Jelysa Deserio Jelysa Deserio

Building Self-Esteem and Overcoming Anxiety: A Path to Healing and Growth

It all begins with an idea.

Life in your twenties/thirties can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. It’s a time of change, growth, and sometimes overwhelming uncertainty. Whether you’re navigating new responsibilities, relationships, or your place in the world, it’s easy to feel lost, anxious, and unsure of yourself. If you struggle with low self-esteem and anxiety, know that you are not alone. Many young women experience these feelings, and it is entirely possible to heal and grow from them.

At Take 2 Counseling, we understand that these challenges can weigh heavily on your mind, making it hard to feel confident in yourself or your future. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to face these struggles alone. Therapy can provide you with the tools, insight, and support you need to navigate this journey toward emotional wellness and self-discovery.

Why Do I Struggle with Self-Esteem and Anxiety?

As a young adult, you may find that your self-esteem often takes a hit from societal pressures, personal experiences, or past trauma. You might constantly compare yourself to others or feel like you’re not “good enough” despite your best efforts. At the same time, anxiety might sneak in, making even everyday tasks feel overwhelming. Whether it’s worrying about the future, your career, or your relationships, anxiety can create a constant sense of fear and self-doubt.

It’s important to understand that these feelings are not a reflection of who you truly are. They’re often symptoms of deeper emotional struggles that can be addressed and worked through with the right tools and support.

How Therapy Can Help You Heal and Grow

Therapy isn’t just for people in crisis; it’s an invaluable tool for anyone who wants to improve their mental and emotional well-being. Here’s how therapy can help you overcome self-esteem and anxiety issues:

  1. Building Self-Worth:
    Through therapy, we work together to uncover the root causes of your self-doubt and negative self-talk. By exploring your experiences, values, and personal strengths, we can reframe your perspective and focus on what makes you uniquely capable and worthy of love, success, and happiness.

  2. Learning Healthy Coping Skills:
    Anxiety can feel like a constant companion, but with the right strategies, you can manage and reduce its impact. Therapy provides you with techniques like mindfulness, grounding exercises, and cognitive behavioral strategies to help you regain control over your thoughts and emotions.

  3. Understanding Your Emotions:
    One of the most powerful aspects of therapy is gaining a deeper understanding of your emotional patterns. Through open and honest conversations, we will explore how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. This insight can empower you to break free from destructive cycles and build healthier habits for your mental and emotional well-being.

  4. Creating Positive Changes in Your Life:
    Therapy isn’t just about managing symptoms; it’s about making meaningful changes that lead to growth. By addressing underlying issues and gaining clarity on your goals, you can start building a life that aligns with your true self. Whether it’s improving your relationships, finding your passion, or setting healthy boundaries, therapy can guide you toward a fulfilling future.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

It’s normal to feel uncertain about therapy, especially if it’s something new to you. But I want to reassure you that therapy is a space where you can be yourself, free from judgment. At Take 2 Counseling, I provide a compassionate, non-judgmental environment where we can work together to heal, grow, and build the life you deserve.

Taking the first step might feel difficult, but it’s the most important one toward feeling empowered, confident, and at peace. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, self-esteem issues, or both, therapy offers the opportunity to create lasting change. You are capable of growth, and I’m here to help you discover that strength.

Ready to start your journey toward healing?
If you’re ready to take that first step toward a healthier, more confident you, I invite you to schedule a consultation with me. Together, we can work on overcoming your challenges and creating the life you’ve always dreamed of.

Take 2 Counseling is here to support you every step of the way.

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Jelysa Deserio Jelysa Deserio

How Therapy Can Help You Build Self-Worth

It all begins with an idea.

Do you ever feel like you’re not “enough”? Like you’re constantly comparing yourself to others, second-guessing your decisions, or striving for perfection just to feel worthy?

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Low self-worth is a silent struggle for many young women, especially during times of transition or uncertainty. Whether it's due to past experiences, family dynamics, trauma, or the pressures of social media and modern life, these feelings can leave you feeling anxious, stuck, or disconnected from who you truly are.

But here’s the truth: you are already enough—just as you are. Therapy can help you believe that.

What Is Self-Worth, Really?

Self-worth is your internal sense of being valuable and deserving of love, respect, and belonging. It’s different from confidence or competence in a specific skill—self-worth is about how you feel about yourself at your core.

When your self-worth is low, it can impact nearly every area of life—from relationships and career choices to your ability to manage stress or set healthy boundaries.

The good news? Self-worth isn’t fixed. It can be nurtured and rebuilt.

