Expert Online Therapy for Imposter Syndrome
SERVING: Colorado | Massachusetts | New York | Vermont | Florida
Ready to Overcome Imposter Syndrome?
Do you feel like a fraud, regardless of your achievements? Do you fear being exposed as "not good enough?”
This inner critic, known as imposter syndrome, can leave you doubting your worth, minimizing your accomplishments, and feeling trapped in a cycle of anxiety and perfectionism. Many high-achieving individuals struggle with imposter syndrome, and it can impact confidence, relationships, and overall mental health.
The good news? Change is possible!
Wellcore Healing offers specialized Imposter Syndrome counseling for individuals residing in Denver, Boston, NYC, Burlington, Miami, and the surrounding areas!
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome goes beyond self-doubt. It’s a deeply ingrained belief that your success is due to luck, overworking, or deception rather than your abilities. This can lead to:
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Feeling the need to prove your worth through constant effort.
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Avoiding new opportunities to escape potential "exposure."
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Undervaluing your skills or hesitating to celebrate your wins.
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Overloading yourself with unrealistic expectations.
5 Main Types of Imposter Syndrome
Ever feel like you're faking it, even when you're successful? Imposter syndrome shows up in different ways. Understanding your imposter “type” can help you name it — and take your power back.
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You set unrealistically high standards for yourself — and anything less than perfect feels like failure.
You overwork, overprepare, and obsess over mistakes.
Thought trap: “If I were really competent, I wouldn’t need to try so hard.”
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You tie your worth to how much you can juggle.
You're constantly doing the most — and still feeling like it’s not enough.
Thought trap: “If I slow down or need help, I’ll be exposed as a fraud.”
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You believe you should get things right the first time.
If something doesn’t come easily to you, especially the older you get, you feel shame or even think you’re not "smart enough."
Thought trap: “If I have to struggle, it means I’m not truly capable.”
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You always pride yourself on doing everything on your own.
Asking for help feels like weakness — or failure.
Thought trap: “If I were competent or knowledgable, I wouldn’t need anyone else.”
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You never feel like you know enough — no matter how much experience or education you have.
You’re always chasing another credential, course, or title.
Thought trap: “I’ll never be ready — someone else always knows more than me.”
Imposter Syndrome Treatment Modalities
Wellcore Healing utilizes trauma-informed, evidence-based practices and approaches, tailored to your unique needs and goals:
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) effectively challenges inaccurate/distorted thought patterns that contribute to imposter syndrome. Individuals impacted by impostor thoughts may downplay their achievements or attribute their success to "good old luck." CBT for Imposter Syndrome is a therapeutic approach that will provide an opportunity for you to:
1) Learn how to identify automatic negative thoughts
2) Reframe these thoughts into more realistic statements
3) Actually believe the newly reframed thoughts.
4) Feel more balanced and confident as a result of this process.
CBT doesn't just help with confidence. It gives you time and space back in your head to focus on what truly matters, both personally and professionally.
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Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you navigate imposter syndrome by teaching you to accept self-doubt rather than fight it. Instead of letting fear dictate your actions, ACT encourages mindfulness, values-based living, and cognitive defusion—allowing you to acknowledge anxious thoughts without letting them hold you back from pursuing your goals.
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Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps uncover the different “parts” of yourself that contribute to imposter syndrome—such as the perfectionist, the critic, or the part that fears failure.
By developing self-compassion and understanding these parts rather than fighting them, IFS allows you to heal the underlying wounds driving self-doubt, so you can step into your confidence with greater ease.
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Through Mindfulness, you will learn how to break the cycle of imposter syndrome by increasing awareness of self-judgment and negative self-talk without getting consumed by these thoughts.
You will also learn Mindfulness techniques to help you cultivate a nonjudgmental perspective, remain present with your accomplishments, and lessen the anxiety of being "found out." This practice promotes self-acceptance, allowing you to trust in your worth and abilities.
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Positive Psychology helps reframe the negative thought patterns of imposter syndrome by focusing on strengths, resilience, and self-efficacy. Instead of dwelling on self-doubt, this approach encourages you to recognize your achievements, cultivate gratitude, and develop a growth mindset—allowing you to embrace success with confidence rather than fear.
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Trauma-Informed Therapy explores past experiences and their influence on imposter syndrome, fostering healing and personal growth.
If you've ever felt like you don’t truly deserve your success, struggle with perfectionism, or dismiss your achievements as luck, trauma-informed therapy can help you break free from these limiting beliefs.
