Counseling for People-pleasing

People-pleasing looks like agreeing to things you don’t truly want to do, to avoid disappointing others

Do you struggle with saying no? Do you have a desire to be liked by everyone and have a difficult time with conflict? People-pleasing tendencies typically develop in childhood when you experience inconsistent or emotionally neglectful caregivers. People-pleasing is a trauma response to “win” the approval of those around you due to an underlying belief that you must be or act in a certain way to receive acknowledgement. This manifests in adulthood as poor boundaries and self-care.

 Common beliefs - “My worthiness is defined by what I can offer others”, “I need to be liked by everyone”, “My needs are inconvenient”,

Interpersonal challenges - Poor boundaries, lack of healthy relationships, often “at war” with yourself, feeling taken advantage of

How to heal - Identify what your needs are *see needs wheel, Reflect on what areas of your life you feel most frustrated with (this is where boundaries should be set), develop assertiveness skills *see assertiveness scripts or setting boundaries guide