Imposter Syndrome Counselling

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Do you ever feel like your success is just luck? Do you worry that someone will eventually realize you're not as capable as they think? Even when you receive praise or hit your goals, do you struggle to actually believe you earned it? Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling of doubting your abilities and fearing exposure as a fraud, despite clear evidence you're capable and successful. It's common, it isn't a diagnosis, and therapy can help you build genuine confidence instead of just managing the doubt.

Imposter Syndrome Counsellors

If imposter syndrome is fueling persistent anxiety, burnout, or making it hard to enjoy your own achievements, counselling can help. So can reaching out if it's holding you back from career opportunities, straining your relationships, or feeding chronic perfectionism and fear of failure. Feeling stuck despite clear success, or noticing your self-esteem slipping, are reasons enough on their own.

Virtual & In-Person

Rosa Rino

Provisional Psychologist

$220 per hour

Rosa supports teens, adults & couples with relationships, anxiety, depression, identity, grief, stress, burnout & self-esteem.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Camila Schroh

Provisional Psychologist

$220 per hour

Camila supports teens & adults with anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma & emotional overwhelm, plus psycho-educational assessments.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Anne Walsh

Provisional Psychologist

$220 per hour

Anne helps individuals 16+ navigate anxiety, trauma, and burnout with practical tools for clarity, balance, and confidence.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Ava McLinskarr

Provisional Psychologist

$220 per hour

Ava supports teens, adults & couples with trauma, relationship difficulties, stress, depression, anxiety, PTSD & ADHD.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Jennifer Berrow

Provisional Psychologist

$200 per hour

Jennifer supports children, teens & adults through anxiety, depression & ADHD with neuro-affirming, strength-based care.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Emma Godin

Provisional Psychologist

$200 per hour

Emma helps teens & adults with anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, trauma, self-harm, grief, life transitions, panic attacks & more.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Calen Jobson

Registered Psychologist

$220 per hour

Calen works with individuals & athletes on anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, grief, self-esteem, relationships & performance issues.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Lule Begashaw

Registered Psychologist

$220 per hour

Lule supports diverse individuals through healing & growth, rooted in faith, empathy & authenticity, for connection & resilience.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Danielle Gelleny

Provisional Psychologist

$200 per hour

Danielle supports children, teens & adults with anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, trauma & more, plus assessments for ages 6-16.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Brittney Giacchetta

Registered Psychologist

$220 per hour

Brittney works with anxiety, borderline personality disorder, burnout, chronic pain, depression, autism, trauma & more.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Kristy Honan

Provisional Psychologist, MACP

$220 per hour

Kristy has 13+ years working with anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, PTSD, identity crisis, body image, relationship concerns, and more.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Alyssa Gonzalez

Registered Psychologist

$235 per hour

Alyssa works with children, adolescents, & adults who experience a variety of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, parenting, trauma, family issues, stress and more.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Vanessa de Guzman

Provisional Psychologist

$220 per hour

Vanessa supports children (4+), youth (12+) & adults with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma & major life transitions.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Cecily Wang

Registered Psychologist

$220 per hour

Cecily helps with anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, relationships & stress, plus assessments for ADHD, giftedness & mental health (3+).

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Rameen Kargger

Registered Psychologist

$350 per hour

Rameen offers assessments & counselling for couples & individuals on relationship issues, anxiety, depression, trauma & more.

Selective Clients Only

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Brittin Adams

Occupational Therapist

$170 per hour

Brittin, an occupational therapist, supports all ages with life transitions, concussion recovery, return to work & daily living skills.

Learn More Book Now

Virtual & In-Person

Jessica Murphy

Occupational Therapist, MScOT

$170 per hour

Jessica provides cognitive assessments and rehabilitation for concussion, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and mental health challenges affecting work and daily life.

Learn More Book Now

What Imposter Syndrome Feels Like

Many people describe it as pretending to know what they're doing while everyone else seems to have it figured out. It often comes with a specific inner monologue: I just got lucky. I fooled everyone. They're going to realize I'm not qualified. I need to work twice as hard to prove myself. For many, it also carries a quiet, exhausting assumption that everyone else in the room is smarter than they are.

These thoughts can create ongoing anxiety and make it genuinely hard to enjoy your own accomplishments, even after years of clear success.

What Causes Imposter Syndrome?

There's rarely a single cause. It tends to develop through a mix of experiences, personality traits, and circumstances:

Perfectionism and growing up with high expectations or critical parenting
A habit of comparing yourself to others, something social media tends to make worse
Major life transitions, like starting university, beginning a new job, or getting promoted
Cultural or workplace pressure
Past criticism or bullying
Low self-esteem more broadly

The Cycle of Imposter Syndrome

Many people get stuck in a repeating loop. They doubt themselves before starting a task, then work excessively hard to avoid failure. They succeed, but instead of recognizing their own ability, they credit luck or simply working harder than everyone else. The self-doubt returns before the next challenge, and without support, this cycle can continue for years.

Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism

Perfectionism often fuels imposter syndrome directly. If anything less than perfect feels like failure, you'll likely feel like you're falling short regardless of how well you actually perform. Over time, that kind of perfectionism tends to feed anxiety, burnout, procrastination, and difficulty enjoying what you've accomplished.

Imposter Syndrome at Work

At work, imposter syndrome can look like staying quiet in meetings, second-guessing your own qualifications, or feeling uncomfortable receiving praise. Some people respond by taking on too much and struggling to set boundaries, constantly seeking reassurance, or treating even small mistakes as evidence they don't belong. These patterns tend to increase stress while quietly limiting career growth and confidence.

Imposter Syndrome in School and University

Students often feel this acutely when surrounded by high-achieving peers. You may believe everyone else understands the material better than you, or assume you were admitted by mistake despite meeting the same qualifications as everyone else. These beliefs can raise anxiety and lower confidence, even when your actual academic performance stays strong.

When to Seek Counselling

You may benefit from counselling if imposter syndrome is fueling persistent anxiety, burnout, or difficulty enjoying your achievements. The same goes if it's leading you to avoid career opportunities, straining your relationships, or feeding chronic perfectionism and fear of failure. Low self-esteem, or simply feeling stuck despite clear success, are also good reasons to reach out.

Frequently Asked Questions About Imposter Syndrome

What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is the persistent belief that you're not as capable as others think you are, despite evidence of your skills and accomplishments. Many people worry they'll eventually be exposed as a fraud.

Is imposter syndrome a mental illness?

No. It isn't considered a mental health diagnosis. It can, however, contribute to anxiety, stress, burnout, perfectionism, and low self-esteem.

What causes imposter syndrome?

It often develops through a combination of perfectionism, critical life experiences, high expectations, comparison with others, career transitions, and negative self-beliefs.

Can successful people have imposter syndrome?

Yes. Many highly accomplished professionals, executives, researchers, physicians, and creatives experience imposter syndrome despite their achievements.

How do I know if I have imposter syndrome?

Common signs include constantly doubting yourself, dismissing compliments, believing your success is due to luck, fearing mistakes, overworking, and feeling like you're never good enough.

Can therapy help with imposter syndrome?

Yes. Therapy can help identify the beliefs underneath it, reduce self-criticism, build confidence, and develop healthier ways of thinking about success.

What's the difference between imposter syndrome and low self-esteem?

They often overlap, but imposter syndrome usually centers on doubting your competence despite evidence of success, while low self-esteem involves a broader negative view of yourself across many areas of life.

Is imposter syndrome related to perfectionism?

Very often. Many people with perfectionistic tendencies feel that anything less than perfect means they're inadequate, which reinforces the feeling of being an imposter.

Can imposter syndrome cause anxiety?

Yes. Constantly worrying about mistakes or being exposed can contribute to chronic stress, performance anxiety, and burnout.

Does Grit Psychology provide counselling for imposter syndrome?

Yes. Our psychologists help individuals overcome imposter syndrome, challenge self-limiting beliefs, reduce perfectionism, and build lasting confidence through evidence-based therapy.

Imposter Syndrome Counselling

Overcome Self-Doubt and Recognize Your True Strengths

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter Syndrome Counsellors

Rosa Rino

Camila Schroh

Anne Walsh

Ava McLinskarr

Jennifer Berrow

Emma Godin

Calen Jobson

Lule Begashaw

Danielle Gelleny

Brittney Giacchetta

Kristy Honan

Alyssa Gonzalez

Vanessa de Guzman

Cecily Wang

Rameen Kargger

Brittin Adams

Jessica Murphy

What Imposter Syndrome Feels Like

What Causes Imposter Syndrome?

The Cycle of Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism

Imposter Syndrome at Work

Imposter Syndrome in School and University

When to Seek Counselling

Frequently Asked Questions About Imposter Syndrome

What is imposter syndrome?

Is imposter syndrome a mental illness?

What causes imposter syndrome?

Can successful people have imposter syndrome?

How do I know if I have imposter syndrome?

Can therapy help with imposter syndrome?

What's the difference between imposter syndrome and low self-esteem?

Is imposter syndrome related to perfectionism?

Can imposter syndrome cause anxiety?

Does Grit Psychology provide counselling for imposter syndrome?

Get Matched To The Right Therapist

Counselling in North Calgary

Counselling in South Calgary

Counselling in Airdrie

Counselling in Edmonton

Counselling in Red Deer