Find a Mental Health Professional for Self-Esteem, Self-Worth & Confidence

About Self-Esteem, Self-Worth & Confidence support

Low self-esteem involves a persistently negative view of oneself, a sense of not being good enough, capable enough, or worthy of care and connection. It often develops in childhood in response to experiences of criticism, comparison, rejection, or neglect, and can operate quietly in the background, shaping decisions, relationships, and how people respond to challenges. Low self-worth is not the same as depression, though the two often co-occur. Therapy for self-esteem is not about building unrealistic confidence, but about developing a more balanced, compassionate, and accurate view of oneself. CBT, compassion-focused therapy, schema therapy, and ACT all have tools to support this work. The therapeutic relationship itself, characterised by consistent warmth and non-judgement, can be a powerful part of the healing process for people whose self-worth was undermined in earlier relationships. In Australia, psychologists, counsellors, and mental health social workers all work with self-esteem concerns. Medicare rebates apply through a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan when low self-esteem is connected to an identifiable mental health concern. Programs through headspace and ReachOut support young people specifically, and many self-help resources informed by compassion-focused therapy are also freely available online.