If you’re a psychologist, therapist, coach, or any helping professional who sometimes thinks, “Who am I to help others?” — this feeling isn’t a sign you’re inadequate. It’s often the opposite. That quiet doubt can be the exact moment when you’re stepping into a bigger version of yourself. The old sense of who you are simply hasn’t caught up yet.

Doubt as a Marker of Growth

Many talented professionals experience imposter feelings precisely because they keep growing. The more you learn, the more clearly you see what you don’t yet know. That awareness isn’t weakness — it’s honesty. People who never question themselves often aren’t stretching their capabilities. Those who do question themselves are usually the ones moving forward.

Research has consistently shown that the most competent, high-achieving individuals are the ones most likely to feel like frauds. Beginners rarely struggle with this because they don’t yet grasp the full depth of the field. Experienced practitioners feel it because they respect the complexity of the human mind.

The Hidden Demand for Perfection

At its root, intense imposter feelings sometimes come from an unspoken belief that we should be flawless — always certain, always right, always able to fix everything. That expectation isn’t humility. It’s a form of control: “If I’m perfect, I’ll never fail anyone.” But helping others isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present.

Clients don’t need a flawless expert. They need someone real who can sit with them in uncertainty without running away. When we let go of the need to be the “answer person,” something shifts. We move from trying to save people to simply walking beside them. That shift often dissolves much of the pressure that fuels imposter feelings.

Vulnerability Creates Connection

Studies on therapeutic relationships repeatedly show that the strongest bonds form through authenticity, not superior knowledge. When therapists are willing to be human — to acknowledge limits, to show appropriate vulnerability — clients feel safer being human too. Your own imperfections don’t disqualify you. They make you relatable. They give clients permission to stop pretending and access their own truth.

The Body Holds the Feeling

Imposter sensations aren’t just intellectual thoughts; they are physiological events. They live in the body: tightness in the chest before a session, tension in the stomach when raising fees, heaviness in the shoulders when stepping into visibility. Mature practitioners learn to notice these sensations without fighting them. They breathe, move, and stay present. Over time, the body learns that growth doesn’t have to mean danger.

Presence Over Performance

The most respected professionals don’t radiate unshakable confidence. They radiate calm presence. They don’t need to prove anything because they’ve stopped treating their work as a performance. They show up as themselves — imperfect, alive, attentive. That quiet steadiness is what clients actually pay for: the sense that someone can hold space for their truth without collapsing or fleeing.

The Feeling Never Fully Disappears — and That’s Okay

Imposter feelings tend to reappear at every new level: “Who am I to charge this much?” “Who am I to teach others?” Each time, it’s the same invitation — to step forward anyway. Growth doesn’t require the absence of doubt. It requires the willingness to act alongside it.

Readiness is a myth. There’s only honesty, presence, and the choice to stay in the room — with yourself and with your clients. That choice, made again and again, is what turns doubt into depth.

References

• Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247.
  This original paper introduced the concept of the imposter phenomenon and found it most common among highly competent individuals who struggle to internalize their success.
• Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. New York: Gotham Books.
  Explores how embracing vulnerability and authenticity strengthens relationships and fosters genuine connection — central ideas for effective therapeutic presence.