Low self-esteem rarely announces itself plainly. It tends to show up as a persistent inner critic, difficulty accepting praise, comparing yourself unfavourably to others, or avoiding things you would like to try because you have already decided you will fail. Over time, those habits of thought can feel like facts about who you are rather than patterns that developed for understandable reasons.
Therapy helps you see those patterns more clearly and start to shift them. That involves looking at where the negative self-beliefs came from, what keeps them going, and how to actively question them rather than accepting their narrative. Work might also include setting small, achievable goals that build evidence of your own competence, and developing self-compassion as an ongoing practice rather than a fixed state you either have or do not.