Experiencing the imposter phenomenon can lead clients to mask their true feelings and experiences, needlessly seek approval and unhelpfully view their coach as an authority figure to impress. It can lead to a polished performance, but a lack of depth and openness in the coaching sessions themselves. And unhelpful and uncomfortable rumination about what they said and did in the coaching conversations.

So we look at some simple things coachees can do to address the imposter phenomenon when it shows up in coaching, including helpful distance from the thoughts, verbalising the experience with their coach, and bringing self-compassion to life.

Get in touch with your questions and comments (podcast at worklifepsych dot com) and don't forget about our next 'After hours...' session on 30th November, featuring Dr. Hayley Lewis, who'll be answering all your questions about the imposter phenomenon.

Thanks for listening!

Podcast episodes

• Ep 228: Help! I'm feeling like an imposter - https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/228
• Ep 219: Compassion or comparison - https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/219/

Coaching resources

• Coaching FAQs: https://www.worklifepsych.com/service/coaching/coaching-faqs/
• How to book a coaching chemistry session: https://www.worklifepsych.com/contact/book-a-coaching-chemistry-session/
• What to expect from coaching: https://www.worklifepsych.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/What_to_expect_from_coaching.pdf

Blog posts

• Feeling like a fraud: https://www.worklifepsych.com/feeling-like-a-fraud-understanding-imposter-phenomenon/
• Ten ways to beat your imposter phenomenon: https://www.worklifepsych.com/ten-ways-to-beat-your-imposter-phenomenon/

WorkLifeSpark

• Join WorkLifeSpark today - https://www.worklifespark.com/sign-up

In coaching sessions, I often hear clients worry that they're not successful, not successful enough or concerned about missing a future success target. All when they can't clearly explain to me or themselves what success looks like.

This means we can often put in the hard work and make the sacrifices in pursuit of something that we mightn't even value or care about. It's a useful reminder of the relevance of our personal values when it comes to evaluating our success, and of moving away from simple binary self-evaluations. Instead, we can focus on the journey and the progress we're making towards a truly valued outcome.

Do get in touch with your comments and questions. It's always great to hear from listeners! Email me at 'podcast at WorkLifePsych dot com' or join the conversation over on WorkLifeSpark.

• Ep 224: Values - it's what you do that matters - https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/224/
• Ep 225: Values as tools for life - https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/225/

While the human mind is definitely a wonderful thing, some of the thoughts (including images, predictions, memories) it provides us can be unpleasant to experience. They can lead to worry, distraction, and unhappiness over time. And unlike all the fridges, cars and computers you've ever bought, we don't receive an owner's manual for the mind at birth. If anything, we pick up lots of unhelpful thinking habits as we grow up! Not to mention buying in to common misconceptions about thoughts and the mind in general.

What's the alternative? One approach is to get some helpful distance from the thoughts, by seeing them as simply thoughts. We can also use metaphors and imagery to simplify our relationship with mental experiences. When practiced consistently, we call this 'cognitive defusion'.

Next time, we'll look at a really common manifestation of unhelpful thoughts - something psychologists refer to as Imposter Phenomenon. Until then get in touch with your comments, feedback and ideas. It's always great to hear from listeners. Email 'podcast at WorkLifePsych dot com' or join the conversation over on WorkLifeSpark.

Thanks for listening!

• Learn more about Psychological Flexibility, which is supported by Defusion: https://www.worklifepsych.com/solution/wellbeing/psychological-flexibility/
• Learn more about Cognitive Defusion in this previous episode: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/158/
• Learn more about our online personal development community WorkLifeSpark here: https://www.worklifepsych.com/community-and-learning/worklifespark/