Imposter syndrome is a common theme amongst therapists as they strive to help their clients overcome challenges. It is such a unique position to be put in, having humans pay you money to help them resolve trauma.
“Hi, I keep having panic attacks, how do I stop that?” “Hi, my spouse just died and I can’t get out of bed, can you help?” “Hi, I keep having nightmares about my experience in combat, what do I do?” “Hi, I hate my body every time I look in the mirror, is it possible to overcome that?” “Hi, I have no friends and I’m lonely, what do I do?”
Clients are looking to us for the answers. No pressure…right?!
Therapists I work with often share that they question if they can really help or worry that they don’t have what it takes to actually address their clients’ concerns. Outside of clinical work, therapists experience imposter syndrome when considering career changes or implementing mental health practices in their own lives. Therapists will say, “Oh, I support my clients in navigating their relationships, implementing self-care, and doing trauma work but it’s a whole different ball game when it comes to my life!” Does this sound familiar? I want to share a few tips on how to address imposter syndrome as a therapist.
Normalize it.
Let’s start off by normalizing imposter syndrome. Brené Brown has a saying that I always go back to, she refers to it as “FFTs.” It stands for your “F*cking First Time.” She shares how anytime you do something for the first time, it is going to feel uncomfortable. You can’t be an expert at something you have never done before. When we are new at something, Brené encourages us to: normalize it, put it into perspective and reality check your expectations.
I want to encourage you that you are not the only therapist that is struggling with imposter syndrome. It is so normal! How can you know how to address a diagnosis you have never come in contact with before? How can you know how to implement a modality you have never heard of before? How can you start a group private practice when you have never been in business before? These are normal questions and concerns to have. But don’t let them stop you from moving forward.
Reframe it.
Why don’t we implement the good ol’ CBT skill of reframing in our own lives? Let’s address that inner critic, that imposter syndrome that keeps popping up, and reframe it. What if imposter syndrome is not a bad thing? What if we consider it a good thing? The reality is that change does not come in our comfort zones. Being uncomfortable is a sign of growth. And I don’t know about you, but growth is one of more core values. I don’t want to be the same person today as I was 10 years ago. I want to be a woman (and a clinician) that is constantly learning and evolving. What if imposter syndrome is a sign of growth? What if we decide that imposter syndrome is not something to get rid of, but instead embrace and accept the fact that it is a necessary reality as an evolving human being.
Let it fuel you
You know how people will take something negative said about them and let it fuel them as motivation to prove that person wrong? And not that I’m really a believer in letting bullies be your biggest motivator, but they can play a role in our growth! What if we decide together to let our imposter syndrome ignite change within us? Let’s use imposter syndrome to gain insight and direction.
What are you afraid of? What do you question about yourself? Maybe there is some truth there. Maybe you are nervous because you have never used EMDR with a client before and the reality is, you should probably get some more training before you do it. Maybe you are afraid of failing a test and that is because you really do need to study to have a realistic chance at passing. I truly believe that between us and our next biggest accomplishment are a series of skills that need to be learned, relationships to be formed, and negative beliefs to be overcome. So ask yourself, “What skills can I practically work on developing in order to do this thing I am afraid of?” “What people have gone before me that could mentor me along the way?” “What inner work do I need to do to overcome my negative beliefs?”
And at some point in time, if this is something that is important to you, eventually you are just going to have to do the thing. It will be messy at first, but experience brings confidence. The more you do something, the more you can practice and prove to yourself that you are capable.
Focus on your big picture “why”?
I have found that when I am nervous about something, focusing on the bigger picture helps me move forward. When I’m learning something new as a therapist, I think about my clients struggling and my desire to help them. When I think about an opportunity to do something new in my career, I think about the role model I want to be for my daughter. When I think about a challenging situation I have to address in my group practice, I think about the culture I want to create and preserve.
If we have a clear “why” it helps us overcome the smaller discomforts. So, if you haven’t done this before, do a journaling exercise and get really clear on your “why” and what motivates you. Maybe get creative and design a vision board. I make one every year and hang it in my office so I see it everyday as a reminder of the goals I am pursuing, the human I want to be and the life I want to have.
Address it in therapy.
Talk to a professional about your imposter syndrome. Yes, I said it-go to therapy! Consider what experiences in your life have developed these neural pathways in your brain. Maybe your imposter syndrome is associated with trauma? If we have had the same negative belief run through our minds over and over again over our lifetime, that pathway isn’t going to change in a day. Maybe you have legitimate reasons to believe negative beliefs such as “I’m not good enough,” “I’m not safe,” “I’m incapable.” Impactful experiences can cement these beliefs into our brains. But guess what…therapy can help that! Our brains and our bodies are capable of change! It does take work though. And it’s vulnerable and uncomfy. But you are so worth it.
We only touched the surface addressing how imposter syndrome shows up for therapists, but I hope these few tips can give you a sense of where to start! Don’t let insecurities and self-doubt paralyze you. Learn from imposter syndrome, make a plan to address it and lean in. If you want to dive deeper into this topic, I’ve created a free course on overcoming imposter syndrome, just for you. Check it out here!
