Personal growth · Individual therapy · Chicago
Therapy for Confidence and Self-Trust in Chicago
Confidence may feel available in one part of life and absent in another. You might manage difficult responsibilities while struggling to express a preference or trust your own assessment.
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What you may be noticing
- Hesitating to share an opinion
- Comparing yourself unfavorably with others
- Waiting to feel ready before trying
Your experience may look different. These examples are starting points for a conversation.
How we can work on this
We can examine the standards you use to judge yourself and practice decisions that do not require certainty. Building self-trust may involve noticing your capacity to respond and learn, rather than proving you will never get something wrong.
I am Sam Rustum, LCPC. My work is collaborative: we will discuss your priorities, choose a starting point, and check whether our approach is useful to you.
Noticing where confidence changes
You may handle complex situations at work and hesitate to tell a friend where you want to meet. Or you may feel comfortable with familiar tasks and lose trust in yourself as soon as someone is watching. Those differences can help us understand what confidence depends on in your life.
In a session, we might look closely at a moment when you held back. What did you want to say? What did you expect the other person to think? What would it mean if the attempt was awkward? We can consider both the skills you want to develop and the emotional risk of being visible while learning.
A practice might involve stating a small preference, asking a question, or trying something before you feel fully prepared. We can review the experience with attention to what you handled, including how you responded to discomfort. This may connect with repeated self-doubt or feeling out of place in a professional role.
Questions you may be asking
Do I have to feel confident before taking a step?
We can choose a considered step that leaves room for some discomfort. It should fit your circumstances and feel worth trying. What happens afterward can give us information about your expectations, support needs, and capacity to respond.
Does confidence mean becoming more outgoing?
Confidence can include a quiet opinion, a clear preference, or a willingness to ask for help. We can identify how you want to participate in your life without choosing a personality style for you.
What if trying something goes badly?
We can look at the specific outcome, what was within your control, and what would help next. Building self-trust can include learning that you can reconsider, repair, or seek guidance. An uncomfortable result deserves context.
A place to begin
Let’s make room for what you need.
A free 15-minute consultation gives us a chance to talk about what is difficult, answer your questions, and consider whether working together fits what you need.