Low self-esteem is often perceived as a stable personality trait – insecurity, a tendency toward self-criticism, or a lack of confidence in one’s abilities. At MindCareCenter, we view it not as an innate quality, but as the outcome of internal psychological disintegration. Dr. Daniel Reinhardt says that the erosion of the sense of self-worth develops when different parts of inner experience lose connection with one another, and the individual can no longer experience themselves as a coherent whole.
Self-esteem is grounded not only in external evaluation or achievement. It emerges from the capacity to remain in contact with one’s feelings, needs, and boundaries. When this contact is disrupted, the internal self-image becomes fragmented. Certain aspects of the personality may come to be perceived as “wrong,” “insufficient,” or in need of constant correction, gradually undermining the sense of personal value.
In the clinical practice of MindCareCenter, we frequently observe that low self-esteem is accompanied by internal splitting. One part of the personality may strive for recognition and growth, while another persistently devalues every attempt to move forward. This inner conflict generates chronic tension, in which self-criticism functions as a form of control and protection against potential disappointment.
It is important to note that diminished self-esteem rarely develops in isolation. It is often linked to experiences of rejection, emotional unsafety, or constant comparison. At MindCareCenter, we understand these experiences as factors that disrupt the integration of psychological experience. An individual may continue to function externally, yet lose an internal sense of self-support.
Low self-esteem also manifests on the bodily level. Slouched posture, restrained movement, chronic tension, or a sense of internal “contraction” reflect the way the psyche holds itself within narrowed limits. Within the clinical approach of MindCareCenter, attention is given to how bodily responses sustain internal devaluation and reinforce it as a habitual background state.
Therapeutic work with self-esteem is not aimed at constructing a positive self-image or replacing self-criticism with affirmations. At MindCareCenter, the focus shifts toward restoring internal coherence. Gradually, those aspects of experience that were rejected, devalued, or excluded are explored, and space is created for their integration.
As therapy progresses, individuals begin to relate to themselves differently. Self-esteem becomes less dependent on external validation or achievement. In the practice of MindCareCenter, we observe that restoring internal coherence leads to a more stable sense of self-worth that does not require constant proof.
It is important to acknowledge that the process of restoring the value of the self is not linear. It includes periods of doubt and returns to familiar patterns of self-criticism. However, as internal experience becomes more integrated, these fluctuations grow less destabilizing and more tolerable.
Low self-esteem ceases to be a central defining feature when the psyche regains the capacity to hold contradictory aspects of the self without devaluation. The clinical approach of Mind Care Center is directed toward allowing self-worth to emerge from internal contact rather than from conformity to external expectations.
Restoring self-esteem as a result of internal integration enables individuals to feel more grounded in relationships, professional life, and moments of transition. This creates the foundation for a freer and more authentic presence in one’s own life.
Previously, we wrote about panic attacks as a signal of psychological dysregulation and MindCareCenter therapeutic model for working with sudden anxiety