Quiet the Inner Critic
Plano & Frisco Self-Esteem Therapy
Move beyond people pleasing, perfectionism, and impostor syndrome.
Request a Free 15-Minute Consultation
* By clicking Submit, you permit us to contact you by email, phone, or text. Don’t worry – we won’t send you junk. It’s just to schedule a consultation and see if we can help you!
Sage Finch Counseling
Build Confidence and Self Worth
We can help with a variety of challenges, including:
People Pleasing
You may find yourself saying yes when you wish you could say no, trying to avoid conflict to win approval, at your own expense.
Perfectionism
You may hold yourself to impossible standards and feel intense negative feelings when you fall short.
Imposter Syndrome
Despite accomplishing a lot, you may still feel like a fraud who is on the verge of being exposed. Deep down, you don’t believe you’ve earned your success.
Harsh Inner Critic
Your internal voice is relentlessly negative and quick to self-criticism. Therapy can build a softer, more compassionate narrative.
Fear of Rejection
You may avoid being your authentic, more vulnerable self for fear that others will judge (or reject) you if they see the “real” you.
Low Confidence
It can be difficult to speak up, trust your instincts, or make decisions if you struggle with low self-confidence.
Difficulty With Boundaries
Identity Confusion
Low self-esteem can make it hard to know who you are or what you want. Therapy can help you discover and reconnect with your authentic self.
Comparison & Envy
Low self-esteem can cause you to measure yourself against others, often feeling like you don’t measure-up. We’ll shift the focus inward in therapy.
You Only Live Once
Create a Happier Healthier You
Boost Your Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem can trap you in a cycle of self-doubt and missed opportunities.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Whether you’re struggling with negative self-talk, lack of confidence, or feelings of inadequacy, you can reclaim your sense of worth and live a life that reflects your true potential.
Imagine feeling empowered to pursue opportunities without the weight of self-doubt holding you back. We specialize in guiding individuals to overcome self-doubt and discover a stronger, more confident version of themselves.
Together, we can work to break those patterns, helping you step into a future where you feel confident, valued, and fulfilled.
In our sessions, you’ll learn to quiet that inner critic, overcome imposter syndrome, and discover your authentic self. We will guide you in building the confidence to stand tall, find your voice, and live a life of purpose and meaning.
Deep Dive into Your Inner World
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in busy schedules, social media, games, and other distractions that keep us from confronting our innermost thoughts and feelings.
If those thoughts and feelings aren’t processed, they build up and contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
It can feel really painful, especially at first, to dive into these uncomfortable places (after all, that’s why you’ve been avoiding it, right?).
However, this sort of deep dive into emotions and thoughts can help you develop healthier coping mechanisms and strategies for managing difficult emotions. It can also help you identify and reframe maladaptive thoughts and better understand who you are and why you do what you do (and how to change the things that aren’t working for you).
It’s a deep dive into self-discovery where you will likely increase your awareness, gain emotional resilience skills, and find compassion for yourself.
Examine What is Not Working for You and Make Changes
Sometimes we get stuck in patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions that are not working for us, but we don’t know how to change them. We try, but it’s like trying to change one cog in an interconnected system, which seems impossible.
Sometimes we just need help – someone on the outside who is trained in systems theory and can help us identify what isn’t working for us and figure out a path forward.
Our problems are often relational – they involve our interactions with family members, bosses, colleagues, and others. We need other people in our lives, but they are also the source of our greatest challenges.
And sometimes, these struggles are embedded in our families of origin. Together, we can construct a Genogram to identify patterns and understand how your family of origin influences your current relationships.
There are many ways to take a deep dive into what is not working for you and find solutions to improve your life!
Assertiveness Training
Do you find it difficult to express your thoughts, feelings, and needs in a confident and effective manner? Maybe you prioritize the feelings of others over yourself? Or, you can’t say what you really think, want, or need because the other person might be hurt?
