By Luc Boudreau, MA, Professional Counselor Associate, with advanced training in EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS)
No matter what you do, you can’t see yourself clearly—and it’s exhausting.
Even when people compliment you, you brush it off. You hold back your opinions or needs because some part of you believes you’re not important. You compare yourself constantly and always seem to fall short—even when there’s no real “measuring stick.”
It’s like looking into a mirror that’s been cracked over time by criticism, rejection, or neglect. And now, all you can see are the flaws.
You may think:
- “I’m not good enough.”
- “People are just being nice.”
- “I’ll feel better when I fix X, Y, or Z about myself.”
Luc Boudreau, MA, Professional Counselor Associate
Luc Boudreau is the founder of Clutch Psychotherapy and provides trauma-informed therapy for adults and couples. He holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and has advanced training in EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Gottman Method couples therapy. He practices in Oregon under professional supervision.