By Jayln Giles-Ewell, LAAT, ATR-P

You’ve worked hard, gotten your degree(s) and credentials, perhaps even completed fieldwork for this position during one of your programs. Maybe you’re someone who even graduated with distinction, has been formally recognized for your work, or even passed your boards on the first try. 

And yet, with all of your experience, accolades, and education, there’s still that meddlesome feeling that often rears its head when you receive positive feedback or a promotion. 

Sound familiar? You may be someone who often experiences “Impostor Syndrome”. But what exactly is “Impostor Syndrome”? And why do so many people experience this, especially individuals of Color?

What is “Impostor Syndrome”?

Originally coined in the late 1970s by psychologists Dr. Suzanne Imes and Dr. Pauline Rose Clance, the “Impostor Phenomenon” is the psychological experience where one may consistently downplay their competency and expertise, even though there is evidence of their success. 

Imes and Clance actually coined this term in order to describe the experiences vocalized by women who were well respected within their fields. While anyone can experience “Impostor Syndrome”, there has been a great deal of research that points towards women, as well as other minority groups (especially racial/ethnic minorities), that experience it more often. But why is that?

Why Is This Something That BIPOC Helping Professionals Struggle With? 

There are many contributing factors that go into why BIPOC helping professionals tend to struggle more with impostor syndrome than their White peers. For example, one of the main factors revolves around race, and how that can exponentially impact accessibility to certain spaces within a profession. Systemic racism plays a significant role in how BIPOC professionals are perceived and treated in the workplace. Many experience heightened scrutiny, unequal expectations, or pressure to outperform peers in order to be seen as competent. This can be said even more so for BIPOC Women, being that there’s an added layer of systemic misogyny. A great example is healthcare, which statistically has a great number of women, yet holds a small percentage of women in leadership positions.

What Causes “Impostor Syndrome”?

There are other causes for impostor syndrome that can strongly affect a BIPOC individual’s mental well-being. 

Some examples are: 

• Microaggressions/Racism/Discrimination: Oftentimes, experiencing discrimination or racism at your place of work can create the feeling of impostor syndrome. Being at the tail-end of microaggressive comments on a daily basis from peers can very much influence feelings of self-doubt, causing you to second-guess your own abilities.
• Internalized Racism: Similarly to the previous point, internalized racism can play a huge role in impostor syndrome. If you’ve grown up hearing that you are less than your White peers, chances are that negative cognition will follow you into your professional career. 
• Lack of Representation: Another big cause of impostor syndrome is a lack of representation within your workplace. If you find yourself being the racial/ethnic minority within your work environment, it can be hard for you to relate to or even locate a role model within your profession. 
• A Non-supportive Workplace: Lastly, a non-supportive work environment can also bring about impostor syndrome. If you’re not often getting positive feedback or recognition, or even lacking support from your supervisor, you may also often wonder if you’re truly cut out for the position that you’re in. 

Am I Someone Who Struggles With This?

Still wondering if you’re someone who often struggles with impostor syndrome? 

Take a moment to ask yourself: 

• Am I really performing worse than my peers, or do I just have a different skill set compared to them?
• Is all of my work poorly done, or am I perhaps being too hard on myself? 
• Do I really feel like I don’t deserve this promotion, or am I possibly self-sabotaging? 
• Should I really pass up this new work opportunity because I don’t think I’m right for the job, or am I just scared to fail? 
• Did I really get into this field just because I’m lucky, or am I actually just as qualified as my coworkers?

How Can I Overcome “Impostor Syndrome”?

While experiencing impostor syndrome can be truly uncomfortable and unyielding, there are some ways that we can challenge these nagging thoughts when they come up. 

Some ways of working through impostor syndrome are: 

Explore and challenge these thoughts when they come up

When you find yourself experiencing impostor syndrome and experiencing so many different thoughts about your experience as a helping professional, consider journaling about these thoughts! Use journaling prompts such as: 

• Do you find joy and fulfillment within the type of work that you do?
• Thinking back on growing up, what were you taught about working, or what did you originally think about the field that you’re currently working in?
• What led you to your current profession? 
• Have you ever experienced someone saying that you weren’t good at what you do? How did you react? What did you feel at that moment? 
• What would you say to someone else in a helping profession who was experiencing what you’re currently going through?

Create a community of BIPOC individuals within your profession 

Consider networking or collaborating with other BIPOC individuals who may be within your helping profession. If you’re someone who’s a racial/ethnic minority within your place of work, get online and explore if your helping profession potentially has an association or state chapter, or perhaps, even a collective for BIPOC individuals within your field. 

Give yourself grace and reflect upon your lived experiences 

Above all things, give yourself the love and compassion that you are showing to others throughout your work. As we know, while working in a helping profession, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Explore what ways you can validate yourself and your hard work that is authentic to you and your lived experiences. 

Seek out help from an affirming therapist 

Finally, if you find that you may be experiencing intense low moods or even heightened anxiety within your workplace, due to work demands, consider seeking out a therapist. There are so many therapists out there, especially BIPOC therapists, who can understand where you’re coming from and help you begin to heal through these feelings. 

What Does Therapy For Impostor Syndrome Look Like?

If you’re considering therapy for working through impostor syndrome, there are a few things to expect. For example, anticipate working with a culturally competent therapist who will be prepared to customize your sessions based on your unique needs, identity, and background. 

Additionally, expect your therapist to help you bolster your self-esteem by challenging the negative cognitions you may have through or even by helping you accept your thoughts or feelings you may have about yourself. 

Finally, prepare to experience a safe environment in which you will be met without judgment and validated by your therapist.

The Importance of Working With a Black or Culturally Aligned Therapist

For many BIPOC helping professionals, working with a Black therapist or a culturally aligned therapist can feel deeply affirming. It can mean not having to explain the impact of racism, microaggressions, code-switching, or being “the only one” in professional spaces.

In these therapeutic relationships, impostor syndrome is understood not simply as individual self-doubt, but as a response shaped by systems that were never designed with you in mind. The work becomes less about proving your worth and more about reclaiming it.

You deserve support that recognizes your competence, honors your lived experiences, and allows you to heal without having to explain or justify yourself.

Ready to Overcome Impostor Syndrome with a Black Therapist in NJ?

If you’re a BIPOC helping professional struggling with self-doubt despite your accomplishments—or if you’re tired of explaining racism and microaggressions in therapy—we’re here to help.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Schedule a Free 15-minute Consultation with one of our Black or culturally-aligned therapists in NJ who understand your lived experience.
2. Work with a therapist who recognizes impostor syndrome as a response to systemic barriers, not personal failure, and helps you challenge internalized racism and negative beliefs.
3. Build authentic self-worth and professional confidence in a space where you don’t have to explain code-switching, being “the only one,” or workplace discrimination.

Other Services With NJ BIPOC Therapists at Mindful Connections

Beyond our specialized support for BIPOC individuals experiencing impostor syndrome, our team provides a wide range of therapeutic services to meet your unique needs. Our team is happy to also offer support for in-person and online therapy services including couples therapy, eating disorder treatment,  premarital counseling, support with infidelity, child therapy, BIPOC therapy, and teen therapy. We also offer divorce therapy, family therapy, and parent coaching. In addition, we also offer therapy for trauma, anxiety, grief, EMDR therapy, mind body wellness, and cannabis-informed therapy. Feel free to visit our FAQ or blog to learn more!