Online Self Esteem therapists in Porthcawl, Wales Wales, United Kingdom UK

Low self-esteem can act like a quiet inner critic that holds you back. We will work on challenging those negative beliefs and replacing them with a more realistic, compassionate, and empowered view of yourself  

Self-esteem issues are often deeply rooted in past experiences, such as childhood criticism, trauma, abuse, or negative social comparisons. We begin by exploring the origins of these beliefs, identifying patterns of negative self-talk, and understanding how they developed. This can involve discussing early relationships, family dynamics, or significant life events that shaped the client’s view of themselves. A major component of self-esteem work is fostering self-compassion and self-acceptance. Often, clients with low self-esteem are overly self-critical and harsh. I guide them through exercises that help shift their internal dialogue toward kindness and empathy, much like they would offer to a close friend. Techniques like mindfulness or compassion-focused therapy help develop this skill.  

I am a Psycho-Spiritual Counsellor offering bespoke services using a combination of holistic and complementary intervention to help promote your sense of Self as an individual being. I work with your beliefs and mindsets, and the perception of your worth.  

Self-Esteem or self worth is one of the most targeted issues for humans beings, unless they live in truly natural communities. We are all growing up in neurotic and untrue conditioning on how we should be, rather than supporting each other in how we are. The uniqueness of each person get sacrificed for silly idealism and children are being hindered to develop naturally. So far so bad. The good news is: your true worthiness, your self-esteem was never really destroyed. IT IS INSIDE. It simply takes taking away the lies and illusions on 'how I should be' and become how you are. I can help with that! it is much simpler than it sounds but it may not be always easy.  

How do you begin to feel good enough about yourself? With the help of psychotherapy there is a route to feel better. I would like to meet with you to see what can be done to help you. This will enable us to get to know each other and see if we can work together. It’s important for you to work with someone you trust and feel safe with.  

True self-esteem comes from the realisation that you are already whole. We dissolve the external masks and the pathologising voices, allowing you to feel and experience your intrinsic value. We empower you to explore your inner world and find the power and Love you seek already within you.  

Low self-esteem often involves more than simply lacking confidence. It can affect relationships, decision-making, boundaries, self-expression, and the way you speak to yourself. Together, we can explore the experiences and beliefs that may have shaped your self-worth, develop greater self-understanding, and work towards a more compassionate and balanced relationship with yourself.  

How we value ourselves can affect our self esteem. If we feel negative and critical about ourselves and our abilities then we will experience low self esteem. Low self esteem can affect how we fit in the world, how we feel with family, friends and relationships and how this impacts on us. It could spring from our childhood or adult experiences, school and friendship influences or our partners. We can sometimes feel inadequate or be made to feel inadequate by those around us and even by social media and current socio-environmental expectations. Working with a counsellor enables you to explore where some of these influences have stemmed from. Acknowledging, accepting and moving through these feelings and looking at changing the negative inner voice, can help build your confidence and self esteem.  

We all relate to ourselves in varied and sometimes fluctuating ways - sometimes critically and harshly, other times in more gente and forgiving ways. This relationship is influenced by past and current experiences and what we have 'taken in' from those (especially with caregivers and other important people in our lives). A punitive, demeaning stance to one's own self, which has been there for a long time and is hard to shift, is what brings many people to therapy. Both because of the suffering it inflicts internally, as well as the impact it has on the way a person relates to the external world. If this is something you struggle with and would like to explore the option of psychotherapy to address this, please get in touch.  

This is one of the main areas where people come to work with me. Often, they know they feel unhappy and even feel lost. It could be that things have not been great in your life and you are surprised by how quickly and utterly this has knocked you down. Working on self esteem and finding that deep appreciation and concern for who you actually are, can transform your life. I would love to be part of this journey with you, so please get in touch.  

In modern life, we often feel that self-esteem is something that comes from our achievements, successes and how we are perceived by others. We often fall into the trap of believing that other people are the cause of our low self-esteem. However, self-esteem flows from the inside-out. What this means is that as we get back in touch with who we really are and allow ourselves to flow from that space our self-esteem naturally begins to increase.  

