
Watch the video below for BONUS CONTENT on The 5 Types of Impostor Syndrome…
Want more valuable coaching insights and tools like this? Click the button below for details about our acclaimed Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ program.

Watch the video below for BONUS CONTENT on The 5 Types of Impostor Syndrome…
Want more valuable coaching insights and tools like this? Click the button below for details about our acclaimed Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ program.
I’ve spent close to four decades helping people who feel like impostors, fakes, and frauds.
In that time, I’ve come to an important conclusion:
If you want to truly put yourself on the fast track to feeling as bright and capable as you really are, then nothing — and I do mean nothing — will get you there quicker than adjusting your beliefs about what it takes to be competent.
Why? Because the impostor syndrome goes beyond a mere lack of confidence.
Everyone experiences bouts of self-doubt from time to time — especially when attempting something new.
But because “impostors” have insanely high self-expectations, the self-doubt is chronic.
It’s also possible to doubt your abilities without believing that you ultimately succeeded because of some sleight of hand or that you are fooling others.
A person could have normal jitters before, say getting up to give their first speech, do well, and then draw from this experience to feel more confident about the next time.
But “impostors” don’t think this way.
Because no matter how well you did or how loud the applause, you find a way to explain them away.
It was a great audience. They just like me. Fooled ’em again.
So wins don’t produce any real bump in confidence.
This is where it helps to understand the 5 types of impostor syndrome.
Twenty years of well-documented research, by leading expert in motivation and personality psychology Carol Dweck, author of Mindset, confirmed what I’d discovered from my own research in the early 1980s.
Namely, your notion of what it means to be competent has a powerful impact on how competent you feel. It’s also at the core of impostor feelings.
It’s why one of the first exercises I created for my impostor syndrome workshops was called, “What’s in Your Rule Book?” Some three decades later and I still use this exercise today.
Everyone has unconscious rules in their head about what it means to be competent. These rules tend to begin with “should,” “always,” or “never.”
Whether it’s ivy league students or engineers at Boeing or IT managers at IBM — the exercise elicits the same basic rules.
If I were really intelligent, capable, competent…
My personal favorite was the Stanford Ph.D. student who said, “I feel like I should already know what I came here to learn.”
Which of course, is absurd.
I’ve done this exercise with people from all walks of life and at all phases of their careers.
Nurses, engineers, professors, biologists, Ph.D. candidates, social workers, physicians, jewelers, accountants, financial advisers, senior executives, chemists, programmers, entrepreneurs, attorneys — even romance book writers.
And each time it confirms my early findings.
Namely, because people who feel like impostors hold themselves to an unrealistic and unsustainable standard of competence, falling short of this standard evokes shame.
However, it was only after doing the rule book exercise with tens of thousands of people that I made a second discovery.
Impostors don’t all experience failure-related shame the same way. And the reason is that they don’t all define competence the same way.
What emerged from the rules exercise are five different Competence Types (commonly referred to as the 5 types of impostor syndrome) — each with its own unique focus:
The fact that everyone else sees a highly capable individual where you see an inadequate fraud, is a pretty good indicator that you operate from a competence playbook that bears little resemblance to reality.
It doesn’t matter how intelligent or talented or skilled you are right now, I have news for you.
You are never going to consistently reach that insanely high bar you’ve set for yourself – ever.
That’s why if you truly want to beat the impostor syndrome you must adjust your self-limiting thinking as to what it takes to be “competent.” This redefining process is bar none, your fastest path to confidence.
I know you want to stop feeling like an impostor. But that’s not how it works.
In fact, feelings are the last to change.
Do you want to stop feeling like an impostor? Then you have to stop thinking like an impostor.
And rewriting your inner rule book by understanding the 5 types of impostor syndrome is hands-down the best place to start.
An extensive description of the 5 competence types, including solutions for each, can be found in Chapter 6: The Competence Rulebook for Mere Mortals in The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It*, Valerie Young, Crown Business, 2011
Click here to download a free chapter
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INTRODUCING…
You’ve worked hard to build your expertise as a coach. You’ve helped clients navigate leadership challenges, career transitions, and deep personal growth.
But if you’re like most seasoned coaches, you’ve probably encountered a frustrating truth:
You’ve guided clients through mindset shifts before — but when it comes to impostor syndrome, something still isn’t clicking.
That’s because impostor syndrome isn’t just about self-doubt.
It’s not just a mindset problem.
It’s shaped by more than just upbringing or societal pressures — it’s a complex experience that can stall careers, derail opportunities, and keep even the most accomplished professionals playing small.
You don’t need another generic confidence-boosting tool. You need a proven methodology to create real, lasting shifts.
That’s exactly why we created The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ — now available on demand for the first time.
This isn’t just another professional development course.
It’s a career-defining skill set that gives you the confidence, tools, and framework to guide your clients through one of the most universal yet misunderstood struggles.
That’s why executive, leadership, career, and life coaches from 22 countries have chosen The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ to elevate their work.
They know that coaching impostor syndrome effectively requires:
For over 40 years, Impostor Syndrome Institute has been the leading authority in research, tools, and training on impostor syndrome.
Three years ago, in response to the growing demand from coaches, we launched our first-ever Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ training — designed specifically for professional coaches.
