Professional counselors & therapists with specialties in treating low self-esteem. Offices in Soldotna & Homer, Alaska.
The term self-esteem refers to a person's overall sense of self-worth and value. For most people, our feelings about ourselves change and fluctuate throughout a day or in various circumstances. One’s self esteem, however, is more fixed than the average ups and down most people feel. Having low self esteem, or a poor sense of self, can negatively impact one’s ability to live a happy and fulfilling life. Folks struggling with low self esteem are often pretty hard on themselves. Their own worst critiques, people with low self esteem may be perfectionistic, hypersensitive, jealous, withdrawn, hostile or at times, clingy. People with low self esteem are often motivated to please others, and can have a hard time making decisions for fear that their choices will make others unhappy.
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Daniela Kopec - LPC-S
Daniela has over 15 years of experience working as a counselor in the mental health field. Though she has experience working with clients across the life span, she has found that she is most passionate about walking alongside those that have experienced trauma, addressing the symptoms of anxiety and depression that are often co-ocurring. Daniela believes in utilizing an integrative approach to health and wellness that looks at mind, body and spirt, and is motivated to give people the tools to develop their inner strength and confidence to make the changes they desire. Native to the Soldotna community, Daniela has called Alaska home for many years.
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Rona Haberman - LCSW
Working out of the Homer, Alaska location, Rona has been a therapist for over twenty years, in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings as well as community mental health centers. She has experience working with people from 5 to 105, but specializes in individual therapy with adults 18 years and older. Rona feels strongly that skills such as effective communication, setting healthy boundaries, and practicing mindfulness can help people thrive even through difficult circumstances past and present.
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Autumn Collings - LMFT, LPC
Autumn is passionate about showing up with others in a way that allows them to feel deeply seen and truly known. She believes authenticity and connection are at the heart of meaningful therapeutic work, and is committed to showing up honestly and inviting her clients to do the same. She loves bringing creativity to her sessions and often offers hands-on learning opportunities for her clients, something that comes naturally to her given her history of coaching softball and being a collegiate athlete. Autumn loves to be outdoors, and enjoys fishing, hiking, and hunting.
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Ally Legard - MA
Working out of the Homer office, Ally has been dedicated to serving clients in the mental health field since 2020, primarily focusing on children and adolescents. Drawing on her experience as a former Division 1 track and cross country athlete, she brings a holistic approach to counseling, addressing both mental and physical well-being, incorporating aspects like exercise, nutrition, hydration, and sleep. Ally earned her Masters of Counseling from Oregon State University - Cascades in Bend, Oregon. She fosters a safe and welcoming environment where clients can build rapport before addressing challenging topics. Ally believes in the power of healing through a trauma-informed and client-centered approach.
What can you expect during a self-esteem counseling session?
At KPMH, you can expect a comprehensive approach to treat your struggles with poor sense of self and the associated mood management issues you’re likely dealing with. You and your provider will work together to understand not just how to manage the symptoms, but to address them at their root cause. Effectively and comprehensively addressing poor sense of self and any associated mood management difficulties with KPMH providers may include, but is not limited to:
Psychoeducation and brain-based science to help you understand what’s happening with your emotions on a physiological level.
Coping skills to support you in addressing negative thoughts and managing any associated emotions that might come with them.
Ongoing discussion and evaluation of lifestyle choices that may be contributing to or exacerbating your negative sense of self and any associated mood fluctuations. Areas of exploration may include:
Sleep
Diet/Nutrition
Supplementation
Exercise/Movement
Connectedness (time with family, friends)
Play
Time in nature
Self-care
Exploration and treatment of life events or unresolved traumas that may be at the root of your negative beliefs about yourself and any mood management issues you experience.
A practical and effective self-care plan to support you in increasing and strengthening yourself of self.
Can specialized counseling for low self esteem really help?
For those struggling with low self esteem, the internal dialogue one has with them themselves is likely pretty negative. For all of us, our ongoing internal dialogue becomes ingrained over time, and if the messages we’re constantly replaying to ourselves are negative, our sense of who we are in the world becomes shaped by that internal narrative.
These patterns of thinking and behaving become ingrained in the neural pathways of the brain, and over time, trying to think, do, or say something different becomes incredibly challenging. Getting down on ourselves is just what we do, often because it’s what we have always done, and over time, that can seriously impact one’s self esteem.
But you don’t have to stay stuck in this rut. You can create a change, and our KPMH providers are here to help! Our therapists are well versed in the brain science behind helping you create new neural pathways in your brain to support sustainable and lifelong change. They’ll work with you to identify your negative and limiting beliefs, support you in reframing your cognitions, and give you skills to increase your ability to manage your thoughts and steer clear of those negative spirals you likely get sucked into. In addition, they’ll support you in exploring and coming to understand where these negative and limiting beliefs come from, and walk alongside you to heal unresolved wounds that may be at the core of your low self-esteem.
How long does professional counseling typically last?
The length of time an individual is in counseling is situation specific and can vary. However, we at Mat-Su Mental Health are passionate about giving our clients the tools and skills they need to thrive and function well. We will cast a wide net at the onset, looking for all the contributing variables. We will build skills for managing symptoms and explore root causes that may be underlying your distress. We will take as little or as much time as you need, but we will do our very best to get you back about the business of living your life, and thriving.
How to schedule a professional counseling session.
Ready to get started? Call or email us today. Our contact info is at the bottom of this page.
Once you reach out, our on-boarding admin will contact you to gather information regarding your specific situation. They will explore with you what provider will likely best meet your needs, and support you in getting set up in our electronic health record.
KPMH uses Simple Practice, a medical record and portal system that will allow for confidential and HIPAA compliant messaging that ensures your privacy. You will be sent a portal link that directs you to online documentation to be completed prior to your initial session.
This is a great time to ask any questions you might have. After all, where you go for support is your choice, and we want you to feel empowered to assess whether or not we are the right fit for you! Here at KPMH, our providers believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential in the process of creating change. These initial conversations are important in assessing fit, as therapy is not “one size fits all.”
KPMH’s offices are conveniently located in both Soldotna and Homer. Feel free to arrive a few minutes prior to your scheduled session to grab a cup of tea and relax before meeting with your provider. We look forward to meeting you, and are honored you have chosen us to do this work alongside you.