How Therapy Helps You Reclaim Your Self-Worth

Here are some of the ways therapy can support your journey:

1. Identifying the Root Causes

Therapy provides a safe space to explore your past—whether it’s painful experiences, toxic relationships, or childhood messages that shaped your sense of self. Understanding where your feelings of inadequacy stem from is the first step toward healing.

2. Challenging Negative Self-Talk

Many of us live with an inner critic that whispers things like, “You’re not good enough,” or “You’ll never succeed.” In therapy, you’ll learn how to recognize these thought patterns and replace them with more compassionate, realistic beliefs.

3. Learning to Set Boundaries

When you struggle with self-worth, it’s easy to overextend yourself or stay in unhealthy relationships out of fear of rejection. Therapy teaches you how to honor your own needs, say “no” when necessary, and surround yourself with people who uplift and support you.

4. Reconnecting With Your Strengths

Sometimes, we forget what makes us special. Therapy helps you reconnect with your values, strengths, and passions—reminding you of who you are beyond your doubts and insecurities.

5. Building Self-Compassion

You are human. You are allowed to make mistakes. Therapy helps you move from shame to self-acceptance, so you can treat yourself with the same kindness you give to others.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

At Take 2 Counseling, we believe healing happens in connection—with yourself, your story, and a trusted therapist who genuinely wants to help you grow. If you’re tired of feeling not good enough, if you’re ready to stop holding yourself back, therapy can be a powerful next step.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing to start.

Let’s Begin This Journey Together

If you’re looking to overcome self-doubt, manage anxiety, and start believing in yourself again, I’m here for you. You deserve a life where you feel confident, connected, and whole.

You are worthy of healing. You are worthy of peace. You are worthy of joy.

Reach out today to schedule a free consultation. Your journey to self-worth starts here.

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Jelysa Deserio Jelysa Deserio

Breaking Free from Negative Self-Talk and Embracing Growth

It all begins with an idea.

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m not good enough,” “I always mess things up,” or “Why can’t I just be like her?” These thoughts can feel so automatic, so familiar, that we begin to accept them as truth.

But here’s the truth:
That critical inner voice is not you.
It’s a collection of old messages, fears, comparisons, and pain—and it’s time to challenge it.

What Is Negative Self-Talk?

Negative self-talk is that inner dialogue that puts you down, questions your worth, and creates doubt about your abilities. It might sound like:

  • “I’ll never be successful.”

  • “No one actually likes me.”

  • “Why bother trying? I’ll just fail.”

Over time, these thoughts chip away at your confidence, feed anxiety, and prevent you from stepping into the life you want to live. It’s exhausting, isolating, and often invisible to the people around you.

Where Does It Come From?

This harsh inner voice can be shaped by many things:

  • Early life experiences (like criticism or unrealistic expectations)

  • Comparisons (especially through social media)

  • Perfectionism and fear of failure

  • Past trauma or relationship wounds

Often, these patterns are deeply rooted and go unnoticed. You might even believe that being hard on yourself keeps you motivated. But real growth doesn’t come from shame—it comes from self-compassion and understanding.

How Therapy Can Help You Break Free

You don’t have to stay stuck in this cycle. Therapy offers a path forward—one grounded in reflection, healing, and practical tools.

1. Bringing Awareness to the Inner Critic

The first step is noticing the voice. In therapy, we slow things down and start to explore where the messages are coming from and how they’re affecting you.

2. Challenging Harmful Beliefs

You’ll learn how to question and reframe negative thoughts. Instead of, “I’m not good enough,” you might learn to say, “I’m doing the best I can, and that’s enough.”

3. Developing a Kinder Inner Voice

Through practices like mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and inner child work, you’ll begin to speak to yourself with the same care you offer others.

4. Embracing Growth and Possibility

Therapy isn’t just about managing symptoms—it’s about stepping into your full potential. You’ll learn to take risks, set healthy boundaries, and show up for yourself with confidence and clarity.

This Work Takes Courage—And You’re Already Doing It

Reading this means something inside you is ready for change. That voice that told you, “you’re too broken,” or “you’ll never change,”—it’s lying.

You are not broken. You are becoming.

At Take 2 Counseling, we specialize in helping young women like you quiet the noise of self-doubt, heal old wounds, and rediscover who you truly are. You don’t have to do it alone.

Let’s Break the Cycle Together

If you’re tired of feeling stuck in your own head and ready to feel more grounded, confident, and in control, therapy might be the next step.

Let’s replace judgment with curiosity. Fear with courage. Self-doubt with self-trust.

Reach out today to schedule a free consultation. You deserve a life rooted in self-worth and possibility.

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