Imposter Syndrome & Self-Doubt
Stop Feeling Like a Fraud in Your Own Success
Therapy for Imposter Syndrome in Menlo Park, CA
You've Earned Every Achievement. So Why Does It Still Feel Like You're Faking It?
From the outside, you're crushing it. The promotions, the recognition, the respect from colleagues. You're the person everyone turns to, the one who delivers, the leader who makes it happen.
But inside? You're waiting for someone to figure out you don't actually belong there.
You're the executive who rehearses presentations obsessively, certain one mistake will expose you as incompetent. The high-performer who attributes success to luck, timing, or fooling the right people - never your own capability. The professional who works twice as hard as everyone else because you're convinced you need to compensate for not being "naturally" good enough.
Maybe you can't accept compliments without deflecting. You downplay achievements, thinking "anyone could have done that." You say yes to everything because saying no feels like admitting you can't handle it. You're exhausted from overworking, over-preparing, and overcompensating - trying to stay one step ahead of being "found out."
Here's what's really happening: You look around the conference table and everyone else seems confident, certain, like they actually deserve to be there. Meanwhile, you're convinced you're the only one who doesn't belong.
The truth is, you're running on fumes trying to prove something that shouldn't need proving.
The Real Cost of Never Feeling Good Enough
Maybe you've told yourself it's just part of being ambitious. That everyone feels this way. That if you just work harder, achieve more, prove yourself one more time, the self-doubt will finally go away.
It doesn't.
Instead, the bar keeps moving. The accomplishments pile up, but so does the evidence your brain collects for why they "don't count." You're promoted - but it was timing. You're praised - but they're just being nice. You succeed - but it won't last.
You're trapped in a cycle: achieve something → discount it → work harder to prove yourself → achieve something → discount it again.
And beneath it all is this exhausting question: "When will I finally feel like I deserve the life I've built?"
Here's what imposter syndrome is actually stealing from you:
Professionally:
You're turning down opportunities - the promotion, the high-profile project, the leadership role - because the fear of being exposed feels unbearable
You're overworking yourself into burnout, believing you need to work twice as hard to deserve half as much
You can't make decisions without second-guessing yourself into paralysis
You're seeking constant reassurance from colleagues, bosses, or partners, needing external validation to believe you're competent
You're diminishing your accomplishments, attributing success to external factors instead of your own skills
Personally:
You're people-pleasing your way through relationships, saying yes when you mean no because you're afraid of disappointing others
You can't set boundaries without guilt, convinced that having needs makes you difficult or demanding
You're comparing yourself to everyone—on social media, at work, in your personal life - and always coming up short
You're hiding your struggles because admitting you're not perfect feels like confirming you're a fraud
You're disconnected from joy because nothing you achieve ever feels "enough"
There's a Way to Bridge the Gap Between Your Success and How You Feel About It
What if the goal isn't to eliminate self-doubt entirely, but to stop letting it make your decisions?
What if you could acknowledge uncertainty without needing to overcompensate? Accept compliments without deflecting? Make decisions without needing reassurance from everyone around you? Set boundaries without guilt? Trust your own judgment?
At Choice Point Counseling, therapy for imposter syndrome in Menlo Park isn't about convincing you you're perfect. It's about helping you see yourself accurately - recognizing your genuine capabilities without the distortion of self-doubt.
A Different Kind of Therapy for High-Achievers Who Feel Like Frauds
I'm Dr. Lorraine Wong, and I understand this struggle from both sides. Before becoming a board-certified clinical psychologist, I worked in the corporate world. I know the unique pressure of high-stakes environments, the office dynamics, the need to appear confident while battling internal doubt.
With over 16 years of specialized experience, I use evidence-based approaches proven to work for imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and self-doubt:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you move forward even when self-doubt shows up
TEAM-CBT to identify and shift the beliefs keeping you stuck in the imposter cycle
Compassion-focused strategies to develop a healthier, more balanced relationship with yourself
This isn't generic therapy. This is practical, results-oriented work designed for professionals like you who need real solutions.
