Self-Esteem Counselling for Women
Sutherland Shire

When self-doubt becomes a familiar companion

If you live with self-doubt, harsh self-criticism, or a sense that you’re never quite enough, these experiences can quietly shape how you relate to yourself.

Over time, they may influence confidence, relationships, and how much ease you feel in daily life - often without you fully noticing.

Self-esteem counselling offers a supportive space to explore these patterns with care rather than judgement. It’s not about forcing confidence or positive thinking. It’s about developing a steadier, more compassionate relationship with yourself.

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What is self-esteem?

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Healthy self-esteem isn’t about feeling confident all the time. At its core, it’s about:

• Feeling worthy of care and respect

• Trusting that your needs and feelings matter

• Being able to make mistakes without turning against yourself

• Having enough self-trust to set boundaries and make choices

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When self-esteem feels fragile, it often shows up as self-criticism, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or difficulty saying no. For many of us, it’s possible to appear capable and high-functioning on the outside while feeling uncertain on the inside.

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How self-esteem can become worn down

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For many people, self-esteem shifts gradually over time. It may be shaped by experiences such as:

• Growing up with criticism or high expectations

• Feeling valued mainly for achievement or reliability

• Experiences of rejection, loss, or emotional neglect

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These experiences can leave an inner voice that stays alert for mistakes or disapproval. While this voice may once have been protective, it can become exhausting to live with.

In counselling, we don’t try to silence this part of you. We work to understand it - and gently loosen its grip.

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How self-esteem counselling can help

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Self-esteem counselling isn’t about fixing you. It’s about creating space for change to unfold naturally.

Our work may support you to:

• Soften self-criticism and develop a kinder inner voice

• Feel steadier and more grounded in yourself

• Untangle self-worth from achievement and productivity

• Set boundaries and make decisions with greater self-trust

• Practise self-compassion in a realistic, manageable way

Change tends to happen gradually. Many people notice subtle but meaningful shifts - less reactivity to criticism, greater ease saying no, and a gentler response when things don’t go to plan.

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Is self-esteem counselling right for you?

You don’t need to be in crisis to seek support. Many people come to counselling while functioning well externally, yet feeling worn down or uncertain internally.

If you’re curious about exploring this further, self-esteem counselling offers a place to slow down, feel understood, and begin relating to yourself with more ease.

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I provide women’s counselling from my private counselling room in Sydney's Sutherland Shire, with sessions available face-to-face in Caringbah, through Walk & Talk Therapy, or online counselling Australia-wide, supporting adult women through anxiety, stress, burnout, grief and loss, relationship challenges, and major life transitions.​​

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