Which Type of Imposter Are You? Understanding the 5 Patterns Identified by Dr Valerie Young
Imposter syndrome can show up in all sorts of sneaky and frustrating ways, and often without us even realising that’s what’s happening. One moment you're doing well on the outside, the next you're questioning your worth, brushing off compliments, or quietly dreading being "found out."
To help make sense of these experiences, Dr Valerie Young, a leading expert on imposter syndrome and author of the book "The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: And Men: Why Capable People Suffer from Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive In Spite of It", identified five distinct types or patterns of thinking that many people fall into. These aren’t fixed categories or diagnoses, and you don’t have to fit neatly into just one. But they can be a helpful way to recognise how imposter syndrome shows up in your life and what patterns might be keeping it going.
Let’s take a look at each of them.
1. The Perfectionist
For the Perfectionist, it’s all about how something is done, and it has to be flawless. Even when they hit 99% of a goal, they focus on the 1% they missed. Any mistake or less-than-perfect outcome feels like failure. They tend to believe their value lies in getting everything exactly right, and when they don’t, the inner critic quickly steps in.
What it looks like: Overworking, spending hours on tiny details, difficulty delegating, and rarely celebrating achievements.
2. The Natural Genius
This type expects to get things right the first time. If it takes effort, it must mean they’re not truly capable. Natural Geniuses tend to have a history of doing well without much struggle, so when something is difficult or unfamiliar, it feels like proof they’re an imposter.
What it looks like: Feeling ashamed if learning takes time, avoiding challenges where success isn’t guaranteed, or giving up quickly if not immediately good at something.
3. The Soloist
The Soloist believes they have to do everything alone. If they need help, they feel like a failure. Independence becomes a measuring stick for worth, and asking for support feels like exposing weakness or incompetence.
What it looks like: Avoiding collaboration, not delegating, rarely asking for feedback or support even when overwhelmed.
4. The Expert
For the Expert, competence means knowing everything. If they don’t already know it, they feel inadequate. They tend to fear being exposed as inexperienced, and can often get stuck in the loop of “just one more course/book/training” before they feel ready.
What it looks like: Reluctance to speak up unless 100% certain, hesitation to apply for roles unless all boxes are ticked, constant self-education to ‘keep up’.
5. The Superperson
This type ties self-worth to how many roles they can successfully juggle. Being competent means doing it all — and doing it all well. The pressure to succeed across work, family, relationships, and everything in between can be relentless.
What it looks like: Pushing through exhaustion, struggling to say no, measuring self-worth by productivity and achievement across every area of life.
Why This Matters
You might notice yourself in one of these types, or you may relate to several of these patterns. These aren’t rigid boxes, and they’re not labels to pin on yourself. They’re simply patterns. And once we see the patterns, we’re in a better position to choose a different response.
Understanding the type of imposter thoughts you tend to fall into can be the first step toward breaking the cycle — whether that’s softening perfectionism, asking for support, or recognising that effort and learning don’t make you a fraud, they make you human.
Next Step?
If any of this resonates then you’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep managing this silently. Therapy can help you spot these patterns more clearly, understand why they’re showing up, and develop a more compassionate, confident way of responding to them.
Are you ready to explore this more deeply? Click here to book a free consultation and let’s start making sense of what’s going on.