Form and Space Workshop

Join the Authentic Movement event with Dr Hillary McBride on Friday, October 18, 7:30pm, at Elgin Hall in South Surrey.

Welcome To Love This Therapy

Self-Esteem Counselling In Surrey, BC

Do you struggle with low self-esteem?

If you’ve found yourself here, you may be feeling weighed down by self-doubt, insecurity, or a quiet inner voice that says you’re “not enough.”
Maybe it’s been with you for as long as you can remember; an unwelcome companion that shows up when you look in the mirror, speak up in a meeting, scroll through social media, or try something new. You might feel like you’re doing “okay” on the outside, but inside there’s a constant measuring, comparing, and coming up short.

At Love This Therapy, we understand how exhausting this can be. Low self-esteem isn’t just about having a few bad days, it can seep into every part of life, shaping how you think, how you relate to others, and how you treat yourself. We’re here to help you shift that inner narrative with real, evidence-based counselling that supports lasting change.

Accepting New Clients

Schedule your free intake call to ensure we're a good fit!

How Low Self-Esteem Can Impact Your Life

Self-esteem is the lens through which you see yourself. When that lens is clouded with self-criticism and doubt, it can distort your entire experience.
 Low self-esteem can:

Affect your relationships

You may settle for less than you deserve, struggle to set boundaries, or worry excessively about what others think of you.

Limit your opportunities

Self-doubt can keep you from pursuing promotions, hobbies, or connections that would enrich your life.

Fuel anxiety and depression

Negative self-perceptions often contribute to or intensify mental health challenges.

Create a cycle of avoidance

You may avoid situations where you fear failure, rejection, or embarrassment, reinforcing the belief that you’re “not capable.”

Limit self-care

It’s harder to take care of yourself when you believe you’re not worth the effort.

Low self-esteem doesn’t mean you lack strength or resilience, it often means you’ve been carrying stories, experiences, or comparisons that have shaped how you see yourself. These patterns are not fixed. They can be unlearned.

Signs and Symptoms of Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem can look different for everyone, but some common signs include:

  • Persistent self-criticism or feeling like you’re never “good enough”
  • Difficulty accepting compliments or praise
  • Frequent comparison to others and feeling inferior
  • Avoiding challenges or new opportunities out of fear of failure
  • Feeling unworthy of love, respect, or kindness
  • Over-apologizing or taking responsibility for things that aren’t yours to carry
  • Difficulty making decisions or trusting your own judgment
  • People-pleasing at the expense of your own needs
  • Over-focusing on perceived flaws in appearance, personality, or abilities

Sometimes these signs are subtle, hidden under humour, perfectionism, or overachievement. On the surface, you might look confident but inside, you feel like an imposter.

How Therapy Can Help

Counselling for low self-esteem is about so much more than repeating affirmations or trying to “think positively.” While those practices can be helpful for some, real and lasting change often comes from exploring and understanding the deeper patterns that shape how you see yourself, then gently reshaping them into beliefs that truly support your growth and wellbeing.

Therapy offers a safe, non-judgmental space where you can:

  1. Understand the roots of your self-esteem struggles. Whether they come from early life experiences, societal pressures, trauma, or repeated criticism.
  2. Identify and challenge unhelpful beliefs you hold about yourself, replacing them with more balanced, compassionate perspectives.
  3. Build emotional resilience so you can navigate challenges without defaulting to self-blame or avoidance.
  4. Strengthen your boundaries and communication skills so you can advocate for your needs and values.
  5. Develop self-compassion. Learning to treat yourself with the same kindness you offer to others.
  6. Reconnect with your strengths and values, building a sense of identity that isn’t dependent on external validation.

Over time, therapy can help you shift from living in constant self-criticism to feeling grounded in your worth, capable of making choices that honour who you are.

Effective Therapeutic Modalities for Low Self-Esteem

At Love This Therapy, we blend evidence-based approaches with the warmth of genuine human connection. We know there’s no “one-size-fits-all” method, so your therapist will tailor the process to meet you where you are. Here are some modalities we may incorporate:

CBT helps you notice the negative thought patterns that feed low self-esteem and replace them with healthier, more realistic ways of thinking. You’ll learn practical skills to challenge self-criticism and break the cycle of avoidance.
Low self-esteem can sometimes grow from unacknowledged emotions. Feelings like shame, sadness, or anger that you’ve learned to set aside or hide. EFT offers a supportive space to bring these emotions into the light, understand their origins, and work through them in a safe, compassionate way. Over time, this process helps free you from their grip, allowing you to see yourself with greater clarity and kindness.
IFS works with your “inner parts”. The self-critical voices, the perfectionist, the people-pleaser; to understand where they came from and what they’re trying to protect you from. By fostering compassion toward these parts, you can create a more balanced and supportive inner dialogue.
Mindfulness helps you step out of autopilot self-judgment and into the present moment. Over time, this can reduce rumination, soften self-criticism, and create space for self-acceptance.
If your low self-esteem stems from specific memories (bullying, criticism, rejection, or trauma) EMDR can help reprocess these experiences, so they no longer trigger feelings of shame or worthlessness.
We’ll help you build this skill so you can respond to setbacks with kindness instead of harsh self-judgment.

Why Choose Love This Therapy

We know you have options when it comes to counselling and choosing the right fit is essential. Here’s what sets us apart:

We recognize that low self-esteem doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We consider your unique history, culture, identity, and life context in our work together.
Research shows that the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in successful therapy. We offer genuine warmth, empathy, and respect from the moment you walk in.
Our counsellors are trained in modalities proven to support self-esteem and confidence, with experience helping clients navigate complex emotions.
No matter your gender identity, sexual orientation, cultural background, or life stage, you’ll be met with acceptance.
We offer Direct Billing (for your Extended Medical), and both in-person counselling in our South Surrey office and secure virtual sessions, making it easier to fit therapy into your life.

At Love This Therapy, we don’t just want to help you “cope” with low self-esteem, we want to help you rewrite your story.

Reach Out Today

If you’ve been living under the weight of self-doubt, know that it doesn’t have to stay this way.

Your journey can start with one simple step:

  • Call our clinic to speak with our warm, compassionate administrative team, who will help match you with the right counsellor for your needs. 604.229.4887
  • If you’d like, begin with a free, no-pressure discovery call with your matched counsellor to see how it feels to work together. Email us at info@lovethistherapy.com

Accepting New Clients

Schedule your free intake call to ensure we're a good fit!

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