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 get praise, promotions, or recognition, and still feel like you fooled everyone. Deep down, you worry someone will find out you're not as competent as they think. That quiet panic has a name: imposter syndrome.
At Tidal Trauma Centre, we work with people who feel like they’re performing confidence while carrying self-doubt inside. Therapy offers more than tools for managing stress. It helps you change the relationship you have with yourself.
What Imposter Syndrome Really Feels Like
Imposter syndrome often shows up as:
Feeling like your success is based on luck or timing
Fear of being “found out” or exposed
Constant second-guessing or over-preparing
Difficulty accepting compliments or praise
A harsh inner critic that never lets up
This isn’t about modesty. It’s about the fear that you are not enough, no matter how much you do.
How Therapy Helps You Get to the Root
We don’t treat imposter syndrome like a flaw to fix. We understand it as a protective strategy that may have formed in environments where approval was conditional or failure felt dangerous.
At Tidal, we use trauma-informed therapy approaches to meet this pattern with respect and care. Depending on your needs, your therapist may integrate:
Internal Family Systems (IFS) to work with inner critics and perfectionist parts
Somatic Therapy to notice where tension and self-monitoring live in the body
Attachment-Based Therapy to understand how early relationships shaped your sense of worth
EMDR Therapy to help release painful memories tied to past rejection, shame, or pressure
Why This Isn’t Just About Confidence
You may already know your resume. You might even believe your skills are strong. But imposter syndrome is not about facts. It is about safety.
If your nervous system learned that visibility, mistakes, or praise were risky, it makes sense that confidence would feel fragile. Therapy can help your body and mind both learn that it is safe to succeed and safe to rest.
What Healing Might Look Like
As you work through imposter syndrome in therapy, you may begin to:
Stop apologizing for things that are not wrong
Speak in meetings without rehearsing every word
Feel less dread after hitting “send” on an email
Ask for what you need without shame
See your accomplishments as real and earned
This is not about becoming arrogant. It is about becoming internally anchored.
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No. It is a pattern of thought and emotion that often connects to anxiety, perfectionism, or trauma. Therapy helps you understand what is beneath the pattern.
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That’s very common. Many high-functioning clients present as confident while carrying deep self-doubt. Therapy can hold both your outer success and your inner struggle.
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Many clients experience lasting change. Therapy offers not just insight, but also nervous system support and self-trust practices that help create a new baseline.
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Only if it feels right for you. Some people benefit from exploring early experiences. Others focus on current patterns. You are in control of the pace and focus.
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Yes. We offer therapy for imposter syndrome both in-person in Surrey and online across British Columbia.
You Are Allowed to Feel Solid in Who You Are
Imposter syndrome might be part of your story right now, but it does not have to be the ending. With the right support, you can begin to believe in yourself not just intellectually, but viscerally.
Fill out a New Client Form to get matched with a therapist who gets it. Or, book a free consult or appointment to see if we’re the right fit for your next step.
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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.