If so, you may benefit from assertiveness training. You’ll learn to express your opinions and feelings as well as how to give and receive feedback, without taking on the burden of someone else’s reaction. You can learn to be true to yourself.
Assertiveness skills can help you in both your personal and professional life. Are you ready to feel more confident in your interpersonal interactions?
Pick a Self-Help Book, and Let’s go Through it Together
Do you find yourself reading self-help books but not absorbing and applying the information to your life?
Pick a self-help book, and let’s go through it together! We’ll keep you accountable and help you apply the advice to your unique situation.
It’s sort of like a one-on-one book club with your therapist, where you can gain deeper insights and explanations of the concepts discussed in the book, which helps you apply them more effectively in your life.
It’s also nice to have emotional support and encouragement as you make new discoveries, confront difficult emotions, and make changes in your life.
Homework can help you practice and apply what you are learning to your life and make modifications as needed.
Not sure what book to start with? We can probably recommend a great one for your particular challenge or situation.
Ready to get started?
Learn to Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is about communicating our needs and limits to others and establishing a clear framework about how we expect to be treated. For a lot of people, this is much easier said than done!
Setting boundaries seems especially difficult for women and AFAB people, who were socially conditioned to smile, get along with others, not rock the boat, and always be agreeable. However, it can be difficult for anyone who lacks the agency to establish and maintain boundaries.
If setting boundaries wasn’t modeled for you, you must purposefully learn this skill. It’s hard and feels scary, but it can result in the following:
- Improved relationships
- More positive and respectful interactions
- Greater sense of trust and mutual understanding
- Increased self-respect
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Time and energy for self-care
- Improved communication
Learning to set boundaries is an essential skill for building healthy relationships, reducing stress, and promoting well-being. It’s also essential for overcoming codependency.
Self-Esteem Therapy FAQs
Is self-esteem therapy mostly about positive thinking?
Contrary to popular belief, self-esteem therapy is not just about positive thinking. Self-esteem therapy is not about gaslighting yourself to a happier and better life – it goes deeper.
In therapy, we’ll explore the roots of your self-worth struggles, which are often shaped by early experiences, relationships, or trauma. We’ll also explore how it shows up in your life and what you would like to change (even if that feels impossible right now).
Therapy can help you build a more compassionate and realistic self-image, but it takes time.
How long does self-esteem therapy take?
There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline. Some people feel a shift after just a few sessions and that’s all they need. Others choose longer-term work to unlearn deeply ingrained patterns. We’ll proceed at a pace that feels comfortable and sustainable for you.
I've been this way my whole life. Can my self-esteem really change?
Yes! It really can.
If you’ve struggled with low self-esteem for as long as you can remember, it makes sense that change seems impossible. Maybe you’ve internalized the belief that this is just who you are.
But low self-worth isn’t a personality trait. It’s often something you learned — a protective pattern shaped by your early environment, relationships, or experiences. Maybe you grew up around criticism, chaos, emotional neglect, or impossible standards. Maybe you were in a toxic relationship and over time, began to view yourself through the lens of a narcissistic, abusive, or emotionally immature partner. Your brain may have adapted by turning inward and trying to be better and do better, but without apparent success.
The good news is that what’s learned can be unlearned.
Self-esteem doesn’t improve overnight, and it’s not about suddenly becoming confident. It’s more like building a relationship with yourself — one that’s based on respect and compassion.
In therapy, we work to soften your harsh inner voice, untangle old beliefs, and help you begin to trust that you’re allowed to exist — just as you are — without constantly earning your right to take up space.
COLLIN COUNTY TEXAS
Take the First Step
Frisco LGBTQ+ therapy: Your safe space for healing and growth in Frisco, Texas.
We see clients in-person and online from our Plano, Texas office (located just south of Frisco). Most of our clients come from Collin County and surrounding areas:
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Request a Free 15-Minute Consultation
* By clicking Submit, you permit us to contact you by email, phone, or text. Don’t worry – we won’t send you junk. It’s just to schedule a consultation and see if we can help you!