NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. IN PERSON & ONLINE. EVENINGS & WEEKENDS AVAILABLE.
11500 29 St SE Unit 105, Calgary, AB T2Z 3W9 - Call 403 713 0163 today!
It's time to recognize your worth and free yourself from self-criticism.
Does it feel like something is always wrong with you?
You try so hard each day, but never feel good enough.
Sometimes you feel angry, empty, sad or guilty for seemingly no reason.
You think that if you were different, things would be better.
Maybe you:
-
are burdened with guilt and shame
-
feel you can’t do anything right
-
find it difficult to put yourself out there
-
are afraid to form new relationships
-
suffer from negative self-talk
You get stuck in negative loops of criticism and being hard on yourself.
It can be exhausting trying to reach what feels like the impossible goal of fully loving yourself.
Self-esteem is how positively you evaluate yourself, your worth, and your value.
Self-esteem naturally fluctuates based on external and internal influences.
People often associate high self-esteem with accomplishment, productivity, and confidence, but these factors are all variable.
Many people, including successful people, struggle with low self-esteem.
Sometimes doing good does not translate into feeling good.
Self-criticism is learned and can be protective or motivating in many situations:
-
at work or school
-
in social group settings
-
with partners or family
-
in comparison with others
-
to achieve high accomplishments
Despite temporarily boosting effort, criticism activates a 'threat' system in your body that puts you into a state of anxiety, shame, and disconnection from self and others.
A therapist can help you understand and accept yourself with more self-compassion.
Self-esteem therapy can help you quiet your inner critic.
You can become confident and assertive.
When you learn to practice self-compassion, you can meet your difficult emotions and unmet needs with kindness and acceptance.
It is easier to pursue your goals in life from a place of love and safety.
You can motivate yourself and improve your mood using healthy and adaptive mechanisms.
It is possible to feel you are enough.
You can accept yourself as you are, even if you want to grow and change.
What if you could...
-
rest without guilt
-
feel at peace
-
be kind to yourself
-
find energy in life
-
live with joy
A good therapist helps you understand where self-criticism comes from.
Feelings of low self-worth do not reflect the reality of who you are.
Your worth as a human does not change with external factors.
Therapy focused on compassion can help you cultivate kindness and care, helping you gain more energy to put into things you love.
Our self-esteem therapists help you:
-
recognize your inner voices
-
accept and regulate difficult emotions
-
embrace your innate wisdom
-
cultivate self-compassion
-
internalize feelings of self-worth
You can expect to not just know that you are a worthy person, but also embody the feeling of confidence and self-worth in your mind and body.
At Therapy Alberta, you can feel and express your emotions safely without fear of judgment or shame.
You can expect a counsellor who will treat you with care and warmth.
When we meet our struggles with compassion and curiosity instead of judgment, we can learn more about ourselves.
Our therapists prioritize creating a supportive therapeutic space with you.
You and your concerns will be honored, and together we will identify the strengths and wisdom you already possess to move out of a stuck pattern and find new possibilities.
Our approaches to self-esteem counselling include:
-
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
-
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
-
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
-
Emotion-Focused Therapy
-
Mindfulness and Somatic Therapy
We offer exclusively online counselling so you can connect to a therapist anywhere in Calgary and across Alberta.
You can find the best therapist to meet your unique needs and preferences.
We love online therapy because it's private, convenient, personalized and flexible.
You'll love virtual therapy if you are:
-
nervous about going out to counselling
-
most comfortable in your own space
-
concerned about your privacy
-
okay skipping the drive and waiting room
Your therapist would be honored to meet you where you are and walk with you on your path to healing.
Our therapists offer evening and weekend appointments to fit your lifestyle.
What is self-esteem?
Self-esteem is a sense of your own worth and value. It is how positively you evaluate yourself, sometimes in comparison to other people. Self-esteem naturally fluctuates based on both external and internal factors, so trying to consistently maintain high self-esteem can be difficult, if not impossible. It can sometimes even make you feel hostile to things that feel threatening to your self-esteem, or make you tear yourself down for not feeling good about yourself.
What is self-compassion?
Self-compassion is not an evaluation of self, but a motivation to alleviate your suffering and care for yourself as you would a friend. While high self-esteem may say ‘I love myself because I am good at that’, self-compassion says ‘I care about myself regardless of if I’m good at that or not.’ Self-compassion can help you develop a more permanent sense of self-worth.
What is self-worth?
Self-worth means regardless of how you feel about yourself, you know that you always have worth and value. A concrete sense of self-worth can give you confidence and allow you to feel good without having to constantly accomplish something. Regardless of outside events or your skills and talents, you can be compassionate to yourself simply because you are a human being worthy of care. Self-worth exists in the face of mistakes or flaws, because you recognize you may have made a mistake, but you are not a mistake; you deserve love and care regardless of your flaws.
What is self-criticism?
Human brains tend to focus on limitations and negativity. If you were criticized, rejected, or restricted by others growing up, you may have internalized this negativity and learned to blame and criticize yourself as a form of self-protection. To prevent difficult feelings, your brain starts being mean, hoping to push you to do better and experience success. This likely helped you get through earlier hardships, but doesn’t serve you as well anymore.
Won't developing self-compassion make me weak or lazy?
Research shows self-compassion actually has positive effects on productivity, motivation, relationship, and general mental health. Pushing yourself too hard with self-criticism has an effect of demotivating you through increasing stress. Self-compassion activates the system in your body that helps you feel calm, focused, and connected, thus, when you are kind to yourself, more resources actually become available to you, making you feel more energized and motivated.
Why is it important to feel and embody emotions in my body?
Often, simple logical knowing or understanding does not translate to a felt-sense of confidence or self-esteem. You might logically think you are good and worthy, and still not really feel that way. Because our mind and body are connected, focusing on feelings and sensations in our body can lead to processing, integrating, and embodying the materials from therapy to create change.
How much does self-esteem counselling cost?
Our therapy sessions are $220 with a Psychologist or Social Worker with direct billing for most insurance companies, or a receipt to claim for re-imbursement or as a medical expense on your taxes. Counselling sessions with a Certified Canadian Counsellor are $180; check with your insurance to confirm coverage for mental health counselling. Sliding scale fees are available.
Do I have to see a self-esteem therapist near me?
With online therapy, you are able to connect with counsellors across Calgary and Alberta so you have more choice in finding the best therapist for you, based on your needs and preferences. You can choose from psychologists or therapists who live across the province and find the best fit for you.