Since then, we’ve trained coaches in 22 countries — including Bulgaria, Denmark, Scotland, France, Ireland, the UK, Spain, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Portugal, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, South Africa, Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and across the US.
Unfortunately, because these sessions were delivered live meant that not everyone who wanted to attend could.
That is until now.
Now, whether you’re in Saudi Arabia, India, or Korea, whether you’ve struggled to fit professional development into your packed schedule, missed out on past training due to juggling a job or family with your coaching practice, or felt frustrated by inaccessible learning opportunities…
You can take advantage of this affordable training on your own schedule and at your own pace.
When you enroll in The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™, you get immediate access to:
Everything you need to help your clients close the confidence gap.
The Coaching Methodology That’s Earned the Trust of Coaches in 22 Countries — And How It Can Elevate Your Practice
But in fact, it is a highly nuanced, multi-faceted, and highly researched phenomenon.
The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ training is built on 40 years of research and real-world application by globally recognized expert, thought leader, and award-winning author Dr. Valerie Young.
If you’re not familiar with Valerie…
Mark Leruste, founder of The Unconventionalists, put it best:
“Valerie Young is to impostor syndrome what Brené Brown is to vulnerability.”
Mark Leruste, founder of The Unconventionalists
She’s not just an expert — she’s a pioneer.
Dr. Suzanne Imes, one of the two original discoverers of the impostor phenomenon, described Valerie as a “mapmaker.” And it speaks volumes that Dr. Imes personally recommends Valerie’s book to all of her clients and students struggling with impostor feelings.
Even TED took notice. Out of thousands of applicants, Valerie was selected as one of just 11 speakers invited to deliver a talk at TED Headquarters.
And for the record — impostor syndrome isn’t just an American or even a Western issue.
Valerie’s groundbreaking approach has resonated across the globe, which is why her book has been translated into eight languages, including Turkish, Ukrainian, Spanish, and Korean.
The demand for her insights extends far beyond borders — coaches from around the world seek out our training because impostor syndrome affects professionals in every industry, in every country.
When it comes to impostor syndrome, no one has mapped the terrain more thoroughly — or provided more actionable insights — than Dr. Valerie Young.
The program combines theoretical knowledge, evidence-based strategies, and hands-on practical tools to give participants a well-rounded understanding. Not only do you get to delve deep into recognizing and addressing feelings of inadequacy in professional settings, but with Dr. Young’s guidance, it feels particularly enlightening. If you’re seeking both a holistic view of Impostor Syndrome and actionable strategies to tackle it, this training, especially with Dr. Young’s contributions, is a must-attend.
Terri Williams, Executive and Leadership Coach, Virginia, USA
What an honor to learn from THE luminary in this field. In addition to the latest research, Dr. Valerie Young shared her decades of practical experience. I am proud to be one of the few coaches in the world who have been officially trained by Impostor Syndrome Institute and Dr. Valerie Young.
Nina Feustel-Durst, Impostor Syndrome Coach, GERMANY
With four decades of research, we’ve done the deep work — so you don’t have to. We’ve uncovered the hidden complexities of impostor syndrome, giving you a proven framework to coach it with depth, confidence, and precision.
Many people think they understand impostor syndrome, but the reality is, most explanations barely go beyond the basics.
For example, you may have heard the claim that “impostor syndrome is just a women’s issue.” That’s simply not true. Impostor feelings cut across gender, race, profession, and career stage.
But without a deep understanding, it’s easy to misdiagnose or apply surface-level fixes that don’t stick.
This is something we’ve known for decades.
In 1983, Valerie Young’s doctoral research on internal barriers to women’s occupational achievement led to the creation of Rethinking Impostor Syndrome™ — the first-ever educational solution to impostor syndrome, delivered to over half a million people worldwide.
That early research also disproved the myth that impostor syndrome primarily affects white women — over half of the professional women in her study were women of color.
And over the years, we’ve seen thousands of high-achieving men struggle just as deeply, including:
A senior officer in the Canadian Mounted Police
An attorney who argued before the U.S. Supreme Court
A MacArthur “Genius” Prize-winning professor
An entire team of aerospace engineers who admitted to feeling “sheer terror” at the start of a big project
Through four decades of research, we’ve uncovered how impostor syndrome manifests differently across industries, career stages, and personal backgrounds.
That’s why this training goes far beyond surface-level awareness — it equips you with the insights and tools to recognize the nuances of impostor syndrome and coach it effectively, no matter who you’re working with.
As a leadership educator, consultant, and coach, I seek programs, strategies, and methodologies that are grounded in research and evidence. What drew me to and makes me a fan of Dr. Valerie Young’s program is that it is based on academic research and, over the years, has provided individuals across industries and sectors the tools they need to transform their lives.
The training gives coaches straightforward, actionable tools to use with clients… providing coaches with a methodology that is evidence-based and proven over time.
Dr. Viviane S. Lopuch, Leadership Development, Executive Coach, and Impostor Syndrome Institute Licensed Speaker, Washington, USA
You don’t need coaching solutions that are overly simplistic, trendy, or purely theoretical.
