Imposter Syndrome Therapy in NYC

You got the job, the degree, the role people said you’d be good at. You were. And somewhere along the way you started keeping a quiet list of reasons it might not count: you were lucky, the timing worked out, they didn’t look too closely.

Praise makes you a little uncomfortable. Criticism stays for days. Before a big meeting you prepare twice as much as anyone else, and afterward you replay it looking for the slip. Most people around you would never guess.

Where it tends to come from

For a lot of people, being capable was how they stayed safe growing up. Good grades, no trouble, the one who handled things. That works for a long time. Then the bar keeps rising, and each new milestone brings relief for about a week before the doubt comes back.

More success usually doesn’t fix it, because the standard you’re measuring against was never really about results.

What we work on

In sessions we look closely at the part of you that’s sure you’re about to be exposed: when it shows up, what it’s afraid of, and what it’s been trying to protect. I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) alongside ACT and CBT, so there’s room for both understanding and practical tools.

People usually notice the change in small ways first. A compliment lands. They speak up in a meeting without rehearsing it three times. They take a day off and don’t spend it feeling guilty.

Something I see often: a client reaches a goal they worked hard for, then shrugs it off or moves straight on to the next thing. Part of our work together is slowing down long enough to let that accomplishment sink in, and to actually celebrate it.

Two things people often ask

Is imposter syndrome an actual diagnosis? No. It overlaps a lot with anxiety, perfectionism and low self-esteem, and we can work on all of it.

I’m doing fine on paper. Is this worth therapy? Yes. Most people I see for this are functioning well. They’re tired of feeling like they’re always about to fall short.

Getting started

I see clients in person in New York City and online across New York, New Jersey, Washington, DC and Connecticut. The first step is a free 15-minute call to see if we’re a good fit.

Related: Anxiety & Overthinking · Therapy for High Achievers