Dr. Lorraine Wong is a board-certified clinical psychologist (ABPP) with over 16 years of experience specializing in imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and self-doubt for high-achieving professionals. Former Clinical Director of The Feeling Good Institute and Certified Level 5 TEAM-CBT Master Trainer and Therapist.
How We'll Work Together
Individual Therapy offers personalized, one-on-one sessions where we'll:
Identify the specific patterns keeping you stuck in the imposter cycle
Understand the beliefs driving your need to overwork, over-prepare, and people-please
Develop skills to set boundaries without guilt or fear of disappointing others
Build genuine confidence that doesn't depend on external validation or perfection
Create sustainable change that aligns with what actually matters to you
Sessions move at your pace, focusing on what you need most - whether that's stopping the comparison spiral, accepting your accomplishments, or finally believing you're capable.
Intensive Therapy is for those who want accelerated results. If you're at a breaking point and ready for deep, focused work:
Extended 2-8 hour sessions that maintain momentum and allow for breakthrough moments
Weekend retreats or concentrated multi-day intensives that fit your schedule
Deep work without the constraints of 50-minute appointments
Achieve in weeks what might take months in traditional therapy
What Changes When Self-Doubt Doesn't Run the Show
Imagine accepting a promotion because you genuinely believe you're capable - not because you've convinced yourself you can fake it. Setting boundaries at work without guilt. Receiving a compliment and simply saying "thank you" instead of deflecting. Making decisions with confidence instead of seeking reassurance from everyone around you.
The goal isn't perfection. It's developing a more accurate, compassionate view of yourself - one that acknowledges both your strengths and your humanity. It's learning to trust your judgment, accept your accomplishments, and show up authentically without the exhausting performance.
You don't have to achieve more to deserve more. You already belong exactly where you are.
You Don't Have to Keep Proving Yourself
You've spent your career trying to earn what you already have. You've overworked, over-prepared, and over-functioned, trying to compensate for a deficiency that doesn't actually exist.
If you're tired of feeling like a fraud in your own success, exhausted from people-pleasing and perfectionism, or ready to stop letting self-doubt make your decisions, let's talk.
Contact Choice Point Counseling Services today to schedule your first session for imposter syndrome therapy in Menlo Park.
Your path to genuine confidence and self-trust starts with a single choice.
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Imposter syndrome is when you consistently feel like a fraud even though you have real accomplishments. You might worry someone will eventually discover you are not as capable as they think. This experience is very common, especially among high achievers. You are not overreacting, and therapy can help you understand why this pattern shows up and how to shift it.
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Many people with imposter feelings dismiss positive feedback because they believe they do not deserve it. You may think your achievements were luck or timing rather than skill. Therapy can help you challenge those beliefs and start letting recognition in rather than deflecting it.
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Yes. Overworking is often a way to protect yourself from feeling exposed or inadequate. It can feel safer to overperform so no one questions your abilities. Therapy can help you learn how to trust your competence without needing to constantly over deliver.
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Imposter feelings can show up in personal life too. You may find it hard to set boundaries or worry about disappointing others. You might compare yourself to friends or hide your struggles because vulnerability feels risky. Therapy supports you in building confidence and authenticity both at work and at home.
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Anyone can experience imposter feelings. They often appear during life transitions, new challenges, academic or workplace stress, or moments when comparison is high. If you are struggling with self doubt, it does not mean you are less capable. It means you are human.
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Yes. I offer in-person sessions in Menlo Park and virtual sessions for clients located throughout California, Nevada, Michigan, and Washington.
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Individual therapy sessions are $400 for 50 minutes. I am considered out-of-network for insurance, but I provide receipts you can submit for reimbursement. Many clients feel that specialized imposter syndrome and self-doubt treatment with an experienced therapist is worth the investment, especially when these challenges begin to impact confidence, daily functioning, relationships, or overall peace of mind. You can use the Mentaya tool on my contact page to check your out-of-network benefits.
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Congratulations on making the decision to begin therapy! Next step is to complete our contact form to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation to make sure we're a good fit to work together. Looking forward to talking to you!