I offer support for low self-esteem and issues related to self-worth, including persistent self-criticism, feelings of inadequacy, shame, and difficulty recognising or trusting your own value. Many people I work with struggle with an internal sense of not being “enough,” which can affect relationships, decision-making, boundaries, and overall emotional wellbeing. My approach is grounded in psychoanalytic and relational psychotherapy, providing a safe and reflective space to explore how these beliefs about the self may have developed over time. Together, we may look at early attachment experiences, relational dynamics, and internalised messages that have shaped how you see yourself and relate to others. I work in a trauma-informed way, recognising how experiences such as emotional neglect, criticism, rejection, or relational trauma can contribute to ongoing difficulties with self-esteem. Therapy offers a space to gently explore and begin to shift these patterns, at a pace that feels safe and manageable. I also integrate somatic awareness to help you notice how self-critical beliefs and emotions are held in the body, supporting greater grounding and self-regulation. Psychoeducation may be used to deepen understanding of these processes, and where appropriate, I may incorporate EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques / tapping) to support emotional processing and reduce intensity of self-critical states. Therapy is collaborative and focused on developing a more compassionate, stable, and realistic sense of self, supporting you to relate to yourself with greater acceptance, confidence, and ease over time.  

How Therapy Can Help with Self-Esteem - The way you see yourself shapes everything—your relationships, your career choices, how you handle challenges, and even your overall happiness. If you struggle with low self-esteem, you're likely your own harshest critic, and that internal voice can be exhausting and limiting. The good news is that self-esteem isn't fixed—it can grow and strengthen with the right support, and therapy offers a powerful path toward seeing yourself more clearly and compassionately. What Low Self-Esteem Looks Like Low self-esteem goes beyond occasional self-doubt. It's a persistent negative view of yourself that might show up as: Constant self-criticism or negative self-talk Feeling like you're not good enough, no matter what you achieve Difficulty accepting compliments or believing positive feedback Comparing yourself unfavorably to others Perfectionism and fear of failure People-pleasing and difficulty saying no Avoiding challenges because you assume you'll fail Staying in unhealthy relationships because you don't think you deserve better Feeling like an imposter in your own life Apologizing excessively or taking blame for things that aren't your fault Difficulty making decisions because you don't trust yourself These patterns can hold you back from pursuing opportunities, building healthy relationships, and living authentically. How Therapy Helps Uncovering the Roots Low self-esteem doesn't appear out of nowhere—it's usually built over time through experiences like childhood criticism, emotional neglect, bullying, trauma, failed relationships, or repeated disappointments. Therapy helps you understand where your negative self-view originated. This isn't about blaming others; it's about recognizing that your inner critic was learned, which means it can be unlearned. Challenging the Inner Critic That harsh voice in your head isn't telling you the truth—it's repeating old messages that may have never been accurate in the first place. Therapy, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), helps you identify these negative thought patterns and challenge them with evidence and compassion. You learn to question thoughts like "I'm worthless" or "I always mess things up" and replace them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. Separating Your Worth from Your Performance Many people tie their self-esteem to achievements, appearance, or others' approval. Therapy helps you recognize that your worth is inherent—it doesn't depend on what you do, how you look, or what others think of you. This shift from conditional to unconditional self-worth is transformative and freeing. Processing Past Wounds If your low self-esteem stems from trauma, abuse, or painful experiences, therapies like EMDR can help process these memories so they have less emotional power over you. When you heal the wounds that taught you to see yourself negatively, your self-esteem naturally begins to improve. Developing Self-Compassion Self-compassion is treating yourself with the same kindness you'd offer a good friend. Therapy helps you cultivate this gentler internal voice, recognizing that everyone makes mistakes, has flaws, and struggles sometimes—and that doesn't make you less worthy. You learn to comfort yourself rather than attack yourself when things go wrong. Identifying Your Strengths and Values Low self-esteem often creates tunnel vision where you only see your perceived flaws and failures. Therapy helps you take a more balanced inventory—recognizing your strengths, accomplishments, positive qualities, and the values that guide you. Many people are genuinely surprised to discover how much they've been discounting about themselves. Setting Healthy Boundaries When you don't value yourself, you're more likely to let others mistreat you, overextend yourself, or stay in situations that diminish you. Therapy helps you recognize that you deserve respect and teaches you how to set boundaries that protect your wellbeing. Each time you honor a boundary, you reinforce your own worth. Building Assertiveness Learning to express your needs, opinions, and feelings without excessive fear or guilt is crucial for healthy self-esteem. Therapy provides a safe space to practice assertiveness and develop confidence in your right to take up space, have needs, and be heard. Breaking People-Pleasing Patterns If you've learned to derive worth from making others happy or avoiding conflict, therapy helps you examine this pattern and gradually shift toward living more authentically. You learn that disappointing someone occasionally doesn't make you a bad person, and that your needs matter just as much as anyone else's. Celebrating Progress, Not Just Perfection Therapy helps you recognize and celebrate small wins and efforts, not just major achievements. You learn to acknowledge growth, courage, and trying—even when things don't turn out perfectly. This builds a more sustainable, realistic foundation for self-esteem. Experiencing Unconditional Acceptance Perhaps one of the most healing aspects of therapy is experiencing genuine acceptance from your therapist. In person-centred therapy especially, you're met with unconditional positive regard—you're valued simply for being you, not for what you accomplish or how you perform. This experience can begin to rewire your belief about your own worthiness. Types of Therapy That Help Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Directly targets negative thought patterns and helps you develop more balanced thinking about yourself. Person-Centred Therapy: Offers unconditional acceptance that helps you internalize a more positive self-view. EMDR: Processes traumatic experiences that damaged your self-esteem. Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT): Specifically designed to build self-compassion and counter self-criticism. Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores how early relationships and experiences shaped your self-concept. Group Therapy: Provides connection with others who struggle similarly and offers opportunities to receive positive feedback and support. What Growth Looks Like As therapy progresses and your self-esteem strengthens, you might notice: Quieter, kinder internal dialogue More willingness to try new things or take healthy risks Ability to accept compliments and believe them Setting and maintaining boundaries without excessive guilt Making decisions with more confidence Less comparison to others Greater resilience when things go wrong Choosing relationships and situations that honor your worth Feeling more comfortable being yourself.  