And when it comes to impostor syndrome, generic coaching solutions like —“make a list of your accomplishments” or “embrace failure” — won’t create lasting change.
Your clients deserve a breakthrough coaching framework that’s proven to work.
One that balances your desire to deliver immediate results with the power to foster lasting transformation — while setting you apart as a coach.
And helps you to balance the pressure you may feel to provide immediate results for your clients while fostering lasting transformation.
Plus, wouldn’t it be nice to know you have a coaching methodology that sets you apart as a coach?
The need for informed coaches who can effectively address this multifaceted and often highly nuanced issue has never been greater.
And the deep satisfaction of helping clients shift from self-doubt to self-confidence… well, that never gets old.
How do you become “that coach”?
It begins with knowing how to help your clients to “flip the script.”
Not by positioning their impostor feelings as some kind of “superpower”
Not by encouraging them to name, tame, or befriend their “inner critic.”
Or, by assuming that your client’s ability to overcome impostor syndrome relies entirely on you uncovering and healing a core childhood wound…
A wound you could spend years searching for that may not even exist.
We’re not talking about the egotistical braggers whose confidence exceeds their abilities.
You see, the opposite of impostor syndrome isn’t arrogance or incompetence.
Humble realists are not “smarter” or more skilled.
They’re not eternally confident.
The difference is that when faced with the same situation that triggers impostor feelings in your client – a job interview, public speaking, a promotion – Humble Realists™ are thinking different thoughts.
To be clear: This isn’t about giving your client a pep talk…
“You’ve got this!” “You can do it!” “You deserve to be here!”
All of which is true.
But when it comes to impostor syndrome, it’s not going to move the needle in any lasting way.
Besides, if all it took were some encouragement, impostor syndrome would have disappeared long ago.
That’s why a key part of The Impostor Syndrome Informed Coach™ Framework is learning to incorporate the concept of “competence distortions” into your coaching practice.
There’s a lot more to it, of course…
But essentially, this is where you get to learn directly from Valerie Young about her pioneering discovery of what’s become known online as the five types of impostor syndrome.
If you’re not yet familiar with them, there’s a chance your clients are.
Last we checked, this aspect of Valerie’s thought leadership appears in a whopping 4.3 million Google results.
Whether you ultimately decide to train with Impostor Syndrome Institute or not, please don’t trust what you read online.
The five types are often misdescribed and misinterpreted — including, unfortunately, by many coaches.
And in coaching, accurate information is everything.
Without it, you risk doing more harm to your clients than good.
To say nothing of the damage misinformation does to your credibility as a coach.
That’s why when you sign up for The Impostor Syndrome Informed Coach™ you know you’re getting accurate information.
Importantly, you’ll also learn practical methods for helping your client reframe competence.
To be clear, reframing is not the same as coaching clients to “talk to yourself like you would your best friend” or “challenge your inner critic.”
It’s about knowing how to help your client adopt a more realistic understanding of what it means to be
“competent.”
And it’s a whole lot easier to fix the way we think than it is to try to “fix” ourselves.
Besides, approaches that stress positive self-talk fails to consider the extent to which people with impostor syndrome conflate competence and confidence.
How in the minds of many clients, the fact that they struggle with confidence in the first place, “proves” they must be an impostor.
This is unsurprising considering the prevalence of promises to “banish your inner critic forever” and “achieve unshakable confidence in yourself.”
But what happens when your client does blow the presentation or the big sale or the moment? (Which being human, they occasionally will!)
Then what?
That’s why you need a proven coaching framework designed specifically for clients with impostor syndrome.
You see, deep down, your clients with impostor syndrome know they are no impostor.
If pressed, they’ll likely acknowledge that they really do know they have the capacity to achieve most goals they will set for themselves in life.
Not quickly or easily. Not perfectly or masterfully or without help. Not without mistakes, setbacks, or, yes, failure.
But on some level, your clients really do know they can do just about anything they set their mind to.
It is just that all that limiting “impostor thinking” gets in their way.
It’s why the central message of Valerie’s TED Talk was…
It’s a very high-level training that gives you all the scientific knowledge you need as a coach to understand impostor phenomenon and a practical framework and loads of tools to help people rethink their impostor feelings.
Robin Keeris, Coach/Facilitator, THE NETHERLANDS
The course not only met my expectations but went beyond them. I could not even dream about having not only a profound understanding of the impostor phenomenon but also to have amazing tools that I can use in my coaching practice. The big eye-opener was that competence (or the distortion thereof) goes hand in hand with confidence.
Irina Sergeeva, PCC, Corporate Coach and Trainer, MEXICO
The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ doesn’t just teach you about impostor syndrome.
It hands you a comprehensive framework and a set of proven tools that create immediate, real-world impact — for your clients and your coaching practice.
Much of what you’ll learn is designed and developed by Denise McClennen, a masterful executive coach with a deep understanding of how impostor syndrome shows up in the coaching process. Her expertise is woven throughout the tools and methodology you’ll gain access to.
Your training includes immediate access to targeted, fully downloadable coaching tools and worksheets like:
A giant barrier to overcoming impostor syndrome is the often unconscious belief that we’re not entitled to feel, think, or act in certain ways.
