You’re Not Faking It: How Therapy Can Help with Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt
What If You’re Not a Fraud After All?
You’ve achieved something meaningful, a promotion, praise, an accomplishment. And yet, a quiet panic follows. You worry someone will realize you’re not as capable as they think. You feel like a performer, not a participant.
That fear has a name: Imposter Syndrome. And it’s more than a mindset. It’s often a protective pattern that develops in high-pressure environments or in response to early emotional experiences.
At Tidal Trauma Centre, we work with people who feel like they’re performing confidence while carrying self-doubt inside. Therapy offers more than a pep talk. It helps you change the way you relate to yourself.
What Imposter Syndrome Really Feels Like
Imposter syndrome doesn’t always look like insecurity. Sometimes it looks like:
Over-preparing before every meeting or email
Dismissing compliments or praise
Avoiding visibility or promotion despite qualifications
Chronic second-guessing or perfectionism
A harsh inner critic that never lets up
You might know you're good at what you do. But that knowledge feels fragile, easily undone by one mistake, one moment of doubt.
This isn’t just about humility. It’s about fear: fear of being seen, fear of being wrong, fear of not being enough.
How Trauma-Informed Therapy Helps
We don’t treat imposter syndrome as a flaw to fix. We see it as a strategy, one that may have formed in environments where love was conditional, mistakes were punished, or high achievement was expected without room for rest.
Our team integrates:
IFS Therapy to explore and soften inner critics and perfectionist parts
Somatic Therapy to notice how tension and self-monitoring live in the body
Attachment-Based Therapy to explore how early experiences shaped your self-worth
EMDR Therapy to process painful memories related to shame, rejection, or pressure
These approaches support your nervous system, not just your thoughts.
This Isn’t About Confidence. It’s About Safety.
You may already believe in your skills. But imposter syndrome isn’t about knowledge, it’s about what your body and nervous system associate with being seen.
If visibility once felt dangerous if mistakes led to criticism, or praise was used against you, then it makes sense that confidence feels shaky.
Therapy can help you:
Reclaim a sense of internal safety
Rebuild trust in your voice and choices
Reduce hypervigilance and tension
Let praise in without collapsing or overcorrecting
This is about becoming anchored in yourself not by proving, but by relating differently to the parts of you that still brace for rejection.
What Healing Might Look Like
As therapy unfolds, you may begin to:
Speak up without over-rehearsing
Ask for support without shame
Notice your inner critic and respond with care
Trust your pace, even when it's slower than others’
Feel less dread after sending an email or making a decision
Healing isn’t about becoming arrogant. It’s about becoming rooted. You’re allowed to feel solid in who you are.
You’re Allowed to Feel Solid in Who You Are
Imposter syndrome might be part of your story right now. But it doesn’t have to be the ending.
Contact us or fill out a New Client Form to be matched with a therapist who understands these patterns.
If you're ready, book a free consult or appointment.
-
No. It’s not a formal diagnosis, but it’s a common experience, often connected to anxiety, perfectionism, attachment wounds, and nervous system activation. Therapy helps address the roots, not just the symptoms.
-
Many people with imposter syndrome appear high-functioning or confident. Therapy creates space to explore the internal experience without judgment, no matter how things look on the outside.
-
Imposter syndrome can change, not through forced affirmations, but through gently shifting your relationship with the parts of you that carry fear, shame, or pressure. Lasting change is possible.
-
Only if and when it feels relevant. We go at your pace. Many people find that earlier experiences offer insight into current patterns, but we always start where you are.
-
Yes. We offer online therapy across British Columbia, as well as in-person counselling in Surrey.
You Might Also Be Interested In:
Blogs
Services
Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or mental health advice. It is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.