Do you ever feel like even despite your degrees, studies, experience, training and all the time and energy you’ve put into your career you still are left feeling unqualified? 

If your answer is yes, then congratulations you are being honest with yourself.

If your answer is no, then uh oh let’s try that again, because I know that even if you’ve been in the helping profession for 45 years you have still at some point felt like you had no idea what you were doing. 

I sometimes find myself in a situation with a client where someone is spilling themselves to me and I find myself thinking “oh you should really talk to a professional about that.” And then I have to stop and be like…

Oh wait, I am the professional

This is what we call imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is essentially anxiety stemming from feeling like you are not knowledgeable or qualified enough for your profession despite having accomplished all of the necessary qualifications. Imposter syndrome is something everyone experiences, not just those in the mental health world. It’s a normal feeling. 

I feel imposter syndrome quite often. Being in my 20s and having clients who are 30 and 40 years older than me can often leave me thinking “what could I possibly have to teach them, they know more about this than I do? They are the one who is living it.” And that is just it. That is the key to imposter syndrome. 

Lean into imposter syndrome!

Yes, you heard me.

Lean into imposter syndrome!!

Those thoughts you are having are 100% true. Your clients may be older and may have more life experience, but sometimes that is a good thing. Because your client is the expert in their own lives. Let them tell you what they need. 

As a mental health worker it is so important to let your clients lead their own care. They will tell you what they need and that is when you use your knowledge and experience. 

You don’t have to try and monopolize the situation and determine exactly where the conversation is going because it will never once be the same. 

I have taught the same coping skills of deep breathing to over a dozen different people and it has never and I mean never looked the same. And that is okay!! That means your client is getting individual care. 

And I’m not here to tell you to start doing things beyond your ability, like I’m not going to go start diagnosing all of my clients because that is not my training, but I want you to rest assured that you are capable and yes you will always and forever be learning. And that is such an exciting thought. 

I don’t know, but we are going to figure it out together

This is where authenticity comes into play. I can’t count how many times a client has brought an issue to me and I have had no earthly idea how to help, but I simply say “I don’t know but we are going to figure it out together.” And this is usually followed by a laugh and a eagerness to do it together. My clients don’t want or expect me to have all the answers. In fact, it usually makes them feel less inferior to know that they aren’t the only one who doesn’t know. All they want from me is a willingness to help them figure it out. And that’s what I do. I figure it out with my client. 

So friend, lean into your imposter syndrome. Use it to your advantage. Let that be a relief to you that you don’t need to have all of the answers. All you need is a willingness to learn and grow. Grow alongside your client.