- Online & In-Person Sessions Available in Newhall-Santa Clarita, Los Angeles & Studio City
Self-Esteem Counseling in Newhall-Santa Clarita, CA
Empowering You to Thrive
Welcome, I'm Julia.
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#104811) with over fifteen years of experience supporting individuals from marginalized communities through an intersectional lens. I’m passionate about helping clients understand how their history impacts their present, and empowering them to move forward with clarity, strength, and intention.
I offer both online and in-person sessions in Los Angeles, Newhall-Santa Clarita, and Studio City.
Office Locations
Newhall-Santa Clarita Office
24509 Walnut St Ste. 201,
Newhall, CA 91321
(818) 646-7921
Los Angeles Office
566 S. San Vicente Blvd STE 101
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 483-4225
Studio City Office
11712 Moorpark St suite 101
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 646-7921
Have questions?Call or Schedule a Consultation
What Is Self-Esteem Counseling?
Are you struggling with low self-esteem? Do negative beliefs and difficult emotions hold you back from living a fulfilling life? If you’re ready to embrace positive change and regain confidence, self-esteem counseling can help you uncover the strength within and develop a healthier sense of self.
Self-esteem is one of the pillars of our well-being. It is a complex concept that reflects our thoughts about ourselves. People with healthy self-esteem have a positive opinion about themselves while those who battle low self-esteem often find themselves prisoners of self-imposed limits.
Self-esteem counseling is a focused therapeutic approach designed to help you build healthy self-esteem by addressing the root causes of your self-esteem issues. It’s not just about feeling good—it’s about cultivating a realistic sense of your strengths and values, learning to navigate negative experiences, and fostering positive relationships. As a self-esteem therapist, I can guide you through this journey, helping you confront cognitive distortions, negative thinking, and life circumstances that have shaped your self-view.
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha
Signs and Symptoms of Low Self-Esteem
People with low self-esteem tend to criticize themselves, feel shame and self-doubt, and lack assertiveness. While the degree of our self-esteem varies depending on various circumstances and experiences, it is important to remember that self-esteem has an impact on our life experiences and not the other way around. Self-esteem comes from within and doesn’t depend on our success or failure. As long as we are aware of this, we are on the path to high self-esteem. Here are some of the most important symptoms of low self-esteem:
- Obsessive focus on your weaknesses and flaws
- Increased self-criticalness of yourself and others
- Negative beliefs, thoughts, and emotions about yourself
- Disregard for your strengths and success
- Struggles with boundary setting or asserting yourself in social settings
- Destructive behavior and a tendency for destructive romantic relationships
- Difficulty maintaining healthy relationships
- Overwhelming difficult emotions like shame, guilt, or sadness.
- Unhealthy need to compare ourselves to others
- Feeling unloved or unwanted
- A persistent fear of failure or fear of criticism
- Self-doubt and indecision
- Lack of social skills and difficulty to set limits with people
- The feeling of being unworthy and meaningless
How Can Therapy for Self-Esteem Help?
Mental health issues like low self-esteem are usually treated with “client-centered therapy”. In other words, a mental health professional will work to solve the problem from the inside out and focus on the present. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has proved to be very successful when dealing with self-esteem issues, negative core beliefs, and anxiety.
Self-esteem counseling can be a transformative journey, helping you uncover the reasons behind your self-esteem issues and empowering you to build a healthier sense of self and healthier relationships. Whether you’re facing a crippling fear of failure, struggling with negative thinking, or battling difficult emotions tied to past life experiences, therapy for self-esteem offers a supportive space for change.
As a therapist for self-esteem in Los Angeles, I use a variety types of therapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapy to address self-esteem challenges. You will learn to identify and recognize the root cause of your negative thoughts and low self-esteem. It may be a crisis at home, loss of employment, problems with a loved one, or even seemingly insignificant issues, like the failure of a test.
