Imposter Syndrome Therapy for High-Achieving Women
Stop feeling like a fraud. Online imposter syndrome therapy to challenge self-doubt and trust your expertise—built for leaders, founders, and ambitious professionals.
Licensed in MA, NY, CO, VT & FL
As a High-achieving woman, you aren’t just “lucky.”
You’re qualified and you don’t have to keep proving it to feel legitimate. I'm Alexis Verbin, LCSW (CO, NY, VT, FL), LICSW (MA), and I provide online imposter syndrome treatment for ambitious professionals who want fewer rumination loops, clearer decisions, and confidence grounded in reality.
Ready to Own Your Success?
✔ HIPAA-secure video sessions tailored to your personal and professionals stressors.
✔ Practical CBT, ACT, and IFS tools you can use this week.
✔ Convenient support for busy professionals with flexible scheduling and evening availability.
SERVING HIGH-ACHIEVING PROFESSIONALS LOCATED IN:
Massachusetts | New York | Colorado | Vermont | Florida
Who I Help
I work with professionals, leaders, high achievers, and founders who appear composed at work but wrestle with a loud inner critic. You might be someone who delays applying, presenting, or negotiating because "it's not good enough," or you deflect credit and feel you must prove yourself, again and again.
I SPECIALIZE IN SUPPORTING:
Emerging Leaders
✔ You struggle to trust your readiness for promotion and find it difficult to embrace your authority, even when others recognize your capabilities.
Female Executives
✔ You feel intense pressure to consistently outperform male counterparts just to earn respect and visibility in leadership spaces.
Solopreneurs & Founders
✔ You're caught in analysis paralysis, questioning every major decision and feeling stuck despite your expertise.
Grad Students & Young Professionals
✔ You battle imposter syndrome in competitive fields, constantly wondering if you truly belong or just got lucky.
Former Athletes
✔ You're navigating a difficult identity transition beyond sports and struggling to find meaning in your post-competition life.
Working Moms in Transition
✔ You're managing a major career pivot while secretly questioning whether you're capable of making such a significant change.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
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Feeling the need to prove your worth through constant effort (staying late when others leave on time).
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Avoiding new opportunities to escape potential "exposure" (declining promotions or speaking opportunities). This fear often goes hand-in-hand with confidence stressors addressed in therapy for self-esteem.
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Undervaluing your skills or hesitating to celebrate your wins.
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Overloading yourself with unrealistic expectations.
5 Imposter Syndrome Types
Imposter syndrome doesn’t look the same for everyone. Understanding your imposter “type” can help you see the patterns clearly and also help to direct the therapy process. In sessions, we identify which type(s) show up for you and use evidence-based strategies to quiet the inner critic and rebuild confidence.
The 5 Types of Imposter Syndrome Include:
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You set high and unrealistic standards for yourself, and anything less than perfect feels like failure. You may find yourself overworking, over-preparing, or obsessing over mistakes.
In therapy, we focus on breaking this cycle by challenging impossible standards, learning to embrace “good enough,” and building a healthier relationship with achievement. For some clients, this work overlaps with perfectionism therapy, where the goal is to release the pressure to perform flawlessly.
Thought trap: “If I were really competent, I wouldn’t need to try so hard.”
Result: Paralysis and procrastination when perfection isn't guaranteed.
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You tie your worth to how much you can juggle. Even when you’re doing more than enough, it still feels like it isn’t sufficient.
In therapy, we work on untangling your identity from constant productivity, setting healthier boundaries, and learning to rest without guilt.Thought trap: “If I slow down or need help, I’ll be exposed as a fraud.”
Result: Exhaustion and resentment, while others appear to balance with ease. -
You believe success should come easily and quickly. When something requires effort, practice, or a learning curve, you feel inadequate.
Therapy helps you reframe effort as a normal part of growth, reduce shame around “not knowing it all,” and build tolerance for challenges without internalizing them as flaws.Thought trap: “If I have to struggle, it means I’m not truly capable.”
Result: Avoiding new opportunities and staying in your comfort zone. -
You pride yourself on doing everything independently. Asking for help feels like failure.
In therapy, we explore the beliefs behind this pattern and work on allowing collaboration, connection, and support without equating it to weakness.Thought trap: “If I were competent or knowledgeable, I wouldn’t need anyone else.”
Result: Missed opportunities and slower progress than necessary. -
No matter how much you’ve achieved, it never feels like enough. You’re always chasing another credential, training, or title to feel legitimate.
Therapy helps you recognize when “not knowing enough” is really imposter syndrome speaking, and practice taking action even without perfect certainty.Thought trap: “I’ll never be ready — someone else always knows more than me.”
Result: Endless research and delayed progress.
