Get to know the voice that says you're not enough, and learn to answer it back, with an accredited therapist by secure video.
That voice in your head that says you are not good enough, not clever enough, not doing enough. Most people hear it now and again. For some people it hardly ever stops.
Online therapy gives you somewhere private to look at that, from your own home, anywhere in Ireland. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral or a neat explanation of what is wrong. Sessions happen by secure video, so nobody has to see you walking into a building.
Self-esteem is what you believe about your own worth. Everyone has flat days and wobbly moments before a presentation. Low self-esteem is different: a steady, background belief that there is something lacking in you, one that stays put even when things go well.
Signs that it has taken hold of everyday life often look like this:
Where does it come from? Usually from more than one place. Childhood where affection felt conditional. A parent or teacher whose criticism stuck. Bullying, discrimination, a relationship that chipped away at you, a bereavement, a job loss, or years of holding yourself to standards nobody else is held to. The NHS guidance on raising low self-esteem describes similar roots and everyday effects.
The effects spread quietly. You keep the peace instead of saying what you need. You stay in the job. Decisions become exhausting because every option feels like a chance to get it wrong. Anxiety and low mood often travel alongside it, and social life shrinks because it feels safer that way. Therapy does look at the underlying causes, not only the surface habits, though it starts wherever you are rather than at the beginning of your life story.
The first thing therapy offers is a confidential space where you are not being assessed. You get to say the unflattering things out loud, to someone who is not going to flinch, and slowly work out where those beliefs began and what keeps feeding them now.
From there, the work with your therapist tends to cover:
This work suits long-standing difficulties too, including self-worth problems that come with anxiety or depression. If you are in crisis or need specialist care, therapy on its own may not be enough, and your therapist will say so plainly.
A first session is just a conversation.
There is no single right answer. A few approaches come up often:
| Approach | What it focuses on | May suit you if |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) | Spotting negative beliefs and the assumptions built on them, then testing them out instead of avoiding | You want something structured and practical |
| Compassion-focused therapy | Shame and a harsh inner critic, building a kinder internal voice | Criticising yourself feels automatic and relentless |
| Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) | Acting on what matters to you, even while difficult thoughts are present | You are tired of fighting your own thinking |
| Integrative counselling | A mix, shaped around your history, needs and goals | Your difficulties do not fit one neat box |
Honestly, the label matters less than most websites suggest. What makes the difference is a qualified therapist you can be straight with. That relationship does most of the heavy lifting.
Practically, it is simpler than people expect:
The first session is mostly you talking and your therapist listening. What has been going on lately, some of the background, what you would like to be different, and how confidentiality works, including the limited situations where it has to be broken. You do not need polished goals.
Does it work as well as sitting in a room with someone? Research on video therapy for common difficulties such as anxiety and depression has generally found outcomes broadly comparable to in-person work, and it removes the commute, the waiting room and the shortage of therapists in your county. Some people still prefer face to face, and that is a fair preference. Worth agreeing at the start: what happens if the call drops, and who you contact between sessions if things get urgent.
Small things, done regularly, beat grand resolutions.
None of this is forced positive thinking, which rarely survives contact with a bad week. It is repetition. When it falls apart, and it will sometimes, that becomes the next session’s material.
Check a few things before you book:
Match the credential to the title. Counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland are commonly accredited with the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) or the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP), while psychologists are usually members of the Psychological Society of Ireland. For private therapy you can self-refer: no diagnosis, no GP letter. And if it does not feel right after a few sessions, you are allowed to say so or go elsewhere. That is not rudeness, it is information.
It depends on how long this has been with you and what you want from it. Some people feel a shift in six to eight sessions; beliefs formed early often need longer. You and your therapist review it as you go, and you can stop whenever you choose.
Fees vary by therapist and practice, so check the current fee and the cancellation policy before you book. Some health insurance policies contribute towards counselling sessions, though cover differs a lot, so ask your insurer what your plan includes.
Very common, especially when self-esteem is the problem. Talking about yourself is exactly the thing that feels exposing. Your therapist expects it, and you can say that out loud in the first minute. Nothing has to come out in the right order.
You can book an initial session or send a confidential enquiry whenever you feel ready. Booking takes a couple of minutes and asks for:
You do not need the right words or a clear goal. “I am not sure why, I just feel rubbish about myself” is a perfectly good place to start.
Online therapy is not an emergency service. If you need urgent help, contact your GP, go to your nearest emergency department, or ring 999 or 112. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123, Pieta on 1800 247 247, or text HELLO to 50808 through Text About It. General information on mental health supports is available from the HSE.
When you're ready, we're here.
Booking takes about two minutes, and you can reschedule any time up to 24 hours before.
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