Imposter Syndrome – Is it you or is it them?

So much has been written about Imposter Syndrome from the American Psychological Association all the way to Tik Tok.  The gist of it is all about self-doubt.  You have this nagging belief that you just are not quite as intelligent as everyone else at the table even though you are firmly in that seat.

Dr. Valarie Young is an expert on this topic and has identified five key types:

• The perfectionist - one who feels shame if any task is completed less than perfect

• the expert - one who feels failure for a minor lack of knowledge

• the soloist - a person who feels shame if they need to ask for help

• the natural genius - someone who feels failure if they aren’t immediately an expert at a particular skill

• the superhuman - one who feels shame if they fall short in any of the multiple roles they juggle

  
  

What experts have also learned is this syndrome is found more commonly among women and people of color.  This is what leads us to think is really “you” or is it “them”?  With “them” meaning society and all of its structural norms preventing women and people of color from having a seat at the table.

As a result focusing on developing diversity so others can see themselves in these spaces more easily is key to overcoming Imposter Syndrome.  However, I also recognize that those changes may be a long time coming so as I work with clients in therapy I focus treatment around helping them to recognize their accomplishments and capabilities to reduce some of those anxious feelings attached to Imposter Syndrome.  I also normalize this feeling that even the brightest and best in the room may feel self-doubt at times but it does not take away from their accomplishments and the work done to get there.

Next time you begin to have those self-doubting thoughts in your head, remind yourself that there are likely some structural norms at play helping to create this self-doubt and that you are also likely not the only one in the room to have them.