Therapy for Imposter Syndrome in NYC: Helping High-Achieving Women Overcome Self-Doubt

Do You Secretly Feel Like a Fraud?

You’ve built an impressive career, perhaps in finance, tech, media, medicine, or law. You’re surrounded by other driven professionals, navigating a fast-paced city where success seems like the norm. But behind the scenes, you feel like you’re constantly trying to catch up or "prove" yourself.

That internal voice keeps whispering:

“You don’t really belong here. You just got lucky. One day, someone will find out.”

If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Many high-achieving women, leaders, creatives, and female business owners in NYC struggle with imposter syndrome, that nagging belief that you’re not as competent or capable as people think you are. Even when your achievements speak for themselves, your inner critic won’t let you fully believe them.

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a persistent pattern of self-doubt that causes you to feel like a fraud, despite clear evidence of success. It’s common among successful, driven individuals, especially women navigating high-pressure environments. Research shows just how widespread this experience is. A KPMG study on women executives and imposter syndrome found that 75% of female leaders across industries have felt like a fraud at some point in their careers.

Signs of Imposter Syndrome in High-Achieving Women in New York

If you’re a successful woman leader or business owner in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or the surrounding areas, you might recognize some common signs of imposter syndrome, including:

  • Constantly over-preparing or overworking to avoid being “found out”

  • Feeling the need to prove your worth in every room you enter

  • Difficulty celebrating achievements or accepting compliments

  • Perfectionism and fear of failure that keep you stuck

  • Low self-esteem, negative self-perception, and reduced confidence in your abilities

  • Anxiety, burnout, or physical exhaustion from the ongoing pressure to perform

Why NYC Women Are Prone to Imposter Syndrome and Low Self Esteem

New York City is a global hub of ambition, talent, and competition. While the energy can be inspiring, it can also be overwhelming, especially for women navigating high-stakes careers in industries that often value performance over wellness.

You may be impacted by:

  • High-pressure work cultures: Whether you're working on Wall Street, in a top firm, or running a startup in Brooklyn, the hustle never stops.

  • Cultural expectations: NYC often glorifies burnout and constant productivity, leaving little room for self-compassion or rest.

  • Underrepresentation in leadership: Many NYC high-achieving women in male-dominated industries or roles have the added pressure to “prove” themselves daily.

  • Comparison culture: Social media and professional networking in a city like NYC can amplify feelings of not measuring up.

When you’re constantly surrounded by excellence, it’s easy to internalize the idea that you’re the one who doesn’t belong.

How a Therapist Can Help You Overcome Imposter Syndrome and Build Self-Esteem

Imposter syndrome doesn’t go away by pushing harder, it quiets when you shift the way you see yourself.

Through online imposter syndrome and confidence therapy, I help ambitious women in NYC move from self-doubt and burnout to confidence and calm. If you are looking to develop a more confident sense of self, you are in the right place. During treatment for imposter syndrome, we’ll explore the root of your imposter syndrome and build practical tools to challenge it.

My approach includes:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Imposter Syndrome will help you reframe unhealthy or unhelpful distorted thought patterns that fuel insecurity and low self-esteem.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT):

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy used to treat imposter syndrome will help you develop psychological flexibility and stop letting self-doubt run the show.

  • Mindfulness-Based Tools:

    When addressing imposter syndrome, learning mindfulness-based tools will help you ground yourself in the present and detach from perfectionistic thinking.

  • Self-Compassion Practices:

    Self-Compassion Practices is a great way to combat imposter thoughts, as you learn how to support yourself the way you’d support a friend.

Please remember, you’re not broken, you’re living in a system that rarely gives women room to feel safe, supported, and whole. Psychotherapy helps you change the internal narrative so you can show up for your life motivated, excited, more confident, and with less fear.

Online Therapy for Women in NYC

Yellow taxi on a Manhattan street surrounded by buildings and trees, representing therapy for high-achieving women with imposter syndrome in NYC.

Whether you are looking for self-esteem therapy near Manhattan, imposter syndrome Treatment in Brooklyn, Anxiety help near Queens, burnout recovery in Westchester, or perfectionism therapy in-between work meetings, online therapy services offers a space to reflect, reset, and heal.

At Wellcore Healing, I provide online therapy for high-achieving women in Manhattan, throughout New York, and beyond who are ready to stop overthinking, overcome negative thought patterns, and start thriving in both their personal and professional lives.

No crowded subway commute. No waiting rooms. Just meaningful therapy from the comfort of your home or office.

Tools to Start Quieting Your Inner Critic Today

Before therapy even begins, you can start shifting your relationship with imposter syndrome, reinforce your strengths, increase motivation, and build healthy self-esteem by practicing the following:

  • Keep a Wins List: Write down achievements, even minor ones, to create a running log of your success.

  • Talk Back to Self-Doubt: When that “I’m not good enough” thought shows up, ask: “What’s the actual evidence here?”

  • Practice Receiving Praise: Instead of brushing it off, try saying, “Thank you. I’m proud of what I did.”

  • Open Up About It: Sharing your experience with a therapist or trusted friend can be incredibly normalizing and healing.

  • Engage in Mindfulness: Use mindful breathing or grounding techniques to bring awareness to the present moment. This can help you notice self-critical thoughts without judgment and create space to respond with self-compassion instead of spiraling.

You Don’t Have to Earn Confidence or Self-Esteem, You Just Need to Reclaim It

You’ve worked hard to get to where you are as a New York professional, leader, graduate student, athlete, or entrepreneur. Now it’s time to feel the success you’ve already achieved. If imposter syndrome is stealing your peace, therapy can help you get it back. It’s time to provide yourself with the care your deserve!

Book a free consultation today and let’s talk about how to get started in therapy.


Alexis Verbin, LCSW, LICSW

Alexis Verbin is a licensed therapist and the founder of Wellcore Healing, a private practice offering therapy for anxiety, low self-esteem, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, burnout, and chronic stress. She specializes in helping high-achieving women, including those in male-dominated industries, female executives, entrepreneurs, overwhelmed moms, athletes, and ambitious young adults, manage self-doubt, internal pressure, and high-functioning anxiety. Through personalized treatment, clients build lasting confidence, reduce burnout, and regain a sense of control.

Online Therapy Services

Alexis offers online therapy for residents of Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Florida. With a focus on mental wellness, she uses techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Mindfulness to support her clients. Whether you're in Denver, Boston, NYC, Burlington, or Miami, Alexis provides compassionate, evidence-based support wherever you are.

https://www.wellcorehealing.com
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The Hidden Link Between Self-Esteem and Imposter Syndrome