Hypnotherapy to Overcome imposter syndrome
What is imposter syndrome and how can you overcome it?
Actors are used to playing a role, but have you ever had that feeling in real life, that you’re faking it and any time now, people will see right through you and realise you’re not as capable as you pretend to be. You’ll be exposed as a fraud and you don’t know how you will live with the shame.
That’s commonly called imposter syndrome—persistent thoughts that you don’t measure up, that your success is due to luck rather than your hard work and capabilities.
It sounds scary, doesn’t it? “Syndrome” makes it sound very medical and out of your control. However, Imposter Syndrome is not mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, a book that comes closest to a bible of recognised mental health conditions. Imposter Syndrome is more accurately described as a mindset, a habitual pattern of thoughts and belief centring on feelings of inadequacy.
And the good news is that these thoughts and beliefs aren’t fixed truths about who you are, they’re just a habitual pattern that, with the right guidance and practice can shift.
Common signs you have an imposter mindset
- Always feeling like you’re playing the role instead of living your success
- Dismissing praise or brushing off achievements
- Attributing success to luck, timing, or charm — not skill or effort
- Fear of being “found out” or exposed as not good enough
- Over-preparing or overworking to prove your worth, like rehearsing endlessly
- Holding back from opportunities, like refusing to audition for fear of rejection
- Comparing yourself to others and always feeling you’ve missed your cue
- Maintaining a front that feels exhausting to uphold
- Struggling to accept positive feedback, as if the reviewer missed something important
Five common imposter coping styles
It’s easy to think these are fixed types—when really they’re a coping strategy, the way we deal with uncomfortable thoughts feelings and situations. It might help you to think of them as adaptive patterns we move between, just like different characters we might play:
the perfectionist
When every performance must be flawless, and anything less feels like failure. You’re not simply preparing—you’re trying to control the uncontrollable. If you’ve ever found it hard to start something because you’re afraid it won’t measure up, you know this pattern
the expert
Do you feel the need to know every fact, before you can start; feel vulnerable if you don’t feel you’ve worked hard enough, learned not only your lines but everyone else’s too.
Natural Genius
Do you feel like giving up when things start to feel like hard work? or maybe you believe things should come easily, and require little effort, so that working hard feels like a sign you don’t have what it takes. Feedback can be tough and there is so much pressure to get it right on the first take, without any rehearsal.
The soloist
Do you prefer to work alone or avoid sharing work in progress for feedback? That’s not independence—it’s your inner imposter whispering that collaboration reveals weakness.
The superhero
Do you feel like you must prove you can do everything—and do it perfectly—while juggling everything else in your life? Once again, your inner imposter has cast you in an impossible role.
Perhaps one of these descriptions resonates—or maybe several do. Most people move between these coping styles depending on the situation. The key is noticing the pattern and learning how to shift it. That’s the first step in moving beyond an imposter mindset.
How having an imposter mindset holds you back
It stands in your way by:
- Making you second-guess opportunities, even the ones you’re well suited for
- Stopping you from starting projects—even ones that excite your creative passions
- Leading you to abandon work once the initial excitement fades and sustained effort is required
- Holding back from speaking up or putting yourself forward when your voice really matters
- Causing you to over-prepare or overwork just to feel you’ve “earned” your place
- Teaching you to downplay achievements or deflect praise
- Keeping you trapped in a loop of comparison—always feeling someone else deserves the role more
- Making it difficult to enjoy success — because you don’t believe you deserve it
- Driving burnout as you battle to “prove yourself” time and time again
- Undermining your confidence in relationships, work, or creative projects
- Blocking you from seeking mentors or guidance — because you think you should already know this stuff
the emotional impact of an imposter mindset
Your inner imposter doesn’t just stay in your head — it affects how you feel, how you behave, and how you connect with others. It can manifest as various emotional responses that might be mistaken for separate issues.
Performance anxiety
The pressure to prove yourself can cause you to freeze, overthink, and avoid high-stakes situations — like auditions, networking events, or showcases.
Social discomfort
Dreading social situations because you don’t believe you belong? That’s your inner imposter, reading from the same old script.
Procrastination
Starting a new project can feel impossible when you fear it will expose your inadequacy. But what if what you’re experiencing isn’t being a fraud, but is a sign you are outside your comfort zone?
Burnout and feeling overwhelmed
Constantly trying to match up to your own unrealistic standards is exhausting. No wonder a recent survey by Mental Health UK revealed that 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point they were overwhelmed
Shame and self-criticism
Your inner imposter doesn’t stop at questioning your achievements— it targets your looks, your body image, your sexuality, your gender expression.
There is no end to your inner imposter’s negative messaging—until you decide to change the script,
Changing the script: moving beyond an imposter mindset with hypnotherapy
The good news is, your inner imposter doesn’t actually exist—it’s a convenient label for a pattern of thoughts and beliefs that have become habitual over time. This mindset leads to behaviours that get in the way of not just your artistic career but also living your life fully and authentically. It’s like wearing a heavy coat with pockets full of stones. How would it be if you could take off this heavy coat that’s been weighing you down?
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy offers a gentle yet profound approach because it works on multiple levels: helping you recognise and change unhelpful thoughts, while also shifting the emotional and behavioural patterns that have kept the cycle going.
Identifying thought patterns and triggers
Using cognitive behavioural techniques, we’ll explore the situations that trigger your inner imposter and the specific stories your inner imposter uses against you. Think of it like going through the script and identifying all your lines.
replacing automatic negative thoughts
Once we’ve mapped these patterns, we’ll develop new, realistic, and affirming self-statements. With hypnosis, we reinforce these new perspectives and begin to quiet the old mental scripts that no longer align with your truth. It’s a bit like updating a classic play to make sure its message still resonates
teaching relaxation skills
Anxiety creates tension in the body and activates your fight-or-flight response. You’ll learn simple, effective techniques that calm your nervous system and bring you back to the present moment—because you can’t be anxious and present at the same time.
Ready to rewrite the script?
You don’t have to keep proving, hiding or second guessing.
Your inner Imposter isn’t who you are—it’s just a part you learned from an old script. You’ve been playing the part so long you’ve forgotten you can stop.
How would it be if, together, we wrote a new narrative? One that recognises that you are, and have always been, more than good enough.
Book your free 20–minute consultation and take the first step towards reclaiming your authentic voice.
