When you know you're capable of more, but something inside keeps holding you back.
Virtual and In-Person Therapy for Building Confidence & Self-Worth in New York
Find your voice when self-doubt keeps telling you to stay small
If you're struggling with confidence and self-worth, you might find yourself hesitating to take risks or pursue what you really want. Perhaps you downplay your achievements, overthink decisions, or feel like an impostor despite your capabilities. You carefully consider how others might judge you before speaking up or trying something new.
Even when friends and colleagues see your potential, that inner voice of doubt drowns out their encouragement. You wonder if you'll ever feel secure enough to trust yourself and your abilities without the constant second-guessing or worry about how you're being perceived.
Therapy offers a space to understand where these doubts come from, challenge the beliefs holding you back, and develop a stronger sense of your inherent worth—beyond what you achieve or how others see you.
Building confidence looks different for everyone, but these experiences might feel familiar:
Holding back from sharing your ideas or opinions because you assume others will have something better to say
Overanalyzing decisions or avoiding them altogether for fear of making the wrong choice
Feeling like an impostor in professional settings, convinced you don't truly belong despite your qualifications
Struggling to accept compliments or dismissing your achievements as "just luck" or "not that special"
Hesitating to try new things or put yourself out there because you're afraid of failure or judgment
Finding it difficult to trust your instincts or stand by your opinions when faced with disagreement
Comparing yourself to others and always coming up short, focusing on what you lack rather than your strengths
Occasionally replaying social interactions afterward, wondering if you said something "wrong" or how you came across
Avoiding dating or new relationships because you don't believe you'll attract someone's interest or affection
Self-doubt often masquerades as practical caution, but over time, it creates a smaller life than the one you're capable of living.
How we approach confidence building in therapy
In our work together, we'll create a supportive environment where doubts and fears can be examined without judgment. Unlike other approaches that focus only on positive affirmations or pushing through discomfort, I believe lasting confidence comes from understanding the roots of your self-doubt and gradually rewriting the internal narratives that hold you back.
Self-criticism and low self-esteem rarely develops in isolation. Through our psychodynamic and relational work, we'll connect your current patterns to formative experiences that taught you to fear judgment, crave external validation, or question your worth or abilities. Together, we'll examine the stories you've been telling yourself and develop a more compassionate, realistic view of who you are and what you're capable of.
We'll also focus on practical ways to quiet that inner critic and recognize your inherent worth—not based on achievement or others' approval, but on a deeper sense of self-acceptance. Drawing from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we'll explore your core values and how to align your choices with what truly matters to you, not what others think, and increase your courage to take small, incremental steps towards your goals. The goal isn't perfection or unwavering confidence, but a resilient self-trust that can weather both successes and setbacks.
In the end, this work isn't about never doubting yourself, but about being able to face your challenges in spite of the fear you may still have. True self-worth isn't about never failing or always knowing the right answer—it's about developing the resilience to trust yourself even when things don't go as planned. I'll support you as you learn to trust your intuition, go against the grain when necessary, and take chances on what you truly long for—even when the outcome isn't guaranteed.
Ready to Begin? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
I offer in-person therapy for people pleasing in New York City and virtual counseling sessions across New York State. Let’s connect for a free 15-minute consultation to make sure we’re a good fit for your needs.
“Courage is what it takes to trust your inner authority instead of the external pressure and noise. Confidence is what comes from doing it over and over again.”
— Alexandra Cole