How Can I Help Myself?

In order to overcome low self-esteem, it's necessary to break the cycle that keeps it going. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an ideal approach for tackling low self-esteem because it provides a clear framework for understanding how the problem developed and what keeps it going. CBT focuses on thoughts, beliefs and opinions, but also provides a practical approach for changing those beliefs by changing behaviour. It encourages you to try out new ways of behaving and to observe the effect that this has on the way you feel about yourself. In this way you can learn to:

• Notice self-critical thinking and nip it in the bud
• Counter the bias against yourself by focusing on your skills
• Change the Rules for Living that cause you to enter the vicious cycle
• Tackle your Bottom Line