Everyone experiences imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. You can’t let it get in your way, though. Sometimes, no matter how much training you went through, you don’t feel good enough. You don’t feel like you know what you’re talking about. I’m sure you can relate to that. It’s common to lose sight of who you are as a therapist.

Imposter syndrome can happen to anyone. I experienced it as a therapist and I experience it now as a copywriter. But there are ways not to let it hold you back from being the kickass therapist that you are!

The first is just to remember that you do know what you’re doing. It can feel like you’re not worth the fees that you’re charging. Or you might feel like you’re never going to succeed. If you’re going into private practice, imposter syndrome can rear its ugly head and make you feel as if you’ll never be good enough. Don’t let the imposter monster get you.

Therapist Imposter Syndrome

Therapist imposter syndrome is real and needs to be talked about. It’s ok to experience imposter syndrome. What we don’t want is for it to ruin your ability to practice your work.

In order to be fully present with your clients, therapist imposter syndrome needs to know how to show itself out the door. But first, you have to train it to. It won’t go away on its own – you need to show that imposter monster who’s the boss. 

One way to nip imposter syndrome in the bud is to remind yourself of your “why.” Why do you do what you do? Why did you choose your clients? What made you want to be a therapist in the first place?

Overcoming imposter syndrome occurs when you remember your “why.” I keep a post-it note above my desk with my “why” written on it. This helps me remember why I do what I do and why I love it.

The other thing I do to overcome imposter syndrome is to return to positive feedback. I save emails and put them in my “smile file.” I also post testimonials behind my computer as reminders that I’m an imposter after all. This helps me remember that I am good at my job and I do get results for my clients.

What Does Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Have to Do With Copywriting?

We’ve already established that as a copywriter, I experience imposter syndrome regularly. That’s why I understand what you’re going through when you experience therapist imposter syndrome. They’re really not that different.

But the reason therapist imposter syndrome is related to copywriting isn’t just because copywriters experience imposter syndrome. It’s because, if you feel like a fraud, you’re going to have a hard time marketing yourself. 

As a copywriter for therapists, I strive to help my clients nail down who their ideal client is. I work with a lot of therapists in private practice. For those just starting out, it can be difficult to narrow down who they work with. The important question to ask yourself is “who is your ideal client?” You need an ideal client avatar – a made-up person that represents exactly who you want to work with.

You might be tempted to go the more general route to reach more people. This is a mistake. If you’re speaking to everyone, you’re speaking to no one. That’s the hardest part about marketing yourself and your private practice – niching down to a specialty.

What does having your ideal client have to do with imposter syndrome? Well, for starters, if you work with a certain group of people, you become more of an expert in that area of the field. For example, you might work with women of color suffering from depression. That might sound really specific, but if you are a woman of color who deals with depression, you’ll probably choose the therapist who specializes in that particular area over someone who’s more of a generalist.

If you can pinpoint your target audience, your copywriter can help you get more clients. If you have a copywriter who understands your voice, you’ll actually be able to hear yourself coming off the screen. You’ll have a better understanding of what your clients see and hear when they talk to you if you see what you sound like on your website or in your blogs.

Copywriting can actually help boost your confidence as a therapist and kick imposter syndrome to the curb. This especially can happen when people engage with your writing. If you find out someone chose you based on the way your Psychology Today profile was written or the way your website made them feel, it’s more likely that you’ll feel confident to work with them because you know why they want to work with you. Copywriting can help you overcome imposter syndrome!

Get Out of Your Own Way and Hire a Mental Health Copywriter

It’s time to take the next step towards overcoming therapist imposter syndrome once and for all. Work with a mental health copywriter who gets you. Find someone who takes the time to get to know you and your voice. Hire a copywriter who specifically writes for therapists because they know the territory. Even better, hire a copywriter who used to be a therapist. I guarantee you that person will know the territory. You won’t have to spend so much time explaining to them what you do. They already get it.

Trust me, as a former therapist, I understand therapist imposter syndrome. Now as a mental health copywriter, I experience imposter syndrome from a different perspective, but I still experience it. That’s how you know I’ll get you – I’ve been in your shoes. I’m haunted by that imposter monster also.

We can beat your therapist imposter syndrome by working together to craft a message that represents you and your work. We’ll target your ideal client and speak directly to them in a way that instills confidence in them. They’ll know they made the right choice when they choose you as their therapist. And you’ll know you made the right choice when you choose me as your copywriter. 

If you’re ready to overcome imposter syndrome by hiring a copywriter, contact me to set up a call to see if we’re a good fit. Let’s get rid of that imposter monster once and for all!