Specializing in Treatment for Anxiety and Depression, Low Self-Esteem and impostor Syndrome
Anxiety and Depression
All too often, negative beliefs about self can lead to internalized distress which can affect our general mood manifesting in either anxiety (worry about the future) or depression ("an inability to construct a future").Treatment for depression can vary depending on the severity of the condition and the individual's personal circumstances. Psychotherapy, medication, regular self-care, and mindfulness-based therapies have been shown to be effective. It's important to note that treatment for depression is not one-size-fits-all. It may take some trial and error to find the right treatment or combination of treatments that work best for you. Treatment for anxiety often involves many of the same treatment approaches but may also include. exposure desensitization, relaxation techniques, and lifestyle changes to reduce anxiety symptoms.
​
Treatment modalities I utilize include cognitive behavioral therapy interventions such as relaxation and stress reduction techniques, guided discovery, thought defusion, behavioral experiments, and cognitive restructuring and reframing, Interventions and techniques from sections of Mindfulness and Distress Tolerance from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) are used as well.
Low Self-Esteem
Generally speaking,, self-esteem refers to how we place value on ourselves as a person. People with low self-esteem usually have long held negative core beliefs about who they are as a person. These beliefs are often looked at as "facts" or "truths" about their identity, rather than being recognized as opinions they hold about themselves.
​
These negative core beliefs often have origins in Adverse Childhood Experiences in which our view of life and our place in it are still forming. We can come to early conclusions based on these experiences.. It can be helpful to consider how we respond when we believe these beliefs about self to be true. Human beings are adaptable in our ability to come up with strategies to keep ourselves emotionally safe, We tend to do this by attempting to live our lives by "rules" or assumptions to pursue an illusion of emotional safety. The function of doing this is to attempt to protect ourselves from the impact of our negative core beliefs. Sometimes these strategies work in the short-term but can become maladaptive as we grow older.
​
Treatment strategies I utilize include helping my clients to challenge negative thought patterns, build self-compassion (learning to treat oneself with the same kindness and understanding that one would offer to a close friend), positive affirmations:, and taking action towards achieving personal goals and accomplishments to boost self-confidence.
Impostor Syndrome
Impostor syndrome is a term that refers to a psychological condition when someone feels "not good enough" to such an extent that they are unable to acknowledge their own accomplishments, skills or talents. They often feel as if they they are a fraud,, are being given credit or recognition they don’t feel they deserve, and others will eventually "figure out" they are not worthy of praise or recognition. It is a fairly common phenomenon, said to affect 70% of the population at some time in their lives to varying degrees.
​
It has be has been referred to as "internal self-doubt that overrides any form of logic, evidence or fact. Self-doubt will win any argument or challenge you present it with, leaving you with the notion that your ability to deceive others and create this ‘fraudulent’ character is the only thing you’re actually good at." The impact on the person is often confidence is often undermined before they can get started on goals, projects, careers, or even relationships.
​
Much like in how I address low-self esteem, treatment involves challenging cognitive distortions and reframing to more helpful ones while attending to the overall care of my clients in general. This holistic approach might involve mindfulness-based therapies (especially distress tolerance and emotional regulation), and building resources for communal support.
​