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You can be the most capable person in the room and still feel like you shouldn’t be there.

That’s imposter syndrome, but not the pop-psychology version. Not the “just believe in yourself” advice that doesn’t stick. This article explores something deeper and far more real: why imposter syndrome often isn’t a mindset issue at all, but a nervous system response rooted in past adaptations.

Many high-achieving clients report feeling as though they’re about to be found out, even when they’re successful, respected, or recognised. They’re not lacking insight. They know their thoughts don’t line up with reality. But they still feel the freeze, the hesitation, the retreat.

That’s not weakness, it’s protection.

Imposter syndrome can form early. Praise felt like pressure. Being seen felt risky. So the body learned: stay small, stay safe. Over time, that pattern becomes automatic. It shapes how people show up in work, in leadership, in life.

And no amount of affirmations or mindset work will fully shift it unless the body also learns it’s safe to be seen now. That’s the key insight.

In therapy and coaching, especially trauma-informed work like EMDR, we help people access that safety directly. Not by overriding the fear, but by honouring it. By helping the nervous system stop anticipating threat every time visibility or success appears.

This is how imposter syndrome starts to shift. Not through performance. Through safety.

If you’ve ever struggled with feeling like a fraud, especially when others don’t see it, this full article may offer greater clarity, compassion, and practical direction.