What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome describes the experience of doubting your own abilities and feeling like a fraud, despite evidence that you are capable.

You might have qualifications, experience, positive feedback and a long list of things you have achieved, but still feel as though you have somehow managed to convince everyone that you are more capable than you really are.

The difficulty is that success doesn't necessarily make these feelings disappear.

Sometimes, it can actually make them louder.

Saying no sounds simple.

Until you actually have to do it.

You might know that you're allowed to have boundaries. You might even encourage the

people around you to rest, say no and look after themselves.

But when it comes to your own needs, things can feel very different.

Grief doesn't always arrive when you expect it.

You might wake up and, for a few seconds, forget that they've gone.

Then the remembering comes.

Have you ever had a thought pop into your head before you've had time to question it?

“I've completely messed this up.”

“They're probably annoyed with me.”

“I should be doing better.”

“Something is going to go wrong.”

These thoughts can appear so quickly that we barely notice them.

If you've been thinking about counselling but aren't quite sure what to expect, you're not alone.

Taking that first step can feel daunting. You might wonder what you'll be asked, how much you'll need to

talk about, or whether you'll feel comfortable opening up to someone you don't know.

You might not think of yourself as particularly stressed.

You're getting up. Going to work. Looking after everyone. Answering the messages. Getting things done.

You keep going because that's what you do. But perhaps you're also constantly thinking about what's next.