Imposter Syndrome Exercises for Private Practice Professionals
Imposter syndrome affects every business owner to a certain degree. It’s that nagging feeling that you don’t deserve the opportunities you’ve received, that you’re not good enough, and that you don’t deserve success.
Business owners experience imposter syndrome for all sorts of reasons including conditioning, the environment, upbringing, self-esteem, trauma, and oppression. You might not be able to “change” certain situations, but you can change how you respond and move forward.
In today’s blog, we’ll be talking about what imposter syndrome is, how to be scared and do it anyway, and imposter syndrome exercises to help you overcome the fear.
If imposter syndrome is telling you “I’m not ready” to start a private practice, read our blog post: Are you ready for private practice? to get a different perspective, without the mind games.
You are capable, resilient, and stronger than you think. You’ve got this, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Make sure to download The Ultimate Checklist To Start Your Private Practice. This resource is for beginners who want to know the steps to take to start a business!
Understanding Imposter Syndrome
When you’re faced with something you’ve never done before, of course you will feel scared, anxious, and overwhelmed. You begin to doubt yourself, question your ability, and hesitate to take the next step
But here’s the truth: This is just your brain trying to protect you. Growth and self-discovery often happen outside of your comfort zone.
When you push past a fear, you embrace the idea that you can try to do something challenging. This is the most incredible gift you can give yourself.
YES, you will ‘fail’ sometimes. But any type of ‘failure’ is feedback for your next step forward.
Whether you win or ‘fail’ you’ve proved to yourself that you can do something hard. This will allow you to grow in ways you could never have imagined.
Remember, being ready is a decision, not a feeling.
Feeling Scared and Doing it Anyway
It’s okay to feel scared and nervous when starting a business. You have to just take the leap, then take it one step at a time, and keep practicing to get better. Here’s the framework we like to use when feeling scared about starting.
- Embrace the fear and take the first step: Acknowledge that fear is a natural part of being a business owner. Embrace it and start by taking the first step. Whether it’s registering your business, creating a business plan, or reaching out to a client, the key is to simply start.
- Take one step at a time: After you’ve taken the first step, you just need to take it one step at a time. Don’t overwhelm yourself with the big picture things, but rather break your larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
- Reflect and keep practicing: There may be initial fear, but continuously practicing doing things scared can help you feel more comfortable and confident in your abilities.
Remember, sometimes all it takes is just taking the first step and breaking things down from there. Write down what your “first step” is. You got this!
How Comparison Can Lead to Imposter Syndrome
I know you’ve all heard it before: comparison is the thief of joy. Comparing yourself to colleagues, professionals online, friends and family, or really anyone can lead you to feel inadequate, underqualified, or lost.
But here’s the thing – you’re only seeing the surface. You don’t see their internal struggles, their work-life balances, or the challenges they face in day-to-day life.
This is especially true on social media. The truth is that most of us aren’t posting on our ‘bad’ days. We’re posting when we’re happy, when we reach milestones, and when we’re traveling the world.
So we encourage you to take a moment to reflect: Is comparing yourself to others serving you?
Notice when you’re starting to fall into the comparison trap and try to reframe those negative thoughts before they start to manifest as imposter syndrome. Focus on yourself – your accomplishments, your positive characteristics, and your unique perspective on the world.
Building Your Support Network
Your business support network is going to be one of the most important factors in overcoming imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome can be a very isolating experience. Here are the reasons you need a support network:
- Emotional Support: When you share your feelings, you’ll quickly realize you’re not alone in how you feel. Friends, family, and colleagues can offer empathy and validate your feelings.
- Perspective: Sometimes, it’s difficult to see your own progress and achievements. An outside perspective can be exactly what you need to get yourself out of a funk.
- Accountability: Trusted mentors, peers, and business friends can hold you accountable to set and achieve your goals.
Private practice can feel lonely – that’s why we’ve created a community in Business School and we encourage you to learn more about our business coaching program.
Imposter Syndrome Exercises
It’s time to talk about clear steps you can take to overcome imposter syndrome and live out your dreams. There are many different exercises you can do, and it’s important to try different strategies to see what works for you.
After you try some of the following imposter syndrome exercises, take note of which ones work well for you, and write them down. Next time you’re feeling imposter syndrome creep in, these strategies will be a part of your self-care toolkit that you can pull out.
Journaling Prompts:
Journaling is one of the easiest strategies you can use for overcoming imposter syndrome. All you need is something to write with and a piece of paper. Here are some specific prompts you can use:
Write down 3 positive things about yourself. How do these traits help you in your daily life?
- Write about a time you doubted yourself but still succeeded. What did you learn from this experience?
- How have you grown in the past year? List specific areas where you’ve seen improvement.
- Who in your life can you turn to for honest feedback and support? How can you engage with them more?
- List 3 small wins you’ve had in the past week. How do they contribute to your larger goals?
Gather Quotes:
Start writing down some of your favorite quotes. Whether they’re directly related to imposter syndrome, simply motivational, or light-hearted, you can look back on them when you need a little bit of a mindset shift. Here are some of our favorites:
“Being ready is a decision, not a feeling”
“You will always start before you’re ‘ready’”
“If you can pass organic chemistry, you can run a business”
“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage” – Brene Brown
“Imposter syndrome doesn’t go away… it just morphs into new issues. Just like we need to practice many things in life, we need to practice unlearning imposter syndrome.”
Weekly ‘Wins’ Log:
One of our favorite things to do at PPP is celebrate our weekly wins – no matter how big or small, personal or business-related, we always celebrate. Start a ‘wins’ log on your phone, in a journal, or on sticky notes next to your desk. Every Friday, write down at least 1 win from the week. When you’re feeling discouraged, read them over and know that you’re doing amazing.
Imposter Syndrome Exercises for Private Practice Professionals: The Takeaway
Don’t forget – imposter syndrome is your mind playing tricks on you, trying to protect you from harm. Remember these 3 steps:
- Embrace the fear and take the first step
- Take one step at a time
- Reflect and keep practicing
Try out some of our exercises: journaling, gathering quotes, and keeping a ‘wins’ log to see what works best for you!
Again, you are capable, resilient, and stronger than you think. You’ve got this, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Want to work with me to build your private practice?
Business School is a comprehensive 6-month program designed to guide you through every stage of building a private practice: getting set up, seeing your first clients, growing until you’re fully booked, hiring a team, expanding your offers—and even learning how to coast when needed. Inside, you’ll follow a step-by-step curriculum with the flexibility to choose the path that fits your current stage of business and life. You’ll get access to advanced toolkits, templates, and systems for business topics like marketing and finances, but also for counseling skills and client support. Beyond the curriculum, you’re supported by personalized 1:1 coaching, weekly office hours, and monthly themes that address the real challenges of private practice. The program keeps you moving forward with built-in accountability that builds resilience and confidence so you feel like a legit business owner. Learn more and apply!
