Therapy for Imposter Syndrome
Do you struggle with a harsh inner-critic?
Like, you’re never good enough.
Never pretty enough.
Never organized enough.
Never thin enough.
The mean voice in your head can always fill in the gap: “Never ______ enough.”
Never. Enough.
And when she is in control:
you try to do everything perfectly, so that you are above reproach
you beat yourself up when you make mistakes
small things can turn into big things
you use self-deprecating humor with friends, so you can criticize yourself before they do
you play small and miss opportunities because you don’t feel worthy to pursue them
you don’t take risks or volunteer for things you are capable of
you are at war with yourself and your body
you try to control everything
you have low self-esteem
you get stuck in your head, second-guessing every word you say
you’ve got intense self-doubt and question that you’ve got what it takes
you see other women living bold and brave lives and feel jealous because you don’t feel good enough for that yet
Perfectionism is a bitch
This constant unkind chatter does something to a person.
It’s a shit way to live.
It feels awful.
Like a bad boss.
Like an abusive partner.
But it’s you!
Sometimes you worry that—at the end of your life—you will have spent your whole life waiting to feel “good enough” only to find that you’ve been good enough the whole time.
As Dr. Brene Brown says,
“When perfectionism is driving,
shame is always riding shotgun.”
We’ve been sold this lie that if we can just act perfect
look perfect
be perfect
then, we will be safe.
Perfectionism becomes this “20-ton shield” that we carry around hoping that it will keep us from being hurt. When actually, it just keeps us from being seen.
And that’s no way to live.
It makes sense why we can fall into this trap. The world can be a terrifying place and we often reach for anything that will help us feel more safe. But I promise you: imposter syndrome, perfectionism, shame, and negative self-talk won’t create the safety you crave. In fact, it creates a worldview that is so rigid, we actually become less capable of handling life’s challenges and farther from creating inner-peace.
As Sarah Hagi says, “Lord, grant me the confidence of a mediocre white man.”
Therapy for
imposter
syndrome
can help
Any therapy can help a person make sense of their pain and find a way forward. However, as someone who has personally struggled with self-hatred, negative self-talk, and the heavy load of perfectionism, I am uniquely suited to walk you through this.
I’ve been inspired and changed by the work of Dr. Kristin Neff, a self-compassion expert and researcher. Her work lays out a plan for healing that doesn’t just gloss over the pain of perfectionism. It doesn’t seek to talk someone out of their negative self-talk. It’s a gentle approach for how we might work with the voice of perfectionism and find a collaborative way forward.
You don’t have to live like this.
There’s a better way.
I help clients:
heal and recover from the weight of imposter syndrome
learn how to notice negative self-talk and work with it
feel more capable and confident
feel more grounded and in touch with their mind, body, and spirit
be more present in their lives
learn to have radical self-compassion for themselves
re-engage meaningfully with healthy relationships
improve focus and concentration instead of being stuck in your own head
loosen the grip of unreasonable and perfectionist standards
regain a sense of presence and control
get back out there and enjoy their lives!
Therapy for imposter syndrome isn’t the only service I offer at my Colorado online therapy practice. Other mental health services at
Heather Rose Counseling include:
Offering online therapy throughout Colorado:
Denver, Boulder, Greeley, Fort Collins, Longmont, Colorado Springs, and the Grand Junction
Contact me to learn more about how I can help you overcome the imposter syndrome and reclaim your life.
Questions before getting started?
Contact me here.
You don’t have to live with chronic depression, unmanageable anxiety, imposter syndrome, low self-esteem, or feelings of purposelessness.
Therapy for imposter syndrome can help you feel at home in your body, perhaps for the first time. My online therapy practice specializes in helping women who are tired of playing small in their own lives,
to find healing and empowerment.
To start your imposter syndrome therapy journey, follow these three simple steps:
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a 15-minute call so I can answer your questions and you can see that I won't bite
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meet with Heather for an intake session to talk about your goals