Self-Esteem & Sense of Self
Become More Fully Yourself
You may look confident and capable from the outside, yet privately question yourself. You worry about disappointing people, compare yourself to others, or find yourself changing depending on who you're around. Sometimes it can be difficult to know what you actually want apart from what others expect of you.
Self-esteem isn't just about learning to think more positively about yourself. It's about developing a stronger sense of who you are—and trusting that person even when someone else may not approve.
When You Lose Yourself Around Others
Many struggles with self-esteem become most visible in relationships. You may people-please, avoid conflict, need reassurance, hide parts of yourself, or put other people's needs ahead of your own.
These patterns often developed for good reasons. At some point, being agreeable, successful, helpful, or emotionally contained may have helped you feel accepted or secure. But over time, those same patterns can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself.
My relational psychodynamic approach helps us understand where these patterns came from and, importantly, how they continue to show up in your life and relationships today.
A Stronger Sense of Self
The goal isn't to become endlessly confident or stop caring what other people think.
It's to become more comfortable being you.
Together, we'll work toward knowing what you feel, recognizing what you need, expressing what matters to you, and staying connected to yourself even in the presence of another person.
Over time, you can become less governed by fear, approval, and expectations—and more able to build a life and relationships that feel genuinely your own.
I provide individual therapy in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood and online throughout Washington. If you'd like to learn more, visit my website or schedule a free 15-minute consultation.