An Asian American Therapist’s Journey to Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Yes! Imposter syndrome is real, even among mental health providers. It may manifest as a feeling of inadequacy or feelings of self-doubt, whether it be at your workplace or in your personal life. You might not feel deserving of your own accomplishments, and may even contribute them to “just luck.”

Over the years I have worked with many folks who are bright and capable but are faced with continuous self-doubt. As a queer, Asian therapist, I want to share my journey, not only to validate the common insecurities faced by people of color and/or LGBTQ+ folks but to also show that it’s also possible to overcome self-doubt and feel more confident.

Where does imposter syndrome come from?

Expectations from parents + perfectionism and/or trauma

On one hand, imposter syndrome can be anxiety-provoking and cause negative self-thoughts. On the other hand, it can also be internalized as a “motivator” to be better. This may sound familiar if you come from a household that values high achievement— making you feel like you’re never smart enough, good enough, or successful enough. This can lead to perfectionism—which is detrimental since no one can truly be perfect.

Systemic oppression

As a therapist, I’ve noticed a pattern where imposter syndrome is more prevalent in clients that fall under a minority group. Women, trans folks, people of color, working class folks, and sexual minorities continue to exist in a system that wasn’t created for them, and they have to navigate that internally every day, even if they aren’t fully conscious of it. This shows up in the way we talk, share ideas, and the spaces we occupy. This creates a disconnect between who we are and how we need to mold ourselves to fit into these spaces, leading to feelings of insecurity and not belonging.

What does imposter syndrome feel like for me as a therapist?

When I first became a therapist, the thoughts that would creep up in my head would be “who am I to call myself a therapist... to know how to help my clients in their healing.. do my clients even like me…?” The thoughts go on and on. My imposter syndrome showed up mostly as intrusive thoughts and manifested as anxiety. I remember that during my first year practicing, I would feel my heart racing before many sessions and question whether I said the “right” thing or if my client truly felt supported afterward.

For me, my imposter syndrome was partly due to the fact that I was a new therapist and that there was still so much for me to discover about my clinical style. Another factor was that I was one of the few clinicians of color at my then workplace, (according to the APA, more than 70% of mental health professionals in the US are White) and I felt like I had to prove that I deserved to be there. And of course, we can’t forget about my own childhood trauma that was being activated (Asian immigrant parents!) Dissecting these insecure and often, younger parts of myself in my own therapy (yes, therapists also have therapists!) and naming them in my own clinical supervision helped me address my anxieties about being a new therapist. I learned to own my uniqueness as a clinician and gained experience through my years in the field, allowing me to gain more knowledge and build confidence in myself.

It was hard at first to reframe my mindset, however, showing myself compassion and being patient with myself led me to start believing that I was a capable therapist!

My journey helped me stay humble and supported my desire for lifelong learning!

After I started to feel more confident in my skill set, I noticed those anxious thoughts became quieter. Does that mean all my insecurities or anxieties disappear? Of course not, I'm human too! But now, instead of jumping to negative self-thoughts, whenever I am confronted with those same feelings of inadequacy, I take a pause and investigate with curiosity and compassion. Those same thoughts no longer have a strong grip over me.

I consider my clients as the true experts in their experiences and my job as an active witness is to listen to their stories and help facilitate continued self-awareness and ultimately change. Having experienced imposter syndrome myself, I am able to be fully present in a client’s unique journey without making assumptions or judgments.