Self-Doubt therapy for teens and young adults
I work with people who are figuring out who they are, where they’re going, and how to manage everything that comes with growing up and becoming your own person. If self-doubt has you second-guessing every choice, we can slow things down and look at what’s underneath it.
What people bring me
People often come in feeling like they can’t trust their own judgment. They may replay conversations, compare themselves to everyone around them, or freeze when they have to make a choice. Sometimes they look put together on the outside while feeling unsure, embarrassed, or smaller than they want to feel. It can make school, work, relationships, and everyday decisions feel heavier than they should.
- I second-guess everything I say.
- I act confident, but I’m not sure about anything.
- I keep waiting for someone to tell me I’m wrong.
- I compare myself to everyone and come up short.
We’ll pay attention to the voice in your head and what it’s been trying to protect.
How I work with it
I use CBT, DBT, and Psychodynamic approaches to look at the thoughts, feelings, and old patterns that keep self-doubt stuck in place. The work can include noticing harsh self-talk, finding ways to respond differently, and making sense of why certain situations hit so hard. I keep the sessions collaborative, so we can sort through what feels true and what’s been handed to you.
- CBT
- CBT helps us catch the thoughts that turn one mistake into a bigger story about who you are. We work with those thoughts directly and keep it tied to real moments in your life.
- DBT
- DBT gives us tools for handling the wave of feeling that can come with self-doubt. That can include slowing down, noticing what you’re reacting to, and choosing what to do next.
- Psychodynamic
- Psychodynamic work can help us understand where the doubt comes from and why it has such a hold on you. We look at the relationships and experiences that may still shape how you see yourself.
What the first sessions look like
In the first sessions, we talk about where the doubt shows up most and what it gets in the way of. We also look at what you’ve been telling yourself, and what you want to feel more solid in, without expecting you to have that figured out already.
Questions people ask
Why do I doubt myself even when other people believe in me?
That’s a common thing to wonder about in therapy. We can look at what your mind learned to expect and why that voice stays so convincing.
Can therapy help with feeling lost about who I am?
Yes, that question fits this work well. We can use therapy to look at the parts of yourself that feel clear and the parts that still feel uncertain.
What happens if I keep talking myself out of everything?
We’ll notice that pattern together and look at what it protects you from. Then we can think about what it costs you, day to day.
Do you work with self-doubt help for young adults?
I do. Young adulthood can bring a lot of pressure to have it all figured out, and that can make self-doubt louder.
About Katie McHugh Psychotherapy
Katie McHugh offers therapy for teens in New York for anxiety, self-doubt, relationship stress, and life changes. My first session starts with what brings you in.
Katie McHughLCSW
Talk it through with Katie
Tell us what has been going on and we will take it from there.