Danielle Jacques

I work with the pervasive feeling of "I'm not good enough" that comes from an accumulation of imperfections or from a specific, painful point of regret. This undercurrent of pain runs different ways. You might defend yourself and wish people could see all the ways you are trying. Or maybe you feel the kick of motivation to compensate for your faults and earn the belonging and trust you desire. This anxiety can manifest as perfectionism, codependence, people-pleasing, or burnout.

Alternatively, you may become harsh with yourself, and hold others at arm’s reach to protect them or to protect yourself from the pain of failing others. You may feel discouraged to take on challenges so you don’t subject yourself to more feedback from the world about why you are not good enough. Eventually, the feeling of failure and withdrawal could develop into depression. Most approaches to fighting or deflecting shame are a losing battle that only reinforce the feeling that we are never good enough.

I would love to support you with shifting your system of self-esteem and self-efficacy. We will build a new way of relating to yourself with care, acceptance, and flexibility. This way will offer relief from the fight you have been in for some time, and you will learn to embrace yourself with the acceptance that you have been yearning for for even longer.