top of page

Resilience and self-esteem

Private therapy, counselling and support for low self-esteem and emotional resilience in London at Schoen Clinic Chelsea

Low self-esteem can affect us all. Whether it’s not having a great day at work, or self-image issues, or a feeling that things aren't going as well as we'd like them to.

But it can become a real issue when it starts to impact you regularly, or more severely. Mental health issues can be difficult to talk about, even to those closest to us.

scrabble letters that read "self esteem"

What is emotional resilience


Emotional resilience is an individual's capacity to be able to bounce back and maintain psychological well-being in the face of tough times, adversity, stress, or serious life-changing events. It involves the ability to cope with and recover from setbacks, trauma, or significant life changes while maintaining overall mental health. It is closely aligned with self-esteem, as an interconnected aspect of mental health and wellbeing.


They influence one another in very connected ways, and there is known to be a feedback loop between emotional resilience and self-esteem. Positive experiences of successfully navigating challenges can boost self-esteem, reinforcing a sense of competence and coping ability. Conversely, higher self-esteem can enhance an individual's capacity to navigate future challenges with resilience.


What causes low self-esteem?


Low self-esteem can be a complex mental health issue that affects individuals in different ways. Getting to the root cause of what causes these feelings is part of the challenge, as a number of things can contribute to overall feelings that cause low self-esteem. Some of these are:


Childhood trauma or otherwise stressful experiences


Abuse, neglect, and physical or sexual abuse can have a profound effect on self-image. Criticism from, or overly demanding parents, and lack of support networks in developmental childhood can also be contributing factors, as well as toxic relationships with friends, loved ones, or partners.


Cultural and Social Influences


Messaging from the media portraying what success looks like can set unrealistic standards which are often attributed to low self-esteem and lead to poor emotional resilience. This can be compounded with high societal standards, whether relating to comparisons to others, or pressure to success. Failure from an academic or professional perspective can further exacerbate these.


Negative Life Events


Events like social rejection, bullying, a failed or unhealthy relationship, or more significant life events such as grief or loss can severely impact self-esteem, especially if individuals internalise these events as reflections of their worth. These are just some of the dozens of factors that can influence self-esteem and how an individual perceives themselves and manages to cope with difficult times in life.


These factors can all influence and often compound one another, making spotting someone with poor self-esteem difficult.


Here at Schoen Clinic, our specialised treatment for low self-esteem and resilience issues is designed to help you to increase your self-worth and get back to those great relationships you have in your life with loved ones, work, friends, and family.


Start your treatment journey to better self-esteem today. For fast access to specialised private mental health treatment in London at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, you can use your health insurance or simply fund your own treatment. Call our caring team directly on 020 3146 2300 or email us today.


finger on a smart phone touch screen

If you're looking for therapy or support to help build your self-esteem, our caring team in London is here to help. We have appointments available in as little as 24 hours so you can begin treatment or therapy with minimal wait.


To access private treatment as swiftly as possible, simply fill out our online pre-screening questionnaire at any time to suit you.

Treatment for low self-esteem and how to build better emotional resilience


Treatment for low self-esteem should be considered on a per-person basis as symptoms and impact on someone's life will vary greatly between individuals. Some of the more effective ways our specialist treats low self-esteem and poor emotional resilience include:


Talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Therapies challenge and help to replace negative thought patterns, helping to build more positive self-perceptions and foster self-acceptance. These are well-practised and shown to improve an individual's mindset and perception over time.


Group Therapy - providing a supportive environment for people in similar situations is proven to be a useful component of treating self-esteem and resilience issues Expressive Therapies such as art or music therapy are also known to help, and medication is sometimes prescribed to help relieve some of the more serious effects of low self-esteem, though they don't treat the underlying causes of mental health issues like poor resilience.


Treating low self-esteem can be a challenging and multi-faceted commitment, which is why we tailor our treatment plans to your individual needs. The first step to getting better is a professional diagnosis so get in touch if you’d like to speak to one of our experts about your concerns.


Our facilities are designed to help build your self-esteem and emotional resilience in the most effective way


Schoen Clinic Chelsea is one of the top mental health facilities in London. As part of a global hospital group that treats 300,000 patients yearly, we have been helping people with mental health problems like low self-esteem for more than 35 years.


Our specialist facilities are made to help you recover in the most caring and effective way possible.


Our treatment plans are produced following the latest studies from leading specialists in mental health issues like low self-esteem treatment, and we use outcome-focused techniques to provide patients with the best opportunity for recovery and relapse prevention. Our plans are bespoke to you based on your individual needs and symptoms and are regularly reviewed by a multidisciplinary team. They will work with you using a consistent and empathic approach and make sure to support you in all facets of your life.

How does low self-esteem affect us? What are the symptoms?


Low self-esteem or poor emotional resilience can have a severely detrimental impact on an individual's life.


Individuals with low self-esteem often have a negative self-image which can make them feel unworthy of love or friendship, or inadequate from a professional standpoint.


This then makes forming new relationships more difficult, or they may sabotage new relationships for fear and distrust of their own capacity.


This may also manifest itself as a fear of failure - both personally and professionally. This might lead to a reluctance to take on new challenges, which can impact career or academic aspirations, or further depression and anxiety.


These mental health issues might also manifest as serious health concerns, as chronic stress and anxiety can have real physiological effects on the body, impacting overall health and well-being. In extreme examples, this can lead to turning to substance abuse as a coping mechanism to numb emotional pain or escape feelings of inadequacy.


Other factors might include:

  • Self social isolation

  • Lack of assertiveness in most citations

  • Negative self-image

  • Over-focussing on perfectionism

  • And other complex mental health issues.


Each individual is different, so it’s important to seek medical help and get a professional diagnosis and treatment for low self-esteem.

When to seek professional help for your issues

While many of us may experience poor mental health at times in our lives, it's important to seek help for serious mental health issues as soon as symptoms or thoughts significantly impact your well-being and typical day-to-day functioning.


Some of the more serious signs can be intense emotional distress or overwhelming feelings of sadness and anxiety, change in behaviour such as not wanting to leave the house so much, or unstable eating/sleeping patterns, and generally impaired function such as changes at work or school. Mood swings and panic attacks can also be signs that a mental health condition is deteriorating, especially if they are new or unexpected.


Any thoughts of self-harm or suicide should be taken very seriously and if this is the case, please contact emergency services.


If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact Schoen Clinic where we can help you get better from the mental health issues you might be experiencing.

Our therapists are specially trained to help you recover from low self-esteem issues


Our group of mental health professionals has assisted numerous individuals in overcoming the most challenging issues around low self-esteem and resilience, leading to huge changes in their lives. The team's collective and individual expertise, specialisation in various mental health disorders, and extensive professional qualifications and accreditations mean they are best placed to help you get better.

Dr Tara Tofiq

Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist

Dr Tara Tofiq

Dr Gil Myers

Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

Dr Gil Myers

Lorraine Green

Psychotherapist

Lorraine Green

Dr Katherine Coutsoudis

Chartered Psychologist

Dr Katherine Coutsoudis

Dr Hollie Shannon

Senior Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Dr Hollie Shannon

Dr Edel McAndrew

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Edel McAndrew

Magdalena Garcia

Clinical Psychologist & Integrative Psychotherapist

Magdalena Garcia

Isabelle Nussbaum

Integrative Counsellor & Psychotherapist

Isabelle Nussbaum

Darja Lee

Integrative Psychotherapist

Darja Lee

Lia Brown

Psychotherapist

Lia Brown
Using a Touch Phone

Get in touch

  • LinkedIn

Thanks for reaching out, we'll be in touch soon!

bottom of page