That’s why you’ll also find in your Learning Portal a tool known as The List of Rights.
This exercise features a list of 21 performance-related rights your client — and all of us — are all perfectly entitled to, but too often act like we’re not.
Like, the right to make mistakes or be wrong, to express pride in their achievements, to say, “I don’t understand,” or to ask for additional compensation for additional work.
And tools like Borrow a Mindset enable clients to challenge distorted beliefs about competence allowing them to shift from self-critical thinking to more empowering perspectives more quickly.
But that’s just the beginning.
You’ll also learn how to integrate neuroscience principles to reinforce new thought patterns and behaviors — including how to use neural anchoring to help clients internalize new beliefs and act with greater confidence.
Mind-blowing and brilliant tools that can be applied straight away with clients. All reference materials (articles, videos, etc.) are brilliant resources! My expectations were high, and you didn’t disappoint!
Estelle Bailley, Life & Career Coach, UK
I loved everything about the training. Not only do you gain better insight into impostor syndrome, but you are also provided with practical hands-on tools you can start using tomorrow to support your coaching clients.
Heather Thomson, Executive and Leadership Coach, CANADA
These tools are easily adaptable to real-world coaching situations.
Plus, all the tools you’ll receive are fully downloadable.
That way you can share them with your clients to work through on their own — or process together during your session.
Finally, this is not “cut and paste” coaching.
You’ll learn how to balance the use of our structured tools with the flexibility to follow the client’s lead.
An adaptive approach that helps your clients feel supported while still progressing towards their goal of overcoming impostor syndrome.
And there’s no one better to guide you than Denise McClennen, a masterful coach in the field.
Denise is a 30-year executive coach and expert trainer, specializing in impostor syndrome, failure, and resilience.
She understands that fear of failure is a HUGE issue for clients experiencing impostor syndrome.
It’s like your client has a “trick scale,” where only the negative evidence counts.
Where they let even constructive feedback mean more about who they are as a person.
For example:
“Words matter, and the brain pays attention to ideas.” — Denise McClennen
Throughout The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™, Denise walks you through translating Dr. Valerie Young’s conceptual approach to impostor syndrome into actionable coaching practices.
You won’t just learn theory — you’ll watch real coaching sessions where Denise coaches a live client struggling with impostor syndrome.
This isn’t a staged role-play. You’ll see exactly how she balances structure with curiosity, meets clients where they are, and helps them unlock their own transformation.
If you’re familiar with the four tenets of psychological safety, you know they overlap significantly with impostor syndrome challenges:
We consider “competence distortions” (covered in Module 1) the missing link in fostering psychological safety in organizations.
You’ll go beyond telling your clients to “learn from failure” and instead guide them through the before, during, and after phases of failure, so they can develop true resilience.
The course enabled me to adjust my coaching approach with my clients.
The fact that I have personally suffered from imposter syndrome certainly enables me to be a more empathetic coach on the subject with my clients. But it’s not enough to help them effectively. The program has given me substantial help in understanding the phenomenon and how it unfolds as a pattern in everyone. Above all, I acquired a method and powerful new tools to enable my coachees to start abandoning this idea of the “imposture.” Their inner dialogue about their own achievements and skills takes a much more accurate and positive turn. And taking action has become much easier.
Arnaud Cazet, Soft Skills Coach and Impostor Syndrome Institute Licensed Speaker, FRANCE
This training significantly exceeded my expectations. I have a MUCH stronger grounding not only in the research but also current popular (and controversial) conversations about it. I have extremely actionable coaching tools that I can put into action IMMEDIATELY. This training is well constructed, provides tons of context, and has shifted the way I think about competence and confidence.
Mari Sutz, Executive Coach and Consultant, California USA
The result?
This is not just another coaching credential. It’s an opportunity to master the art and science of impostor syndrome coaching — guided by the best in the field.
You want to more effectively help your clients, but when it comes to impostor syndrome — you might feel it, too.
If you’ve ever questioned your own abilities as a coach, you’re not alone.
Even the best coaches experience doubt.
A 2022 Impostor Syndrome Institute™ poll found that 90% of coaches have experienced impostor feelings themselves, and 82% wondered how they could possibly help others while still dealing with their own doubts.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How can I coach others when I experience impostor syndrome too?” — here’s the answer:
Your ability to identify with your clients on a deep, personal level isn’t a weakness — it’s a strength.
This training will help you:
Navigate your own impostor feelings more quickly and effectively
Many past students joined this program to help others — only to discover that it helped them overcome their own impostor feelings too.
And when it comes to coaching — and indeed, life — confidence matters.
This was both a big value for me professionally, but also personally. I came in thinking I had overcome my impostor feelings. But during those coaching sessions, it was like ‘oh this small part of me still thinks like that.’ So thank you very much.
Lāsma Poļikeviča, Personal Development Coach, LATVIA
A thorough and comprehensive training that prepares coaches to support clients with impostor feelings.
It’s not just absorbing research or theory, it’s about putting practices into place so we can confidently have them in our tool box.
Tara Whitney, Executive Coach, Speaker, Author, New Hampshire, USA
The Impostor Syndrome Institute training was incredibly in-depth, offering a blend of cutting-edge research, practical tools, and techniques that really shifted my perspective.