Therapy Approach
Evidenced-based practices I will utilize in our sessions to help you overcome Imposter Syndrome:
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Name all-or-nothing, mind-reading, and discounting-the-positive. Replace them with balanced statements you'd offer a colleague.
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Make room for discomfort and move toward what matters: applying, speaking up, leading.
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Meet these protective parts with curiosity so they can step back rather than take over.
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Grounding techniques and breathing practices to settle your nervous system before presentations, interviews, and big decisions.
Treatment Benefits
Here's how therapy helps you move past imposter syndrome:
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Stop second-guessing decisions you're qualified to make. Learn to distinguish between reasonable caution and imposter-driven paralysis, so you can lead with authority.
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Replace "I got lucky" with genuine recognition of your skills and effort. Build an internal sense of worth that doesn't depend on constant external validation or the next promotion.
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Therapy helps you replace self-criticism with actual compassion, understanding, and self-acceptance. You will learn how to treat yourself with the same patience and encouragement that you provide others in your life, making it easier to navigate challenges without shame or guilt.
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Develop resilience that doesn't crumble at the first mistake. Replace harsh self-criticism with the same constructive feedback you'd give a valuable team member.
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Say yes to speaking engagements, promotions, and stretch assignments. Develop practical strategies for high-stakes moments when imposter feelings surface.
What Our Work Looks Like
✔ 50-Minute Video Sessions that are structured, supportive, empowering, and practical
✔ A clear plan with goals we set together, review, and adjust as needed
✔ Brief between-session tools so change shows up in meetings, reviews, and hard conversations, not just during therapy
Results Clients Notice
✔ Shorter rumination loops and fewer reassurance checks
✔ Healthier boundaries and communication
✔ Belief in your abilities and strengths that are not tied to external validation
FAQs: Imposter Syndrome Therapy
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Absolutely. Many high-achieving professionals, executives, leaders, business owners, athletes, and students experience imposter syndrome at some point. It’s more common than you might think and is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a challenge that therapy can help you overcome. It also can go hand-in-hand with other mental health challenges such as anxiety.
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Imposter syndrome can quietly wear down your well-being. Many people describe feeling “on alert,” unable to switch off or fully enjoy wins.
Common effects:
Persistent worry & mental load —rumination, second-guessing, and trouble relaxing or sleeping. These overlap with symptoms often addressed in anxiety therapy.
Difficulty owning results — discounting achievements and feeling chronically “not enough.”
Over-correction cycles — excessive prep, endless tweaking, or avoiding visibility because it never feels ready.
Energy drain & disengagement — less bandwidth for relationships and activities that normally feel meaningful.
If these patterns resonate, therapy can help you build steadier confidence and a calmer inner dialogue.
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No. “Imposter syndrome” isn’t a formal diagnosis, but the thoughts, stress, and avoidance are very real. Therapy focuses on patterns that keep you stuck and a diagnosis is only used when clinically appropriate (e.g., for insurance paperwork).
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Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and explore your goals for therapy.
We’ll discuss your experiences with imposter syndrome, any challenges you’re facing, and what you hope to gain from our work together.
This first session, otherwise known as the “intake assessment,” is an excellent opportunity to set the foundation for our work together.
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I’m licensed in Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Florida and provide online therapy to adults who are physically located in those states at the time of session.
“Imposter syndrome is the fear of being 'found out,' but what if the only thing to discover is how talented and deserving you’ve been all along?”
Book Recommendations: Imposter Syndrome
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A foundational book on imposter syndrome, particularly for high-achieving women, with practical tools for overcoming self-doubt.
Author: Valerie Young, Ed.D.
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A great mix of psychological insights and real-life strategies to break free from the imposter cycle.
Author: Dr. Jessamy Hibberd
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A structured 3-step program designed to help individuals identify and challenge imposter thoughts.
Authors: Lisa Orbé-Austin, PhD & Richard Orbé-Austin, PhD
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Takes a look at how body language, confidence, and mindset shifts can reduce imposter feelings in professional or workplace environments.
Author: Amy Cuddy
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While this book is not exclusively about imposter syndrome, Brené Brown provides strategies for overcoming self-doubt in leadership and workplace settings.
Author: Brené Brown
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Perfect for those from underrepresented groups struggling with imposter syndrome in leadership and professional roles.
Author: Stacey Abrams
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The books recommended here are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are struggling with perfectionism, anxiety, or any mental health concerns, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist or mental health professional for personalized support.
General, Work, & Career Focused Imposter Syndrome Books
Ready to Get Started?
Therapy for imposter feelings can provide the insight, tools, and confidence you need to reach your full potential. It’s not just about addressing what’s holding you back; it’s about creating a future where you feel empowered to thrive.