Problems with self-esteem and self-image can be quietly corrosive, shaping how a person approaches work, relationships, and everyday decisions long before they are named as a problem in their own right. They may appear as chronic self-doubt, a harsh inner critic, difficulty accepting praise, or a sense of never quite measuring up, regardless of actual accomplishment.
Psychoanalytic therapy treats self-esteem not as a fixed trait but as something formed early and reinforced over time, often through relationships and experiences a person may not fully remember or recognize as influential. By exploring where these self-perceptions come from and how they are maintained in the present, treatment allows for a more accurate and durable sense of self to develop.
Dr. Hartman has worked with self-esteem and self-image problems for over 50 years, in individual psychotherapy and psychoanalysis with patients from adolescence to old age. Sessions are held online by secure video for residents of Washington, DC, Florida, and Michigan, and, through PsyPact, residents of 40+ additional states.
Contact Dr. Hartman to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.