Clarity and Confidence: The Twin Keys to Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Looking through glasses: Clear or not clear. Photo credit: Canva

We’ve all been there — working hard, taking action, yet somehow feeling stuck. No matter how much effort we put in, it’s like we’re spinning our wheels. What if the issue isn’t effort but clarity?

For therapists like us, clarity might seem like second nature when it comes to client care. But the path can get foggy when we step outside our therapy rooms and into the business world — whether it’s launching a private practice or pivoting to coaching. And when clarity is missing, imposter syndrome has the perfect conditions to thrive.

Yesterday, I had an eye-opening conversation about clarity with a friend and her friend who helps create amazing websites (and believe me, he starts with serious clarity). I’ll get back to this in a moment.

My Story: Therapy vs. Coaching

At this point in my therapy practice, everything feels clear. I know my mission: to help first responders, medical professionals and court professionals (including therapists, 911 dispatchers, veterinarians, and tow truck drivers) manage anxiety and heal from the effects of their work (known as secondary trauma or vicarious trauma). I know my ideal clients and how to serve them best. My business feels like a natural extension of my identity as a therapist. It is grounded, stable, and thriving.

I thought I had the same clarity when I ventured into coaching. I had a niche — anxiety and imposter syndrome — and a strong desire to help. On paper, it seemed like I had it all figured out.

In reality, I didn’t.

I couldn’t articulate exactly who I wanted to reach or how I wanted to support them. My marketing was scattered, and my message didn’t seem to land with anyone. I was working hard but going nowhere. The frustration and doubts built up: “Maybe this won’t work. Who am I to think I can be a coach, too?”

Here’s what I realized yesterday: it isn’t that I’m not capable. It’s that I lack the one thing my therapy business had — clarity.

The Two Faces of Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome has a sneaky way of showing up in two distinct forms:

1️. When we’re clear but don’t feel qualified.

You know what you want to build. The vision is sharp, but fear creeps in. “Who am I to think I can do this?” The doubt often stems from feeling unworthy of the success you’re working toward.

2️. When we think we’re clear, but we’re not.

This one is trickier. You feel busy and productive, but something feels off. The goals you’ve set may seem crystal clear but are actually vague, your direction feels shaky, and your progress feels like walking in quicksand.

For me, my coaching business fell into the second category. I thought I knew what I was doing. Even though I defined my “why,” “who,” and “how,” I didn’t tailor everything I did towards that purpose. Often I spoke to a different “who” or from a different “how”. That lack of clarity created confusion stalled my momentum, and left me spinning in self-doubt.

The Power of True Clarity

True clarity goes beyond having a niche or a business plan. It’s about getting specific with yourself (and your marketing):

1. Why are you doing this? What’s the deeper purpose driving your work?

2. Who are you serving? Not just a broad audience, but your ideal clients — the ones who light you up?

3. How will you help them? What unique methods, approaches, or insights do you bring to the table?

4. Be consistent: Don’t talk to different target groups; talk to the one WHO you serve. Ensure the HOW, WHO, and WHY are consistent. Make sure everything you do is seamlessly consistent.

For my coaching business, I realized I was talking to several people: Sometimes, it was anyone struggling with anxiety; other times, it was start-up business owners; other times, it was successful business owners wanting to grow; other times, therapists wanting to get out of their agency job and into private practice, and yet other times therapists who wanted to grow their business. My website doesn’t cater to everyone like that, so trying to cater to everyone confused people, and my outreach wasn’t hitting home with anyone. Now my coaching purpose is clear: “I am an anxiety expert helping therapists and entrepreneurs overcome mental barriers like imposter syndrome using mind-body techniques so they can thrive in their businesses.” Once I gained that clarity, my frustration eased, my message sharpened, and my actions felt purposeful.

Finding Your Clarity

Whether you’re a therapist exploring the possibility of private practice, you’re already running a successful practice, or you’re exploring new ventures like coaching or consulting, I encourage you to ask yourself:

1. What do I really want? Take time to reflect beyond surface-level goals. What excites you? What impact do you want to make?

2. Who do I want to work with? Get specific. Your ideal clients aren’t “anyone with anxiety” or “women in their 30s.” They’re individuals with unique challenges you’re passionate about solving.

3. How can I align my work with my vision? Focus on small, aligned actions instead of doing “all the things.”

For me, journaling and honest conversations with mentors helped uncover where my vision was unclear. You might find that stepping back to reassess your goals brings fresh insights you didn’t even know you needed.

Clarity and Confidence: A Feedback Loop

The beautiful thing about clarity is that it fuels confidence. And as your confidence grows, so does your clarity. It’s a feedback loop that quiets imposter syndrome and empowers you to take action.

Clarity doesn’t mean you’ll never doubt yourself again. It means you’ll have a solid foundation to stand on when doubt shows up.

Your Turn

Are you clear about what you really want in your private practice — or your next big project? Or are you, like I was, stuck in a cycle of vague goals and frustration?

If you’re feeling unclear, take a step back. Reflect. Journal. Talk it out with someone you trust. The clarity you need is already within you — it just takes intention to uncover it.

Remember, you don’t need to have it all figured out today. Clarity is a process; you’re exactly where you need to be.

What’s one area of your business or life where you could use more clarity? Drop a comment — I’d love to hear your story.

Next Steps

If you’ve been looking for a group of like-minded entrepreneurs working hard at overcoming imposter syndrome and feeling confident in who they are and what they do, I encourage you to join my Facebook group, Beyond the Imposter, at: www.facebook.com/groups/beyondtheimposter.

The first step is always the hardest, but it’s also the most powerful. Are you ready to take it?