It’s transformative, both professionally and personally, and gave me the confidence to address impostor feelings head-on.
Amanda L. Christian, Master Burnout and Leadership Coach, Maine, USA
In fact, we identified the connection between impostor syndrome and “diversity, inclusion, and belonging” decades before the term even existed.
It’s one more way Dr. Young’s early work has set her approach apart.
An approach that began in the early 1980s while pursuing her doctorate at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
During that same time she was the founding coordinator of the Oppression and Social Issues in Education program — a training initiative led by Dr. Bailey Jackson, known for his pioneering work on racial identity development theory and multicultural counseling.
Since then, Valerie has had extensive personal experience working on impostor syndrome with people from diverse groups and ages.
This includes leading workshops for:
Fortunately, you don’t need to earn a doctorate like Valerie or have this rich, in-depth, first-hand experience working with diverse populations.
But you do need to help clients make sense of their experience – regardless of whatever they may be.
If you’re already well-informed about unconscious bias, stereotype threat, or DEI – great!
Still, in coaching, it’s critical to use this awareness to explore and not to assume.
Take, for example, the case of a Black student enrolled in a PhD program who struggled with impostor feelings.
You may assume the driving factors are race, gender, or both.
But that’s not how this student saw it. As she put it:
“I don’t feel like an impostor because I’m Black, I don’t feel like an impostor because I’m a woman. I feel like an impostor because I’m the ‘old lady’ in class.”
With The Impostor Syndrome Informed Coach™ you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how age, gender, race, class, and other societal factors can contribute to your impostor syndrome for your clients.
That way, you can more confidently handle complex client challenges – without the assumptions.
The hands-on, practical nature of the training made the concepts come alive and allowed me to apply what I was learning immediately. The brilliance of the instructors in explaining complex ideas simply and clearly was outstanding. I highly recommend the Impostor Syndrome Informed Coach training to any coach looking to advance their coaching skills to help their clients address such a nuanced and complex topic.
Cindy Montgenie, Modern Executive Performance Accelerator and Impostor Syndrome Institute Licensed Speaker, Florida, USA
I was able to learn new ultra-powerful tools based on 40 years of research to support my clients with impostor syndrome. I left the course more motivated than ever in my mission to help women tame their impostor syndrome and unleash their full potential.
Lea Chantrel, Imposters Coach and Impostor Syndrome Institute Licensed Speaker, Paris, FRANCE
How often have you tried a coaching approach that sounded great in theory—only to find it didn’t resonate with real clients?
This training ensures that never happens again. You’ll gain access to strategies that have been successfully applied across diverse industries, career stages, and job levels—so you can confidently support your clients, no matter their background.
While many respected experts in the field of impostor syndrome — academics, psychologists, and highly skilled coaches — approach the issue from a clinical or psychological angle, The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ is designed specifically for professional coaches who want effective, forward-focused strategies that avoid stepping into therapy.
The International Coach Federation (ICF) defines coaching as:
“Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
Unlike therapy, coaching:
A coach steps over the line into therapy when they:
There are far better ways to address a client’s impostor feelings without digging into their past.
Over the past four decades, this approach has been delivered to:
In other words, the people this training has helped likely represent many of your current or future clients.
With this kind of real-world, field-tested experience, you won’t have to wonder if your coaching strategies will land—you’ll know they do.
Imagine how much more impactful your coaching will be when you understand how impostor syndrome plays out in real life — shaped by industry, environment, and personal circumstances.
Consider the difference between a client in technology, where rapid innovation can amplify self-doubt, versus one in medicine, where life-or-death stakes add another layer of pressure. Or a creative professional navigating subjective feedback and constant comparison.
Think about how two people on the same campus can experience impostor syndrome in completely different ways — an undergraduate questioning if they belong, a PhD candidate feeling the weight of expectations, a post-doc struggling for recognition, a faculty member facing tenure pressure, or an administrator balancing authority with self-doubt.
And what about leadership? The “impostor” experience isn’t the same for a highly capable client who just got promoted and wonders if they deserve it — versus another equally capable client who hesitates to even pursue a promotion.
Now, imagine the confidence you’ll have when you can recognize these nuances and provide precisely the support your clients need.
And since The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ is now available on-demand, you can access the only solution with unmatched, real-world proof it works — 24/7, at your own pace, from anywhere in the world.
The training provides all the information and tools you need to effectively and confidently work with clients that have impostor feelings. Dr. Young generously shares her 40 years of dedicated research and experience so that you can become an expert on the topic as well. Plus, you get world-class tools to support your client’s recovery from impostor syndrome.
Michael Tertes, Purpose and Leadership Coach and Impostor Syndrome Institute Licensed Speaker, California, USA
After all, if your clients knew they were entitled to make a mistake, ask for help, struggle to understand or master something, not know the answer, or fail…
There will be nothing to feel like an impostor about.
When you sign up for The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ you get a coaching framework you can use to confidently guide your client’s transformation from “impostor” to Humble Realist™.
And when it comes to helping your clients navigate nagging self-doubt, aren’t solutions what you want?
The American Psychological Association (APA) did.