Benefits of Imposter Syndrome Therapy
By attending imposter syndrome therapy, we will work as a team to help you:
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Imposter syndrome can make you second-guess yourself at each and every turn. Treatment will teach you how to recognize those self-critical thoughts for what they are—literally just thoughts, not facts—so you can start trusting in your abilities and accomplishments.
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Instead of relying on external validation, which is unhealthy and ineffective, you will learn how to see your true worth from the inside out. Together, we’ll help you build your confidence and find real acceptance based on your strengths, values, and the person you are— rather than relying on titles, degrees, or achievements you’ve collected.
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Perfectionism can make you feel like nothing is ever good enough, even if you are being told you are doing a great job. Now for the good news— therapy can help you redefine success in a way that’s actually sustainable! Imposter Syndrome Therapy will help you stop chasing impossible standards and start appreciating your progress.
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Therapy helps you replace self-criticism with actual compassion, understanding, and self-acceptance. You will learn how to treat yourself with the same patience and encouragement that you provide others in your life, making it easier to navigate challenges without shame or guilt.
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Constantly living in fear of being “found out” is not just stressful; it's downright exhausting. Therapy is a wonderful place to learn the necessary tools and techniques to manage the stressors and anxiety symptoms that come with imposter syndrome. This will help you feel more grounded at work, in your relationships, and in your daily life.
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Confidence is not and will never be about "being perfect"—it’s about knowing you can handle whatever comes your way. Therapy helps you develop practical strategies for stepping into opportunities, speaking up, and taking credit for your successes without hesitation.
IMPOSTER SYNDROME FAQs
Imposter Syndrome Basics
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Absolutely. Many high-achieving individuals, including women, executives, students, and professionals, experience imposter syndrome at some point. It’s more common than you might think and is nothing to be ashamed of—it’s a challenge that therapy can help you overcome. It also can go hand-in-hand with other mental health challenges such as anxiety.
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Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and explore your goals for therapy. We’ll discuss your experiences with imposter syndrome, any challenges you’re facing, and what you hope to gain from our work together. This first session is an excellent opportunity to set the foundation for a collaborative, personalized approach.
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Imposter syndrome can affect anyone, especially high-achieving women.
High-Achieving Professionals & Executives
Whether your are in a leadership position or working towards success in your career, imposter syndrome can prevent you from fully embracing accomplishments & potential. Therapy can help people learn to manage feelings of inadequacy and foster a mindset of confidence.
Women in Leadership & Career Transitions
When women advance in their careers, change jobs, or fields, they may experience elevated signs of imposter syndrome. Therapy provides the tools and techniques needed to navigate these challenges, embrace achievements, and combat limiting beliefs.
Women in Male-Dominated Industries
Imposter syndrome can cause women in male-dominated fields to doubt their abilities, downplay their achievements, and feel like they need to work twice as hard to prove their worth. This internal pressure can lead to burnout, anxiety, and missed opportunities for advancement.
Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners
If you’re building a business or managing a team, imposter syndrome can hold you back from making bold decisions and taking risks. Therapy can empower you to lead with confidence and clarity.
Graduate Students
Thoughts and feelings related to Imposter Syndrome are common in academics. In these types of settings, you can feel pressure to always perform your best. Therapy can guide you through these challenges so that you can actually enjoy your studies, research, or teaching experience.
Anyone Feeling “Not Good Enough”
Imposter syndrome can affect anyone who feels like they don't deserve their success or who struggles with perfectionism and fear of failure. Therapy provides helpful strategies to challenge negative or inaccurate beliefs and embrace your worth.
Impact of Imposter Syndrome
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YES! Imposter syndrome often contributes to workplace stress, such as overworking, fear of failure, and burnout. The great thing about therapy is that it provides an opportunity to develop strategies to manage these pressures, set healthier boundaries, and navigate your professional life with greater ease and confidence.
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Yes! Imposter syndrome doesn’t just interfere with your career. It can also impact the way in which you navigate personal relationships. If you are constantly questioning your worth or feel like you don’t deserve success, these doubts & insecurities can extend to friendships, romantic relationships, and even family dynamics. You might struggle with:
Fear of Rejection: Worrying that others will “see through” you and decide you’re not good enough, leading to avoidance or people-pleasing behaviors.
Difficulty Accepting Praise or Love: If you believe your success is unearned, you may also struggle to believe that others genuinely value and appreciate you.
Overcompensating or Perfectionism: In relationships, this might look like overextending yourself to “prove” your worth or constantly trying to meet unrealistic expectations.