In counseling for low self-esteem, you’ll engage in various exercises and techniques designed to challenge and rewrite these negative narratives. For instance, cognitive restructuring helps you pinpoint irrational and harmful beliefs that fuel your low self-esteem—such as thoughts like “I’m not good enough” or “I always fail.” By framing these beliefs in a more realistic context, you’ll begin to replace them with positive affirmations and thoughts that reflect your true self-worth.
Self-esteem counseling will help you to take a step back and detach yourself from negative thoughts and beliefs. As a counselor, I will show you how to evaluate the situation and turn your negativity into positivity. You will learn how to objectively assess yourself and accept your strengths and limitations. This is the foundation of healthy self-esteem.
“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” – Lucille Ball
Work with Me
Starting therapy is a big step—and you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re brand new to therapy or returning after some time away, I’m here to meet you exactly where you are. My goal is to help you feel supported, understood, and empowered to grow in ways that feel real and sustainable.
Here’s what our work together usually looks like:
Free Consultation
We’ll start with a free 20-minute phone call. This is your space to share what’s been coming up for you, ask any questions, and get a feel for how I work—no pressure, no commitment. Some people decide to move forward right away, while others take some time to think about it. Either way is welcome.
Weekly Sessions
We’ll meet regularly (typically once a week) in a supportive, non-judgmental space. Our sessions will focus on processing your experiences, building practical tools, and gently shifting patterns that no longer serve you—all at a pace that feels right for you.
Tailored Plan
If you decide to move forward, we’ll schedule your first full session and begin shaping a plan that fits your goals, identity, and lived experience. This is where we begin exploring what’s getting in the way and how therapy can support the changes you want to make.
Ongoing Support & Growth
Therapy isn’t just about fixing what feels broken—it’s about becoming more connected to yourself. As you grow, we’ll continue adjusting the work to reflect your evolving needs, helping you stay grounded, clear, and supported through it all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone experiencing low self-esteem or struggling with negative thinking, fear of criticism, or difficulty building meaningful relationships can benefit from therapy for self-esteem. If you often feel overwhelmed by difficult emotions, such as shame or self-doubt, or find yourself stuck in unhealthy patterns of behavior, counseling for low self-esteem can provide the self-esteem tools and support you need to achieve a positive sense of self.
Self-esteem counseling focuses on identifying and challenging unhelpful thought patterns, such as cognitive distortions, mental filtering, and negative predictions. Through techniques like cognitive restructuring and commitment therapy, we work to replace harmful thoughts with more balanced, constructive perspectives. This shift helps promote a positive quality of life and supports the development of healthy levels of self-esteem.
Absolutely. Online counseling is a convenient and effective way to receive self-esteem therapy, especially if you’re balancing a busy schedule or prefer the comfort of your own home. Virtual sessions allow us to work on your self-esteem challenges while maintaining a strong therapeutic relationship. Whether you’re in Los Angeles or anywhere else, I can offer professional support to boost your healthy sense of self-worth.
Your first session of therapy for self-esteem is an opportunity to share your experiences and goals in a safe, supportive space. Together, we’ll explore the challenges you’re facing—such as negative thinking, fear of failure, or difficulty with social skills—and discuss how we can address them. I’ll also take time to explain our therapeutic approach, answer any questions you have, and set realistic goals for your progress. Whether we’re working on long-standing self-esteem issues or more recent concerns, the first self-esteem counseling session is all about getting to know each other and creating a plan that feels right for you.
At this time, I am not in-network with any insurance companies. However, many insurance companies have an “out of network mental health coverage policy.” If your insurance company offers this I can provide you with a monthly “superbill” to submit for possible reimbursement.
Julia Schwab Therapy offers both online and in-person sessions. In-person appointments are available in Los Angeles, Studio City, and the Newhall–Santa Clarita area.
Related Services
Get in Touch with a Therapist for Self-Esteem in Los Angeles, NV
Overcoming self-esteem issues can be a difficult journey. Counseling for low self-esteem will help you explore your negative thoughts so that we can overcome them. As a therapist for self-esteem in Los Angeles, I will provide you with the tools and strategies that will help you embrace your true self, so you can realize that you are valuable and worthy of love and attention.