In 2024, they, together with editor Dr. Kevin Cokley, published the first research-based book on the impostor phenomenon.
The topic has been heavily researched. So they had no problem finding academics to contribute.
But when they needed someone who could offer therapists, coaches, and other practitioners specific interventions, they turned to Valerie Young.
Even more unusual, of the 30 contributors, she was one of only two non-academics and non-psychologists they invited.
Let’s start with why your clients need to be helped to flip the script.
You may know that the term impostor phenomenon was coined in 1978 by clinical psychologist and psychology professor Dr. Pauline Clance and psychologist Dr. Suzanne Imes.
What you may not know is that the concept came not from an empirical study.
It came from their observations working with clients in private therapy or personal growth groups.
Ever since impostor syndrome has been approached almost entirely within the domain of psychotherapy.
Of course, impostor syndrome involves clients’ thoughts and feelings.
However, in our view, impostor syndrome has been over-psychologized.
After all, your clients didn’t come out of the womb feeling like a fraud.
Nor is it always due to family dynamics or trauma.
That’s why it is so essential to understand your client’s fuller lived experience.
When you sign up for The Impostor Syndrome Informed Coach™ you’ll gain deeper insight into the “perfectly good reasons” why your client (or you) may feel like a fraud. Including…
Your success as a coach depends on listening for details while also seeing the bigger picture.
You need to be able to recognize and name things that your client can’t yet see.
So it’s essential that you understand all the potential sources of impostor syndrome:
It’s the difference between talking about impostor syndrome with your clients and knowing what it takes to be a catalyst for meaningful change.
There’s something else you need to know.
Impostor syndrome isn’t just hurting your clients, it’s hurting their organization.
Back in 1986, Valerie Young broke new ground with a cover article in Executive Female magazine on the potential organizational causes and costs of impostor syndrome.
Decades later, McDonald’s, Microsoft, BP, and other major global corporations we’ve worked with recognize impostor syndrome as a bottom-line issue.
Companies want coaches who understand this.
Imagine how much more valuable you’ll be to organizations if you understand that Impostor syndrome has the potential to impact 5 key areas negatively:
Of course, job number one as a coach is to help clients achieve their goals with less stress.
However, as a coach, you also need to understand how your client’s behavior may unintentionally affect their team, direct reports, or the organization as a whole.
This is especially true if you’re an internal coaching professional or were hired by an organization to coach their employees.
Comprehensive Content: The training provided a comprehensive overview of coaching techniques, strategies, and tools. It covered a wide range of topics, ensuring that I gained a well-rounded understanding of coaching.
Practical Tools: I found the practical tools and frameworks shared in the training to be highly valuable. These tools were immediately applicable to my coaching practice, enabling me to work effectively with clients.
Experienced Instructors: The instructors were experienced and knowledgeable in the field of coaching, which enriched the quality of the training. Their insights and real-world examples were invaluable.
Interactive Learning: The training offered an interactive learning experience with opportunities for hands-on practice and application. This made the content more engaging and memorable.
Brittney Ashley, Business Coach, Victoria BC, CANADA
I have attended many courses and workshops related to impostor syndrome and spent quite a fortune on them. I’ve seen so-called IS specialists/coaches/experts who claimed it ‘does not exist’, ‘if you name your inner critic and send it on vacation, you’ll heal’, ‘no other research is valid, listen to me’.
They mostly included a mixture of abstract ideas, stress management techniques and some coaching techniques. Every researcher offered sticking plasters rather than real approach to dealing with impostor syndrome. It hurts thinking about the time spent on those programs.
I don’t know why I did not just join ISI before but what I find now is a beautiful combination of knowledge, skills and community. The structure is clear, delivery is excellent, Valerie and Carolyn are easy to talk to.
As a learner, I feel my questions are heard and understood and I am properly guided in my journey. There’s a sense of community (priceless!) and everyone, while coming from different cultures and backgrounds, seem supportive and wishing success to others. People are willing to share their knowledge while learning from others and this creates a better environment for everyone.
Nara Morrison, Psychotherapist & Stress Coach, Impostor Syndrome Institute Licensed Speaker, SCOTLAND
So while you will not be “certified,” you will be credentialed.
Once you successfully complete the course you will be issued a badge from Impostor Syndrome Institute™ that designates you as an impostor syndrome-informed coach.
In addition, you have the opportunity to earn # CCE hours from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
If you’re someone who thrives in a community setting, you will be invited to join a private Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ LinkedIn group set up specifically for graduates.
This is your go-to place to connect with fellow coaches for additional practice sessions, share articles and resources, and continue to get and give support alongside professionals who share your passion for helping clients unlearn impostor syndrome.
Or if, like us, you use the popularized – and therefore more recognizable term – impostor syndrome…
Not to imply any sort of mental disorder (which it’s not).
But rather to reflect the dictionary definition of “syndrome,” which is:
“A set of concurrent things (such as emotions and actions) that usually form an identifiable pattern.” [Merriam Webster Dictionary]
And that’s precisely what impostor syndrome is.
An identifiable set of self-diminishing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that constitute a pattern.
One that poses a very real threat to clients’ ability to recognize and act on their full potential and feel well-
deserved pride in their accomplishments.
