, while self-esteem is the broader value you place on yourself overall.
Can low self-esteem affect relationships and work?
Yes. It can influence boundaries, people-pleasing, perfectionism, reassurance-seeking, and the way you interpret criticism or setbacks.
Can therapy help if I have always been this way?
Yes. Long-standing patterns can still change, especially when treatment addresses the beliefs and experiences that shaped them.
Do I need a referral to get help for self-esteem problems?
You do not need a referral to book privately. If you want to access Medicare rebates, you will usually need a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from an eligible doctor.
Further Reading
Get Started
If you or someone you care about is struggling with self-esteem, our experienced psychologists at Mind Health in Parramatta and Sydney are here to help.
1300 084 200Book AppointmentMake a Referral
References
- Beyond Blue (2024). Self-esteem and mental health. beyondblue.org.au
- Healthdirect Australia (2023). Self-esteem. healthdirect.gov.au
- Fennell, M.J.V. (1997). Low self-esteem: A cognitive perspective. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 25(1), 1–26.
- Kolubinski, D.C., et al. (2018). A systematic review and meta-analysis of CBT interventions for self-esteem. Clinical Psychology Review, 61, 4–12.
- Young, J.E., Klosko, J.S., & Weishaar, M.E. (2003). Schema Therapy: A Practitioner’s Guide. Guilford Press.