Find a Mental Health Professional for Identity & Self

About Identity & Self support

Questions of identity, self-worth, and personal meaning are at the heart of many people's experiences in therapy. This category connects you with practitioners who support people navigating gender identity, LGBTQIA+ wellbeing, identity exploration, low self-esteem, and questions of life purpose and direction. Low self-esteem is not a character flaw and it is not permanent. It usually develops in response to early experiences and can be meaningfully shifted through the right therapeutic approach. Schema therapy, compassion-focused therapy, and narrative therapy all have strong evidence for helping people build a more grounded and compassionate relationship with themselves. You do not need a crisis or a diagnosis to access support. If you have been asking yourself questions about who you are, what you want, or why you feel the way you do, that is reason enough to talk to someone.

Support resources

• Beyond Blue: Self-esteem

  Information on self-esteem, what shapes it, and how to improve it with professional and self-directed strategies.

• headspace

  National youth mental health service for people aged 12 to 25, with support for identity, self-worth, and wellbeing.

• Black Dog Institute

  Research and clinical resources on mood disorders, self-esteem, and mental wellbeing from one of Australia's leading mental health institutes.

Further reading

• Queer mental health and lived experience: finding a therapist who gets it

  What affirming therapy actually looks like, and how to find a practitioner who understands LGBTQIA+ experiences.

• How to get a Mental Health Care Plan

  How to access Medicare-rebated therapy sessions through your GP, including what to expect and how many sessions you can access each year.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find an LGBTQIA+-affirming therapist or psychologist in Australia?

You can search this directory and filter for LGBTQIA+ affirming practice or the identity category. Look for practitioners who explicitly mention working with LGBTQIA+ clients in their profile, as this signals both experience and awareness of the specific concerns that arise. It is also reasonable to contact a practitioner before booking to ask about their experience with LGBTQIA+ clients.

Is therapy for identity-related concerns covered by Medicare?

Yes, if your GP assesses that identity-related concerns are significantly affecting your mental health, they can provide a Mental Health Treatment Plan which covers up to 10 Medicare-subsidised sessions per calendar year with an eligible practitioner. Eligible practitioners include registered psychologists, accredited mental health social workers, and mental health occupational therapists. Counsellors and psychotherapists who are not AHPRA-registered are not covered by Medicare, though they can still provide valuable support at private rates.

What kind of therapy helps with low self-esteem and self-worth?

Schema Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), and CBT all have good evidence for improving self-esteem and self-worth. Narrative therapy can also be powerful for helping people rewrite unhelpful stories they hold about themselves. The right approach depends on your specific history and goals, and a skilled therapist will work with you to identify what is likely to be most effective.

What is the difference between low self-esteem and depression?

Low self-esteem involves a persistently negative view of yourself, your worth, and your capabilities. Depression is a clinical condition characterised by persistent low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, and other symptoms that significantly affect daily functioning. The two often co-occur — low self-esteem can contribute to depression, and depression can erode self-esteem. A psychologist can help clarify what you are experiencing and which approach is most likely to help.

How long does therapy for low self-worth or self-esteem usually take?

This varies significantly depending on how long the patterns have been present and their origins. Some people notice meaningful shifts within 8 to 12 sessions. For self-esteem rooted in early childhood experiences, longer-term work such as schema therapy may be more appropriate and can take 6 to 12 months or more. Your therapist will discuss what is realistic for your situation in the early sessions.

What is narrative therapy and how does it help with identity?

Narrative therapy is an approach that helps people examine and rewrite the stories they hold about themselves. Rather than treating problems as fixed traits, it sees them as separate from the person and shaped by experience and context. It is particularly useful for identity-related concerns, helping people identify the values and strengths that define them beyond their struggles. It is non-pathologising and collaborative in its approach.

Can therapy help with feeling a lack of purpose or direction in life?

Yes. Existential concerns such as feeling lost, purposeless, or disconnected from meaning are legitimate and common reasons to seek therapy. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and existential therapy are particularly well suited to these concerns, as they focus on values, meaning, and psychological flexibility rather than symptom reduction alone.

Is there support for identity challenges related to cultural background or migration?

Yes. Cultural identity, the experience of living between cultures, intergenerational conflict, and the mental health effects of migration and acculturation are all areas where culturally responsive therapists can provide meaningful support. Look for practitioners who note experience with culturally and linguistically diverse clients, or who have lived experience of migration themselves.