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Previous attendees have included career counselors, academic advisors, STEM mentors, HR, and DEI consultants.
The common denominator is the desire to help individuals who either struggle with or are known to be in an occupation, organizational culture, or social group that makes them more susceptible to impostor feelings.
So while this is intended to be a course on how to be a coach or that teaches basic coaching skills, you will leave being impostor syndrome informed.
You’ll finally have a practical, structured, and adaptable coaching framework that transforms your clients’ mindset—not just their awareness. No more hoping your approach works. No more trial and error. Just real results, every time.
You’ll finally have a proven, real-world strategy to help clients overcome impostor syndrome
Your clients will get better results – faster
Greater effectiveness means you’ll gain gain confidence a coach
Your coaching will stand out from the crowd
It works for a wide range of diverse people, jobs, levels, and career stages
You’ll learn evidence-based techniques that actually work
You’ll also help yourself “unlearn” impostor syndrome
It’s ideal for busy coaches because you can start anytime and grow at your own pace
The world’s top organizations trust our work
When clients struggle with impostor syndrome, they stay stuck.
Which means fewer breakthroughs and slower progress.
But the more you know about impostor syndrome the more confident and effective a coach you’ll be.
You’ll leave this training knowing how to…
Suffice it to say — you’ll leave this training with the knowledge, expert coaching guidance, and tools you need to close the confidence gap for your clients — and yourself.
That’s one reason why coaches who took our live training paid up to $3,500.
But you won’t pay $3,500… or even $2,000…
In fact, we think you’ll be very surprised at what a tremendous VALUE this life-changing educational experience is!
But first, here is a quick summary of everything that comes with The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ program.
You get immediate, 24/7 access to The Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ (ISIC) Framework — laid out across 8 Modules
This includes 31 easily digestible training videos with closed captions for enhanced learning.
Structured Reflective Journal Exercises so you can readily apply your learning to your own experience and coaching practice.
Plus you get 10 downloadable tools and worksheets, including:
A complete library of additional resources and relevant research on topics like:
You’ll even get access to a rare interview with Suzanne Imes nearly 50 years after she and Pauline Clance co-coined the term impostor phenomenon.
Unfortunately, there’s been a lot of misrepresentation of their work.
What better way to set the record straight than hearing directly from Dr. Imes herself?
Suffice it to say, that it would be impossible for you to gather this wealth of knowledge and tools on your own.
All this, plus the option to earn 20 CEU credits from the International Coaching Federation (ICF).*
Best of all…
Because the entire course is on-demand, you can start your journey to become an Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ at this very moment!
Upon final completion, you’ll receive a digital badge indicating you trained with Impostor Syndrome Institute to become an Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™.
I came in after a very relaxing vacation when I started this program and I was like, ‘oh my gosh, what am I getting myself into?’ Then I came in and was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is really organized!
Dr. Erica Wade, Coach and CEO, Illinois USA
We’re so confident that you will leave this training with the knowledge, expert coaching guidance, and hands-on tools you need to close the confidence gap for your clients, that we’re willing to guarantee it.
Complete the first Module, implement what you’ve learned and if you still do not feel you’ve received the knowledge, guidance, and tools you need to be impostor syndrome-informed, your course fee will be refunded in full.
An investment well worth the time and money.
It provided far more value than I initially anticipated, offering a deep and comprehensive understanding of Impostor Syndrome and equipping me with effective coaching strategies.
It’s a transformative experience that can significantly enhance our ability to support clients facing this all too common challenge.
Karen Boskemper, ICF Master Certified Coach, Virginia USA
In the last few years, the conversation about impostor syndrome has exploded around the world.
With that, a growing demand for coaches who know how to effectively support clients struggling with issues related to impostor syndrome and confidence.
Impostor Syndrome Institute is committed to helping to meet that demand.
The last thing we want to stand between you and your access to this impactful training is money.
Especially when you can use the knowledge, guidance, and tools you’ll gain to attract more paying clients.
Again, coaches who attended our live # hour training paid up to $3,500.
But you won’t pay anything near that.
We know the value of this training.
But we also knew $3,500 was out of reach for many coaches — especially outside the US.
So to make training more accessible to more people, we cut costs by making the training on-demand.
By eliminating the considerable expenses of paying our experts to teach in person and a team of behind-the-scenes course coordinators required to run a live training, we were able to reduce the tuition significantly.
So instead of as much as $3,500, you pay just $997.
And if it’s inconvenient to pay all at once, you can pay in 3 easy installments of $379.
Click here to Learn About Special Discounts for Multiple People From Your Organization
Sadly, impostor syndrome causes far too many competent people to forego their dreams.
Deep down, you know it’s possible to help others (or yourself) to transform from impostor syndrome to being a Humble Realist™.
All you need is the right knowledge, guidance, and tools.
If making a difference matters to you, we invite you to join The New On-Demand Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ training.
* Participants seeking ICF CCE credits must meet the requirements to receive an Impostor Syndrome Institute™ Impostor Syndrome-Informed Coach™ letter of completion. This includes 11 Core Competencies and 9 Resource Development hours.
This includes the requirement to
My breakthroughs have already resulted in significant strides in my
business.
