Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Written By Bethany Hofman

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Did you know that between 70-82% of mental health professionals have experienced imposter syndrome (Abramson, A., 2021)? That means if you have ever felt a touch of imposter syndrome…like a fraud…ineffective…feeling lost…YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Imposter syndrome is very real! It is very common. And living with it can plague you and cause burnout or impede your work with clients. We tell our clients that they are important enough to heal. Well, guess what…

You are important and should not have to continue to feel this way.

Let’s clarify… What is imposter syndrome? It is the negative beliefs surrounding your effectiveness and worth in the mental health field. Maybe it is feeling like a fraud? Maybe it is feeling like a client or a colleague will find out that you don’t know what you are doing? It is a persistent pull of self-doubt and inadequacy. A persistent fear of failure.

What are symptoms of imposter syndrome?

  • Self-doubt

  • Feeling inadequate

  • Compassion fatigue

  • Feeling ineffective

  • Constant comparison

  • Decreased self-compassion

  • Constant Criticism

  • Burn-out

  • Can lead to anxiety or depression

So then what can help?

  • Celebrate your clients’ wins!

  • Stop comparing yourself to others.

  • Stop negative thought, challenge validity, and ground yourself in truth.

  • Talk with colleagues to normalize your feelings.

EMDR to treat imposter syndrome…

What EMDR does is it decreases the distressing symptoms of imposter syndrome. First you identify a target that is feeding the imposter syndrome. Maybe it started in graduate school when you felt like school was harder for you than others. Maybe it was a bad supervisory experience where you were constantly criticized. Maybe it is a bad session that you keep replaying in your head. Or maybe someone gave you a bad review. Or maybe you feel like your clients are stuck or would progress better with others. Maybe you feel as though you don’t measure up to your colleagues.

Whatever the experience was, EMDR will target it for reprocessing. Through bilateral stimulation (tapping or eye movement) the experience is reprocessed from the maladaptive form to an adaptive form. Those distressing symptoms, triggers, and negative beliefs subside allowing you to return to your work with less doubt and more effectiveness. EMDR is truly a healing experience.

Abiding Waters Counseling is currently offering Imposter Syndrome EMDR Groups for Therapists ONLY in October. The cool thing is, you are not required to discuss what you are targeting for reprocessing. You are able to process confidentially yet also receive the benefits of not being alone in your experience. At the end of the reprocessing, there will be a chance to share or hear from others about their healing experience. CLICK HERE if you are interested in signing up (spots are limited). You can read more about the group protocol HERE. Or read about the October EMDR groups HERE.

Reference

Abramson, A. (2021). How to overcome imposter phenomenon. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/06/cover-impostor-phenomenon        

Bethany Hofman
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