Emotional Distance: Imposter feelings can make you afraid to be fully vulnerable, causing you to withdraw or struggle with deep connection.
By addressing imposter syndrome, you can foster healthier, more authentic relationships based on mutual trust rather than self-doubt.
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Imposter syndrome can quietly chip away at your mental health, whether you are aware of it or not. This can leave you feeling anxious, worried, exhausted, and never quite “enough.” It can be hard to relax or celebrate your wins if you constantly fear being "exposed as a fraud," as you are stuck in a cycle of stress and self-doubt.
If imposter syndrome isn’t addressed, it can lead you down a path of:
Chronic Anxiety: This can manifest as a persistent worry/fear of not measuring up, leaving you feeling on edge, with little to no relief. This ongoing stress and worry can eat away at your confidence level, affecting both your personal and professional relationships.
For More Information: Online Therapy for Anxiety
Low Self-Esteem & Depression: If you’re always dismissing your wins or successes or feel as though you don’t belong, it’s easy to fall into an unhealthy and unrelenting pattern of negative self-talk, further leading you to feelings of hopelessness.
For More Information: Online Therapy for Low Self-Esteem
Burnout & Perfectionism: Pushing yourself to prove your worth over and over again can be emotionally and physically draining, leading to exhaustion and loss of motivation.
For More Information: Online Therapy for Perfectionism
Imposter syndrome can make it feel like you must keep running just to stay in place—but it doesn’t have to be this way. With the proper support, you can break free from these patterns, learn to trust yourself, and finally feel at ease with your own success.
Help for Imposter Syndrome
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Recognize the Self-Doubt Cycle
Reflect on your inner dialogue and start recognizing when you are experiencing negative self-talk influencing your beliefs about yourself. For example: “I don’t really deserve this promotion…” [or] “That was just luck…”
By calling out these thoughts, they will impact you less and less.
Reframe your understanding of "Failure"
Many people with imposter syndrome fear making mistakes. Instead of viewing failure as proof you are "incompetent," see it as part of life's learning process. Everyone, including the most successful leaders and experts makes mistakes. Our mistakes are excellent opportunities to help us grow and evolve.
Track Accomplishments
Keep an "imposter syndrome journal" to document your wins & your successes. Some things to include are:
Positive feedback received from colleagues, clients, peers, and supervisors
Project Contributions & achievements
Times when you empowered yourself to truly step outside of your comfort zone
The concrete proof you collect will help to counter imposter feelings over time.
Stop Comparing Apples to Oranges
Social media makes it too easy to compare yourself to others, especially without all the facts. Instead of attaching worth and understanding of your successes to other people's lives, you deserve to focus on your unique journey!
Seek Support & Mentorship
Reach out to a mentor or therapist who can offer support and perspective on Imposter Syndrome.
Take Action
Confidence is often connected to action. Even if self-doubt thoughts arise, give yourself permission to keep moving forward. Even the smallest steps reinforce that you are capable and worthy of success.
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If imposter syndrome impacts your confidence, relationships, or overall well-being, therapy can be a valuable resource. Scheduling a consultation provides you with the opportunity to discuss your needs and determine if this approach feels like the right fit for you.
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IMPOSTER SYNDROME BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
General, Work, & Career Focused Imposter Syndrome Books:
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A foundational book on imposter syndrome, particularly for high-achieving women, with practical tools for overcoming self-doubt.
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A great mix of psychological insights and real-life strategies to break free from the imposter cycle.
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A structured 3-step program designed to help individuals identify and challenge imposter thoughts.
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Takes a look at how body language, confidence, and mindset shifts can reduce imposter feelings in professional or workplace environments.
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While this book is not exclusively about imposter syndrome, Brené Brown provides strategies for overcoming self-doubt in leadership and workplace settings.
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Perfect for those from underrepresented groups struggling with imposter syndrome in leadership and professional roles.
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The books recommended here are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are struggling with perfectionism, anxiety, or any mental health concerns, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist or mental health professional for personalized support.
“Imposter syndrome is the fear of being 'found out'— but what if the only thing to discover is how talented and deserving you’ve been all along?”
READY TO GET STARTED?
Therapy can provide the insight, tools, and confidence you need to reach your full potential—without the weight of self-doubt. It’s not just about addressing what’s holding you back; it’s about creating a future where you feel empowered to thrive.
Let’s work together to rewrite the story you’ve been telling yourself. You deserve to feel confident and capable in every aspect of your life. Online Therapy for Imposter Syndrome —Serving Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Florida!