IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Self-doubt is part of the human condition and can plague professionals in any field.

The term “imposter syndrome” was first coined in 1978 as “the imposter phenomenon”by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance, PhD, and Suzanne Imes, PhD.
High quality supervision is important to help new clinicians deal with their self-doubt and feelings of imposter syndrome.

Imposter Syndrome Is Common

Imposter syndrome is a form of self-doubt and can be found in people across disciplines, including health care, STEM, education and business
It can be as high as 82%. “It can affect anyone stepping into a new role or new responsibilities
- It encapsulates the idea that regardless of our accomplishments or skill, we can feel fraudulent and fear being exposed as such.
- “I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Imposter syndrome is exacerbated in the counseling profession due to the complexities of the human condition.
- Clinicians can feel fear because these are real human beings seeking help.
- It is self-doubt ramped up

Contributing Factors

Childhood family dynamics, especially where siblings were compared within the family
Not fitting in: feelings of inferiority in school or other places
When from or working with marginalized and minority populations
Special circumstances such as being older or starting later
When there are differing cultural norms, beliefs, or values
When supervision isn’t engaged or supportive

Impact

Imposter syndrome can stunt skill development
- One can’t be a counselor without competencies in skills and those skills have to be practiced.
Clinicians may end up turning down new opportunities because of the perceived risk of failing
- They may forgo research, leadership, speaking or networking opportunities
There’s a connection between imposter syndrome and burnout
- When people feel like a fraud, they may work overtime and deplete emotional, mental and physical reserves
Challenges in the work can increase self-doubt creating a vicious cycle

SIGNS OF IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Self-doubting comments:
- I don’t know what to do, I’m not sure I did it right, I feel inadequate, I’m scared I might harm a client, I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing
Seeking work below observed capability:
- Wanting to work with very limited populations, declining to incorporate new information or tools, seeking to do work other than counseling
Turning down opportunities:
- Avoiding clients that might challenge growth, avoiding learning opportunities, declining training or experience, not willing to discuss fears, issues, or challenges
Indicating burnout:
- Overworking, reading or training too much, acting stressed or emotional

SIX STRATEGIES TO REDUCE IMPOSTER SYNDROME

You already have the skills to overcome insecurity
- Implement previously developed skills.
- Simply by arriving at this stage of accomplishment, the clinician has demonstrated skills needed to overcome doubts
You are in the top nine
- See and understand current progress
- Only about 9% of Americans have a master’s degree and have overcome doubts related to even getting the degree
Your normal is someone else’s goal
- Take note of self-growth and improvements.
- Clinicians usually have developed skills related to their own self-work and have the tools that clients desperately need
Accept that clinicians don’t always get to see the results
- Much of the work clients do occurs outside the therapy session, and even after therapy ends
- Note how seeds the clinician planted are being influenced positively by other learning
See yourself in context
- Beginning clinicians are not expected to be equal to experienced clinicians
- Who the therapist is accounts for far more of the variance of change (6 to 9 percent) than the model or technique administered (1 percent)
See development as a journey - mastery in mental health is a lifelong proces
- Humans are complex…. No one is ever going know someone else completely
- The science of human behavior is merely at the toddler stage

USE TOOLS TO REDUCE IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Reframe
- Embrace the insecurity – it indicates recognition of the gravity of the work
- Normalize the insecurity
  - Jamie McNally explains that he has supervised over 100 new clinicians in five years and only two have felt they knew what they were doing
Administer compassion/self-compassion
- Exercising compassion honors being human
  - Has a proven ability to reduce self-criticism and stress and increase positive self-attributions
  - Doing so models behavior that is desired in clients
- Look for, talk about, and document positive experiences and success
Increase knowledge and skill
- Create own “consult team”, review research, take courses
- Don’t wait for CEU requirements after licensure.

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