The way we see and relate to ourselves can shape how we move through the world. You may find yourself being highly critical of yourself, feeling like you are never doing enough, or struggling to recognize your own strengths and accomplishments. While self-criticism can sometimes feel like a way to motivate yourself or avoid making mistakes, over time it can contribute to feelings of shame, inadequacy, anxiety, or disconnection from yourself.

​

You may be someone who holds yourself to very high standards, constantly compares yourself to others, or feels that your worth depends on what you accomplish or how others perceive you. You may find yourself questioning your decisions, replaying conversations, focusing on what you could have done differently, or having difficulty extending to yourself the same compassion you would readily offer to someone else.​

​

These patterns can develop for many reasons. Our experiences growing up, relationships, cultural and social expectations, and messages about what it means to be successful, attractive, capable, or “good enough” can all shape how we come to understand our own worth. What may now feel like an automatic inner critic often developed as an understandable way of navigating your environment.​​

​

Therapy can provide an opportunity to understand where these patterns come from and how they continue to shape the way you relate to yourself. Together, we can explore the expectations and beliefs that contribute to self-criticism, develop a more compassionate and flexible relationship with yourself, and build a sense of self-worth that is less dependent on achievement, perfection, or external validation.