SELF-ESTEEM COUNSELLING FOR WOMEN
IN EDMONTON, AB & ACROSS ALBERTA, NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA, NUNAVUT AND QUEBEC
Confidence and Self-Love are within reach
You’ve been feeling insecure for a very long time.
Growing up, you’ve dealt with being criticized, bullied and berated, maybe even being scapegoated and
abandoned by important people in your life. When you were younger, you could not really verbalize what
you were going through, but the way that you see yourself today has been affected by
others’ words and the way you were treated, to the point of feeling self-hatred at times.
While it may seem that you have been receiving support from others around you, they don’t truly get the
extent of the suffering you have been experiencing and you’ve been feeling very much alone.
Perhaps mistreatment continues to this day with regular experiences of discrimination and micro-
aggressions, along with invalidation from others who don’t think your experiences are about race or religion.
You’ve tried speaking up and advocating for yourself. However, the struggles continue and you’re feeling
discouraged and tired.
You are aware of your accomplishments and generally know you are worthy, but somehow in stressful moments, that
critical voice always seems to win. It’s very hard not to compare yourself to others and escape the pressure
to be a “people-pleaser”, even when this ends negatively impacting you.
Although you never seem to be happy with yourself, you would really like to show up authentically and
confidently so you may stop constantly questioning your decisions, and honour, be happy with and just LIKE
yourself more.
You already have what it takes to be confident. Let’s work together to uncover and realize your potential!
MY APPROACH
TEAM-CBT for Self-Esteem
As we begin your therapy journey, my initial aim will be to offer you a non-judgmental environment where you can feel comfortable being yourself. I’ll regularly check in to ensure you feel secure enough to openly express your thoughts and emotions.
In our first few sessions together, I’ll gather details about your background, including when you first began to notice self-esteem issues and how these have changed over time. I will give you space to speak freely about whatever has been weighing on you—especially elements of your story and struggle that you may have been hesitant to share with others for fear of being judged or dismissed.
We’ll only move forward with the active part of therapy when you feel ready. This will begin with describing a specific moment when you felt down on yourself. By examining this event, along with the emotions and thoughts you experienced at the time, we can better understand how low self-esteem manifests for you, allowing us to customize the therapy to meet your unique needs.
Self-esteem counselling with TEAM-CBT looks different for everyone and incorporates a variety of methods tailored to each individual. I’ll draw from a wide range of therapeutic tools—over a hundred techniques—to find the ones that resonate with you and will support your long-term healing from low self-esteem.
Some commonly used techniques are CBT strategies that take the form of role-playing exercises, where you’ll bring self-defeating thoughts and beliefs to life, allowing you to actively challenge and respond to them. This approach makes the techniques particularly impactful and effective.
Islamic Therapy for Self-esteem
Self-esteem counselling with me, through an Islamic perspective, integrates teachings from the Qur’an, Ahadith, and Seerah as a core part of the therapeutic process. These teachings are complemented by the TEAM-CBT approach (outlined above), all aimed at supporting your recovery while deepening your connection with Allah SWT, In Sha Allah.
In Sha Allah, TEAM-CBT will help us, amongst other things, to reinforce pre-existing knowledge or new Islamic notions that support your self-worth, and fully integrate them into your belief system so you may overcome your self-esteem issues.
What works for someone else, may not work for you. At the same time, I have found that reflecting on the following may be helpful, In Sha Allah:
Allah SWT is Al-Hakeem (the All Wise) and Al-Jaleel (the Majestic One). The fact that He decided that we were worth creating and sustaining means that we are inherently worthy, Alhamdoulillah.
Ready to stop second-guessing yourself and reclaim your self-worth?
FAQS
Frequently asked questions about self-esteem counselling?
Your investment will be $220 per 50-minute session or $350 per 80-minute session. Longer sessions are available at the same rate.
As services that are offered by a psychologist, my therapy sessions are covered by most insurance policies, although I recommend that you call your insurance provider to check. It may also be beneficial to ask if you have a health spending account that you may also use toward therapy.
My fees may be claimed under tax deductible health care expenses on your income tax return.
If you are eligible for these programs, please note that I also have an agreement to provide services under and direct-bill:
- the NIHB (Non-Insured Health Benefits) program which provides eligible First Nations and Inuit clients with coverage for various benefits, including mental health counselling. Through this program, eligible clients can receive up to 22 hours of counselling a year.
- the Bigstone Health benefits program which provides benefits to members of Bigstone Cree nation. Through this program, clients can receive up to 22 hours of counselling every 12 months.
- federal programs such as the Interim Federal Health program (IFHP) administered under Immigration, Regufees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); this program provides limited, temporary coverage of health care benefits for specific groups of people who don’t have provincial, territorial, or private health care coverage. I also direct-bill federal programs such as programs for members of the Canadian armed forces (CAF), Royal Canadian Mounted police (RCMP), and Veteran Affairs Canada (VAC).
I also have a partnership with Sisters Dialogue that allows Muslim women residing in Alberta to see me free of charge, for 5 sessions with the possiblity to extend coverage.
You may email me at audrey@overanxietypsych.com or schedule a free 15-minute consultation here.