Professional counselors and therapists in the Palmer - Wasilla area that specialize in treating low self-esteem.
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 Their own worst critics, people with low self esteem may be perfectionistic, hypersensitive, jealous, withdrawn, hostile or at times, clingy.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.
Our Team Of Self Esteem Counselors In Wasilla
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Dr. Abegail Millard - PsyD
Abegail has been serving clients in the mental health field since 2017, and has experience working with people across the lifespan. She enjoys carrying a diverse caseload, and has worked with an array of clients across a variety of settings. As a 10-year Veteran of the United States Coast Guard, she is especially passionate about providing psychological support to Veterans, and Active Duty personnel. She is thrilled to call Alaska home, while taking advantage of every opportunity for adventure. When not at work, you will find Abegail practicing yoga, paddle boarding, ice fishing, or entertaining friends and family.
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Erika McGough - LPC
Erika has been working in the mental health field since 2016, and brings experience in working with individuals across the lifespan and in various different settings. She is most passionate about supporting postpartum mothers and moms navigating parenting in early childhood, and also enjoys working with women transitioning through major life adjustments, dealing with depression and anxiety, or experiencing family and relational stressors. Erika also enjoys working with children and teens. When not at work, she can be found spending time with her family, in her mini backyard ‘urban homestead,’ or exploring and capturing the landscapes of Alaska via photography or painting.
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Sarah Bannister - LPC
Sarah is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 22 years of experience working within the mental health field. Though she has served clients in a variety of settings, the last 8 years have been dedicated to offering counseling support to individuals, groups and families in the private practice setting. When not working, Sarah can most often be found outside; hiking in Alaska’s stunning mountains, training for her next long distance run, adventuring with her daughters, or enjoying the quiet of an outdoor space with a cup of coffee and a good book.
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Haidyn Simmons - MA
Haidyn is dedicated to guiding her clients through their unique journeys toward healing and personal growth by fostering a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their thoughts and emotions.
Originally from Louisiana, Haidyn moved to Alaska two years ago and has fallen in love with the state’s breathtaking natural beauty and her community. In her free time, you can find her reading, spending time outdoors with her pets, practicing yoga, or enjoying a good cup of coffee with friends. She is currently supervised by Mary Kuepper, LPC-S.
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Mary Kuepper - LPC-S
Mary has over a decade of experience working in community based mental health. Though she has worked with people across the lifespan, she specializes in work with kids, teens and families, as well as in maternal mental health. Mary is passionate about giving people the tools they need to not only function well, but to thrive in their everyday life. Though not native to Alaska, she has fallen in love with the abundant resources of this beautiful place. When not working with clients, Mary can be found adventuring, hiking and exploring. She loves to fly fish our local creeks, dig in the dirt of her backyard garden, and get in quality time with her friends, and beautiful family.
What can you expect during a self-esteem counseling session?
At Mat-Su Mental Health, 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 MatSu Mental Health 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 the associated emotions that 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 your sense of self.
Can specialized counseling for low self esteem really help?
For those struggling with low self esteem, the internal dialogue one has with themselves is likely pretty negative. For all of us, our ongoing internal dialogue becomes ingrained over time, and if the messages that we are 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’ve 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 Mat-Su Mental Health 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.
How to schedule a professional counseling session in Wasilla.
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.
Mat-Su Mental Health 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 Mat-Su Mental Health, 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.”
MSMH’s office is conveniently located in Wasilla. 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.
FAQ’s
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Yes, we bill insurance on behalf of our clients. We also accept self pay clients.
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We do not offer a sliding scale fee for services. Many community based mental health agencies in our area, such as Denali Family Services and Matsu Health Services, do. We would encourage you to reach out to one of them if you are in need of/ looking for services offered on a sliding scale.
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We are in network with Premera, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, UMR, TriCare, TriWest and Moda. We bill most other insurances as a courtesy; many of which offer out of network benefits. If you are not insured with one of the above contracted payers, we would encourage you to reach out to your insurance company and find out the specifics regarding your out of network benefits for mental health services in an office setting. More often than not, our clients find out that services are covered, most often after having met their deductible.
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MSMH has a 24 hour cancellation policy. Though our providers certainly realize that “life happens” and late cancellations are sometimes unavoidable, we do ask that you do your best to notify your provider of a cancellation 24 hours prior to your scheduled session. Doing so allows us to fulfill other clients scheduling needs, and best serve our community.
This policy is in place out of respect for our providers, AND our clients. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice are difficult to fill. By giving last minute notice, or no notice at all, someone else is prevented from scheduling into that cancelled slot, and a 60 minute hole is left in your providers schedule.
Please be aware that clients who no call/ no show or cancel last minute will be responsible for the full billable cost of their missed session.
In an effort to avoid such circumstances, MSMH does offer a courtesy contact, either by text or voicemail, 24 hours prior to your scheduled session. Should you receive this notice and realize you are unable to attend the following days appointment, please communicate that directly with your provider through a phone call, text or email.
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At MSMH, we do not have a psychiatrist or prescribing physician on staff. Unfortunately, we do not offer any medication management services at our practice. If you think you may benefit from medication, please reach out to your Primary Care Physician, and or a community based mental health agency, as they do have med management providers in house. We are happy to offer therapeutic supports to pair alongside med management services, but we do not do the prescribing.
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We do not offer court mandated evaluations. If you have been ordered by the court to receive an evaluation, you can likely get this completed at one of the community based mental health agencies in our area.
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Inform us as soon as possible about any insurance changes. Please bring your new insurance card to your next appointment and any related documents.
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We offer individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy, group therapy, and specialized counseling for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
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Each counseling session typically lasts 50 minutes. We also offer extended sessions upon request.
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Yes, we provide online counseling through a secure telehealth platform. You can book these sessions just like in-person appointments.
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Confidentiality is paramount in our sessions. Information is only shared with your consent, except in cases of harm to self or others, as required by law.
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In emergencies, call 911 or your local emergency number. You can also contact crisis hotlines for immediate assistance.
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Bring any relevant documents, a list of questions or concerns, and be ready to discuss your goals for therapy. Think about what you want to achieve through counseling.
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Yes, you can choose your therapist based on their specialties and your preferences. We can also help match you with a therapist who fits your needs.