Low self esteem can be paralysing and can lead to other issues. however it does not need to be this way. I use both my personal and professional experience to help clients find rediscover themselves and thrive in life. I use both counselling and coaching skills to support clients on their journey.  

We will focus on acceptance of self and past  

Hi, I'm Lavinia and I am a Psychotherapist, working with both individuals and couples. Part of LGBTQ+ Community. I have worked in Mental Heath services for over nine years , helping people manage their emotional health and wellbeing. I offer a safe non judgemental therapeutic environment for you to process your thoughts and feelings. Our sessions will be empowering, liberating and can even be life changing, giving you the opportunity to gain the confidence to make positive changes to uncover your full potential. My therapy style is warm and interactive and the pace will always be set by you. I am passionate about delivering exceptional care and the promotion of emotional wellbeing, with extensive experience of working in a range of various settings including NHS, Corporate, and Private Practice. I understand each person is unique&I tailor-make sessions for each individual I am working with.I work using both time limited sessions or open ended, allowing us to work as flexibly as you require. ​I want to acknowledge that beginning therapy is often a supreme act of courage,strength,and self-care. I’m so glad you’re here. Please feel welcome to reach out  

Struggling with self-esteem can impact many areas of your life, from relationships to career aspirations. I can help you challenge negative self-beliefs, reconnect with your inherent worth and build confidence in yourself and your abilities. Together we will explore the root causes of your self-doubt and work towards creating a stronger sense of self.  

Lack of Confidence and Self esteem and cane debilitating, I will help you to see those parts of you that are great, and become more confident  

Each therapist has their own specialties, and we focus on connecting you with the clinician whose experience best fits your needs. Therapy may involve developing coping strategies, processing past experiences and childhood patterns, and cultivating greater self-compassion and emotional well-being.  

Believe in yourself. Create healthy boundaries. Acceptance of yourself. Developing necessary skills. These are the four foundations of self-esteem. Step by step we will build the building of your self-esteem.