If you’ve been battling with self-doubt, perfectionism or that constant fear of being ‘found out’ as not good enough — you’re not alone. Imposter Syndrome can feel incredibly isolating, and starting therapy might feel like yet another thing you’re “not doing properly.”
But here’s the truth: you don’t need to have it all figured out before you come to therapy. In fact, that’s why you’re here — to start making sense of what’s going on and to find a way forward that works for you.
We’ll Begin With What You’re Struggling With
In your first session, we’ll begin by looking at the specific problems that have brought you to therapy. This might be things like:
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Feeling like a fraud, even when others see you as capable
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Constantly doubting yourself or second-guessing your decisions
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Struggling to relax or feel satisfied, no matter how much you achieve
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Over-preparing, procrastinating, or avoiding situations where you fear you’ll mess up
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Feeling stuck in a cycle of high standards, harsh self-talk, and burnout
You might describe your difficulties as anxiety, low self-esteem, overwhelm, or simply “not feeling good enough.” You don’t need to have the perfect words — we’ll work together to clarify what’s going on.
Looking at How It Shows Up in Your Life
Once we have a sense of the problem, we’ll explore how it’s showing up across different parts of your life:
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At work: Are you overworking, holding back in meetings, or constantly chasing approval?
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In relationships: Are you hiding how you really feel or worrying what others think of you?
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In your wellbeing: Are you anxious, exhausted, or neglecting your own needs?
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In your day-to-day: Is perfectionism making even small tasks feel overwhelming?
I’ll often ask for a few real-life examples — not to put you on the spot, but to help us understand what these patterns actually look like in your life.
Identifying the Patterns That Keep You Stuck
Imposter Syndrome isn’t just about how you feel. It’s shaped by the patterns your mind and body fall into — patterns that may have helped you cope in the past, but now keep the problem going.
We’ll gently start to notice these patterns together. Some common ones include:
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Overthinking — going over things again and again, replaying what you said, imagining how others might be judging you
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Self-criticism — being harsh, dismissive, or rarely satisfied with yourself
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Avoidance or playing it safe — holding back, procrastinating, or hiding in the background
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Perfectionism — feeling like nothing is ever good enough unless it’s flawless
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People-pleasing — focusing on being liked or not letting anyone down, often at your own expense
Even when you know these patterns aren’t helping, they can be hard to stop. That’s not a failure — it’s how the brain works when it’s trying to protect you.
Making Sense of Why It’s Happening
We’ll also start to make sense of why you might have learned these ways of coping. Often, these patterns come from earlier experiences — things you learned about achievement, approval, failure, or worthiness. Understanding that history gives us compassion for how you’ve ended up here.
But we won’t just stay in the past. Therapy is also about what’s keeping these struggles going today — and what we can do to start shifting things.
Setting Goals That Feel Meaningful
Toward the end of the session, I’ll ask something like:
“If therapy was helpful for you, what would feel different? What would change?”
Maybe you’d feel more confident in your work. Or more at ease socially. Maybe you’d stop overthinking everything or finally stop putting so much pressure on yourself. Whatever your goals are, we’ll work together to shape therapy in a way that supports what matters most to you.
An Approach That Helps You Understand and Change
I’ll also take time to explain how I work. I’ll say something like:
“These sessions are about getting clearer on where you’re getting stuck — and what’s keeping the problem going. Even when we explore your history, our main focus will be on understanding the patterns showing up now, and what we can do to change them. That includes the way you think, the way you cope, the expectations you place on yourself — and how we can move you toward a more balanced and meaningful way of living.”
You Don’t Need to Be “Therapy Ready”
There’s no need to prepare a speech or come in knowing exactly what to say. Most people start therapy feeling uncertain, or even worried they’re “not doing it right.” That’s okay.
You bring the problems — I’ll help you unpack them and make sense of them. We’ll take it one step at a time.
If you’re struggling with Imposter Syndrome, self-doubt or perfectionism — and you’re ready to stop doing it all alone — get in touch. Let’s talk about how therapy can help. You can attend your therapy sessions online or in-person in Rainham, Kent.