Services / Confidence and Self Esteem
Registered Psychologist, Calgary ABTherapy for Confidence and Self Esteem in Calgary
Available in-person in Calgary SW and virtually across Alberta.
A harsh inner critic can be so familiar that you stop noticing it is there. Therapy for confidence and self esteem helps you understand where that voice came from, soften it, and build a steadier, kinder relationship with yourself.
Understanding self esteem
Confidence is built, not born
Low self esteem rarely appears out of nowhere. It is usually learned, shaped by early experiences, comparison, criticism, or times you were made to feel not quite enough. Over the years that can settle into a quiet belief that you are less capable, less worthy, or less lovable than the people around you. The good news is that what was learned can be unlearned.
Therapy for confidence and self esteem looks underneath the surface behaviours, the people pleasing, the perfectionism, the fear of taking up space, and helps you understand and gently rewrite the beliefs driving them. This is not about forced positivity. It is about building self worth that actually holds.
Confidence is not thinking you are the best. It is no longer needing to prove you are enough.
You might recognise
Signs this therapy could help
- A loud inner critic that magnifies every mistake
- Difficulty accepting compliments or believing your own worth
- People pleasing and trouble saying no
- Comparing yourself to others and coming up short
- Holding back from opportunities out of fear of failing
- Feeling like an impostor despite real accomplishments
- Basing your worth on productivity or others' approval
How we work
From self criticism to self compassion
Using approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and emotion focused work, we identify the patterns keeping your self esteem low and practice new, kinder ways of relating to yourself. You will learn to notice the critic without obeying it, to set boundaries that protect your energy, and to make choices guided by your values rather than fear.
Over time this work tends to ripple outward, into how you show up at work, in relationships, and in the quiet moments alone with your own thoughts. Sessions are available in person in Calgary and virtually across Alberta.
Our space
A calm, private space in Calgary SW
Our approach
How we approach self-esteem counselling
Low self-esteem is built from patterns of thought and experience. Self-esteem counselling works to understand those patterns and gently change them.
Chloe draws on CBT and ACT based tools to quiet the inner critic, alongside deeper work on where the self-doubt came from. It stays warm and practical, never like homework for its own sake.
The aim is lasting confidence that comes from the inside, not a temporary boost.
Your therapist
Meet Chloe, your self-esteem therapist
Chloe Machielse is a Registered Psychologist in Calgary and an experienced self-esteem therapist. She offers a warm, steady, and affirming space.
Her style is collaborative and unhurried. You will never be pushed to talk about more than feels safe. Sessions are available in person in Calgary SW and virtually across Alberta.
Book a free consultThe details
Confidence and self-esteem therapy in Calgary SW, with us
Where. In person at 5940 Macleod Trail SW, Suite 103, Calgary, inside Park Psychology, with parking on site. Virtual sessions available across Alberta.
Session length. 50 minutes.
Session fee. Contact us for current rates.
Payment and insurance. Sessions are with a Registered Psychologist, so they are eligible for reimbursement under most extended health plans that cover psychologists. You receive a receipt after each session to submit to your insurer.
Getting started. Book a free 15 minute consult by phone to see if it is a fit.
Common questions
Self-esteem therapy: FAQ
Can therapy really change how I see myself?
Yes, though not overnight. Self-esteem is built from patterns of thought and experience, and those can shift with steady, practical work. Small changes add up.
Is low confidence the same as anxiety?
They often travel together but are not identical. We look at what is actually driving it for you, whether that is self-criticism, past experiences, or fear of judgment, and work from there.
What does this work look like week to week?
A mix of understanding where the inner critic comes from and practicing new ways of responding to it. It stays warm and human, never like homework for its own sake.
Is self-esteem therapy covered by insurance in Alberta?
Sessions are with Chloe Machielse, a Registered Psychologist, so they are eligible for reimbursement under most extended health plans that cover psychologists. You pay at the time of session and receive a receipt to submit to your insurer. Check your plan for psychologist coverage and any annual limit.
Get in touch
Prefer to reach out first? Send a message
No pressure and no commitment. Booking the free consult through Jane takes a few steps, so if you would rather just say hello and ask a question, use this and Chloe will reply personally.
You are allowed to take up space
Book a free 15 minute consultation and take a first step toward a steadier sense of self.
Book Your Free Consultation