4 NYC Imposter Syndrome Therapists
Imposter Syndrome Therapy
You may look successful from the outside while privately wondering when someone will realize you’re not as capable as they think. That pressure can make every achievement feel fragile. At New York City Psychotherapy Collective, our therapists for imposter syndrome in New York help you challenge persistent self-doubt and build confidence that feels genuine.
Meet your NYC therapists for imposter syndrome
Allie Soss
I work with adults whose accomplishments never seem to quiet the voice saying, “I’m not good enough,” especially when imposter syndrome is tied to perfectionism, anxiety, or major life and career transitions. I combine cognitive behavioral therapy with person-centered therapy to help you challenge negative self-talk, strengthen your self-awareness, and develop greater trust in your abilities. My structured yet genuinely collaborative style makes me a strong choice for clients who want practical skills they can use outside of therapy without sacrificing the warmth, validation, and partnership that make it easier to be honest about what they’re experiencing.
Credentials: Licensed Mental Health Counselor with Diagnostic Privilege #013301
Specialty Areas: Imposter syndrome, negative self-talk, perfectionism, career and life transitions, self-esteem, relationships, communication, and boundaries
Miranda Savage
I work primarily with young adults whose imposter syndrome is tied to identity, perfectionism, major transitions, or the pressure to look like they have everything figured out. Using cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy through a holistic, client-centered lens, I help you manage anxious self-talk while exploring the deeper expectations and emotional patterns that keep you feeling disconnected from yourself. My background in theatre brings a creative, intuitive, and relational quality to our work, making me a strong fit for clients who want an affirming therapist who values their full story and helps them move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Credentials: Mental Health Counselor – Limited Permit #P139999
Specialty Areas: Imposter syndrome, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, self-worth, identity exploration, and major life, relationship, and career transitions
Maggie McCarthy
I help women and LGBTQIA+ adults work through imposter syndrome when self-doubt is tied to identity, belonging, relationships, or the pressure to become someone they think others will accept. Drawing from mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, Internal Family Systems, and narrative therapy, I help you challenge harmful stories while also paying attention to how stress and insecurity show up in your body. My culturally sensitive, strengths-based approach and belief that humor belongs in the healing process make me a strong fit if you want affirming therapy that helps you feel more confident, grounded, and at home in who you are.
Credentials: Licensed Master Social Worker #120158, Motivational Interviewing Certification, Crisis Counselor Certification
Specialty Areas: Imposter syndrome, self-acceptance, anxiety, relationships and dating, identity, and work with women and LGBTQIA+ adults and couples
Caroline Goodhines
I work with individuals and couples whose imposter syndrome shows up in parenthood, like the fear that everyone else knows what they’re doing while you’re somehow falling short of the parent you hoped to be. From conception through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond, I use narrative and psychodynamic therapy to help you untangle guilt, intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, and the beliefs driving overwhelm, including during perinatal mood and anxiety challenges or pregnancy and birth loss. My warm, honest, and trauma-informed approach makes me a strong fit if you want specialized perinatal support and a judgment-free space to let go of impossible standards and trust yourself more fully.
Credentials: Mental Health Counselor – Limited Permit (#P140576)
Specialty Areas: Parental imposter syndrome and guilt, perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, intrusive thoughts, birth trauma, pregnancy and infant loss, and the identity shifts of becoming a parent
What sets our practice apart from other New York imposter syndrome therapy providers
We match you with the right fit, not just the next open appointment. Our therapists come from a range of ethnic, religious, linguistic, and generational backgrounds, so you can work with someone who understands your lived experience, not just the symptoms you bring into the room.
You get a boutique therapy experience without automatically paying boutique prices. We offer personalized, high-touch care and accept insurance, making consistent support more accessible.
Our scheduling works around demanding New York lives. We offer online or in-person daytime and evening appointments seven days a week for lawyers, founders, finance professionals, creatives, caregivers, and anyone else whose calendar rarely slows down.
We use evidence-based therapy without taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Our clinicians draw from CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and other proven methods, then tailor the work to your goals, personality, and needs.
We name the bigger pressures behind the self-doubt. Our culturally responsive, intersectional, feminist, and anti-racist approach makes space for workplace culture, family expectations, discrimination, and systemic barriers that may be feeding imposter syndrome.
We balance insight with action. You’ll have room to understand where these patterns came from while also learning concrete ways to challenge self-criticism, perfectionism, and the fear that you are one mistake away from being exposed.
Common symptoms of imposter syndrome
You assume your success came down to luck, good timing, or someone overestimating you, not your own talent or hard work.
You carry a nagging fear that one mistake will expose you as less capable than everyone believes.
Compliments make you uncomfortable, and you may quickly explain them away instead of letting yourself take them in.
You set nearly impossible standards for yourself, then feel embarrassed or ashamed when you cannot meet them perfectly.
You overprepare, overwork, or repeatedly check everything because doing a good job never feels like enough.
You compare your private doubts to everyone else’s polished exterior and conclude that you are the only one struggling.
You hold back from speaking up, applying for opportunities, or taking on new challenges because you are afraid you will not measure up.
The pressure follows you outside of work through racing thoughts, trouble sleeping, a tight chest or stomach, procrastination, and difficulty switching off.
What to expect from the therapy process
FAQs about imposter syndrome therapy
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Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling that you are less capable or qualified than other people believe, even when there is clear evidence of your skills and accomplishments. You may explain your success as luck, worry that you have fooled everyone, or fear that one mistake will reveal that you do not belong.
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Imposter syndrome can develop anywhere, but New York’s competitive work culture, high cost of living, constant comparison, and pressure to keep moving forward can make it especially difficult to quiet. Family expectations, perfectionism, workplace discrimination, major career transitions, and being underrepresented in your field may also contribute. Therapy for imposter syndrome in New York can help you understand both the personal and cultural pressures shaping your self-doubt.
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Yes. Although imposter syndrome isn’t a formal mental health diagnosis, therapy can help you recognize the beliefs and patterns that keep the “fraud” feeling alive. You can learn to separate facts from fear, respond differently to your inner critic, and begin viewing your accomplishments as evidence of your abilities rather than a lucky exception.
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There is no single magic approach that works for everyone, but CBT can be especially helpful for challenging negative self-talk, perfectionism, and all-or-nothing thinking. Our therapists may also incorporate psychodynamic, person-centered, narrative, mindfulness-based, and somatic approaches, giving you practical tools while helping you understand where the self-doubt began.
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It often can, depending on your plan and the reasons you are seeking support. We’re in network with all New York State Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Empire, Optum, Oscar, and UnitedHealthcare plans, as well as Aetna EAP and Spring Health EAP. We also work as approved out-of-network providers for other commercial plans, and we’re happy to help you understand your benefits before you get started.