Crystal Agyei, Leadership Coach, Pennsylvania USA
I did not expect to get so many tools and so much value. Thank you so much. This was one of the best courses I signed up for ever!
It exceeded my expectations because I didn’t think it would be so practical with so many ready to use tools, as well.
Anuroopa Kataria, Career Coach, THE NETHERLANDS
Discover a convenient and affordable way to gain the in-depth knowledge you need to become an effective and in-demand coach for impostor syndrome
Gain confidence from using an approach based on four decades of work by the global thought leader on impostor syndrome
Experience the satisfaction of knowing exactly how to help your clients (and maybe even yourself) break free from self-doubt, second-guessing, and fear of being “found out” — and step into the confidence of a Humble Realist™
I facilitated my first impostor syndrome workshop in 1985.
Titled Impostors Fakes and Frauds: Issues of Confidence and Competence for Women it was based largely on the findings from my doctoral research.
Since then, some things have changed.
For starters, for many years workshop attendees were almost exclusively female students, engineers, professors, attorneys, physicians, and other professionals. No surprise when you consider impostor syndrome is one of the few psychological issues first thought to be specific to women that was later found to impact men too.
But in the past decade especially, I’ve seen a marked shift. Not only are more people who identify as male attending my talks, but in some cases, men make up half the room.
(A far cry from 2006 when Inc. magazine had to look to me to help them find a successful male entrepreneur to admit to impostor feelings.)
However, when I began my doctoral research in the early 80s, impostor syndrome was still thought to be a female issue.
I didn’t study impostor syndrome per se.
Instead, I wanted to understand the internal barriers as well as the socio-cultural expectations and realities that might lead women to feel like impostors.
My research consisted of in-depth interviews with 15 professional women – a majority of whom were women of color.
Subjects worked in human resource or training roles in a range of environments including corporate, education including state and Ivy League colleges and a women’s technical training school, a career guidance center, and a program designed to help older women entering or re-entering the paid work world.
Since my focus was women naturally, my conclusions and resulting recommendations for designing educational and other solutions were aimed at helping this audience as well.
Fast forward 36 years and thousands of speaking engagements later and although the solutions I put forth in 1985 are essentially the same as those I offer today, there is one difference.
Now I know the crux of my original findings applies to everyone with impostor syndrome:
Take for instance this passage from the Summary and Conclusions section of my dissertation. If you replace “women” with “people who feel like impostors,” the core problem – and solution – remain the same.
Issues related to performance (meaning here how women experience themselves relative to success, failure, and competence) were considered critical in comprehending the ways in which women may limit themselves occupationally.
For example, women are frequently stymied by a definition of competence which presumes that they must perform with perfection and that furthermore, this must be done without the aid of others.
The expectation too is that in order to competent, they must demonstrate expertise in all endeavors and in multiple roles. As a consequence, women often attach a certain mystique to those they deem to be competent and hence, dismiss themselves as inadequate by comparison.
The yardsticks people who feel like impostors use to measure their own failures and successes are similarly warped. Failures become internalized, achievements are externalized.
Worse, women typically do not feel they have the right to fail nor to succeed. Fearing the real and imagined cost of failure as well as the perceived price and responsibility of success, they are left in a kind of achievement limbo.
By over-identifying with one, under-identifying with the other, feeling entitled to neither and fearing both, they are denied an accurate, internalized picture of their own abilities which, ultimately renders them unable to learn from their failures, embrace their successes, and exorcise the erroneous and crippling view of themselves as intellectual impostors.*
I’d been aware of Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck’s research for many years.
But it was not until 2007 when she published her brilliantly accessible book Mindset that I fully realized just how closely Dweck’s extensive qualitative findings tracked with what I’d discovered years earlier through my own qualitative research.
In brief, Dweck found that people who hold themselves to unrealistic standards, who become fixated on being “smart” and experience shame at failure — something she refers to as a “fixed mindset” – score higher for impostor feelings.
This notion that how you define and experience competence, success, and failure has everything to do with how confident and competent you feel is something I’d preached for decades.
Other things have remained consistent. Like the well-documented and persistent confidence gap between men and women.
And the connection between internal feelings of fraudulence and systematic factors.
The same external expectations and realities I cited in 1985 continue to cause women, people of color, first-generation students or professionals, people with disabilities, and indeed, anyone on the receiving end of stereotypes about competence and intelligence to be especially susceptible to fraud feelings today.
A related constant is a need for organizational solutions to impostor syndrome much along the lines of those I laid out in a 1986 edition of Executive Female magazine.
We do need systemic changes.
In fact, no one should be speaking or coaching on impostor syndrome if they’re not talking about the larger intersection between it and diversity and inclusion or about the ways organizational culture can fuel self-doubt.
In the meantime, if you’re among the majority of people who experience impostor syndrome, you don’t have to wait for systemic or organizational change to start applying the same core “cure” I recommended in 1985 and today, namely:
The only way to stop feeling like an impostor is to stop thinking like an impostor.
Not only is adjusting how you think about competence, failure, and success bar none the fastest path to interrupting impostor syndrome, it won’t happen unless you do.
* Doctoral dissertation: A model of internal barriers to women’s occupational achievement, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1985
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