If you've ever found yourself putting others' needs before your own, constantly seeking approval, or feeling unable to express your true thoughts and feelings, you might be dealing with people-pleasing tendencies. Let’s delve into the definition of people-pleasing, its potential impact on your life, and how therapy can help you navigate this complex pattern.

Many clients seek out therapy when people-pleasing habits are getting in the way of their peace and fulfillment. But for most of us, people-pleasing was an effective survival strategy in our formative years. So how did this way of coping shift so dramatically from helpful to harmful? Let's start at the beginning.