Storie Stinger, LSCW: Busting the Myth: Not All Therapists Have Imposter Syndrome

Storie Stinger, LCSW

Hey all my fellow therapists out there, let’s talk about a myth that just won’t quit—the idea that all therapists have imposter syndrome. It’s not true, and I’m tired of hearing it.

Some of us truly believe that we are enough.

Spreading the idea that every therapist struggles with self-doubt undermines the confidence and expertise so many of us bring to our work. Sure, occasional uncertainty happens—it’s human. But it’s still possible to make mistakes, not have all the answers, and still KNOW that you are enough. Whether you’re in individual counseling, couples therapy, trauma work, or clinical mental health counseling, confidence isn’t just about competence. It’s about doing your own work.

Doing Your Own Work is the Key

Want to know what it takes to move past imposter syndrome? Deep, personal work. If you're a therapist, marriage counselor, or sex therapist, you’ve probably already told your clients that healing starts with self-awareness. The same applies to us.

That means:
✔️ Processing your own traumas.
✔️ Facing your insecurities with curiosity, not shame.
✔️ Walking through your own darkness so you can lead others through theirs.

Whether you're offering relationship counseling, premarital counseling, or ADHD treatment for adults, you can't fully show up for your clients if you're drowning in your own unresolved struggles. Therapists who have done their own work don’t just “fake it”—they show up with confidence, self-compassion, and the ability to help others without being weighed down by imposter syndrome.

Ditch the Myth—And the Shame

Not all therapists are walking bundles of imposter syndrome, hiding behind a cape of shame. Many of us are out here doing the work, trusting our training, and stepping up for our clients with confidence. Whether you're helping clients navigate treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder treatments, ADHD medication management, or childhood ADHD treatment, you can be an imperfect, evolving human and a good therapist.

So, let’s stop reinforcing the false belief that every therapist secretly feels like a fraud. Instead, let’s celebrate the ones who have stepped into their confidence—whether they're offering marriage counseling near me, ADHD therapy, or internal family systems therapy.

If you’re still battling imposter syndrome, come join us on the other side. It’s more fun here. And you are enough.

-Storie Stinger, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist in Farmington, Utah at Purple Sky Counseling