Change the way you talk to yourself
By Lucy Wren, MNCPS (Acc.), accredited counsellor in Leith, Edinburgh.
Counselling for confidence and self-worth in Leith, Edinburgh and online. Because the voice in your head does not have to be your harshest critic.
Is this for you?
Low confidence and self-worth often hide behind very capable lives. You might notice:
- A relentless inner critic that discounts every success
- Feeling like a fraud at work, however well you actually do
- Saying yes when you mean no, and resenting it afterwards
- Shrinking in meetings, groups or relationships
- Measuring your worth by productivity, appearance or other people’s approval
- Struggling to accept a compliment or ask for what you need
How counselling can help
Self-worth is not built by repeating affirmations you do not believe. It tends to grow when you understand where the critical voice came from, often early experiences and old relationships, and start relating to yourself differently. Psychodynamic and transactional analysis work can help trace those roots; person-centred counselling offers the experience of being valued exactly as you are; and CBT-informed tools can help challenge the critic’s claims in the moment. Clients often describe gradually feeling more able to take up space in their own lives.
What happens in a session
We get curious about the critic rather than fighting it: whose voice it echoes, what it is afraid would happen if it went quiet, and what a fairer inner voice would actually say. Between sessions, small experiments, such as a boundary kept or a request made, can turn insight into lived change, but only at a pace you choose.
Sessions and fees
- 60-minute sessions
- In person at Health by Science, Leith: £60 per hour
- Online by video call: £50 per hour
- Free 15-minute introductory chat first
Full details on the Fees page.
Common questions
Is this a bit self-indulgent compared to real problems? That question is usually the inner critic talking. How you feel about yourself shapes everything else, including relationships, work and health. It is worth real attention.
How long does building confidence take? It varies. Some people feel movement within a handful of sessions; deeper patterns can take longer. We review regularly so the work stays worthwhile.
Will you give me exercises? If they would help, yes, drawn from CBT and mindfulness. They are always optional and always discussed first.
About the counsellor
Lucy Wren is an Accredited Registrant of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (MNCPS Acc.), with more than 20 years of experience in person-centred care. She works pluralistically, drawing on person-centred, psychodynamic, CBT and transactional analysis approaches, in person in Leith and online across the UK. You can read more about Lucy, or view her entry on the NCPS public register.
In person in Leith, or online across the UK
Address:
Counselling Edinburgh
99 Giles Street,
Leith,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6BZ
Contact Details:
Tel. 0131 210 0149
Email: lucy@healthbyscience.co.uk
Opening Hours.
Monday to Thursday: 8:00AM – 8:00PM