Overcoming Imposter Syndrome to Launch an Independent ABA Practice


Understanding Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome, a term coined in 1978 by Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanna Ament Imes, refers to a psychological phenomenon where you, despite evident accomplishments and external validation, struggle with an internal belief that you are not truly competent or deserving of your success. While initially observed among high-achieving women, it's now recognized as a common experience that can impact anyone, regardless of gender or background. 


From a behavior analytic standpoint, Imposter Syndrome can be viewed as a pattern of maladaptive behaviors stemming from skewed reinforcement contingencies and cognitive distortions. If you’re experiencing Imposter Syndrome then you may engage in negative self-talk, avoid seeking feedback, and attribute success to external factors, luck, or a mistake rather than acknowledging your own capabilities and efforts. Engagement in these behaviors creates an environmental condition that perpetuates feelings of inadequacy and may lead to avoidance of challenges or opportunities for growth. Imposter Syndrome often is experienced during significant life transitions, new challenges, or periods of increased responsibility, such as launching an independent practice. If you are experiencing self-doubt or fear of failure then it is likely impairing, delaying, or even preventing you from achieving your personal and professional goals. In this article, we'll dive into Imposter Syndrome through the lens of behavior analysis, exploring its behavioral manifestations and evidence-based strategies to overcome it.

 

How Imposter Syndrome May Impede Launching an Independent Practice

Imposter Syndrome can create significant psychological barriers that are impeding efforts to launch your practice. Addressing and overcoming these barriers may require targeted interventions aimed at challenging cognitive distortions, building self-confidence, and fostering appropriate coping strategies. To better understand how Imposter Syndrome may be manifesting in your life, consider the following:

  1. Self-Doubt in Clinical Skills: You may doubt your clinical skills and competence, despite having completed extensive training and education when earning your board certification or licensure. This self-doubt can hinder your confidence in delivering effective interventions and conducting assessments, leading to hesitation in launching your practice.

  2. Fear of Failure: Imposter Syndrome often instills a fear of failure, causing you to second-guess your ability to succeed as an independent practitioner. You may worry about making mistakes, disappointing clients, or being unable to meet the demands of running a business, ultimately delaying or avoiding taking the necessary steps to start your practice.

  3. Attributing Success to External Factors: Those with Imposter Syndrome tend to attribute their past successes to external factors, such as luck or favorable circumstances, rather than recognizing their own competence and hard work. As you contemplate starting your ABA practice, you may question whether your previous achievements were genuinely earned or merely the result of fortunate circumstances, undermining your confidence in your ability to succeed independently.

  4. Avoidance Behaviors: If you’re struggling with Imposter Syndrome then you may engage in avoidance behaviors, such as procrastination or reluctance to seek out opportunities for professional growth and development. This avoidance can manifest in delaying tasks related to starting an ABA practice, such as developing a business support plan, filing legal forms, hiring mentors to assist you, or networking with potential clients and collaborators.

  5. Negative Self-Talk: Negative self-talk is a common feature of Imposter Syndrome, that often results in engagement in self-critical thoughts and beliefs about your capabilities and worthiness. This internal dialogue can erode your confidence and motivation, making it difficult to take decisive action towards launching your practice.


How to Apply a Behavior Analytic Approach to Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

To overcome Imposter Syndrome, it is critical to identify and modify the cognitive, emotional and behavioral aspects of the syndrome that contribute to the maladaptive behaviors and distorted beliefs. By addressing skewed reinforcement contingencies, challenging cognitive distortions, and promoting adaptive coping strategies, you can begin to break free from the cycle of self-doubt and embrace your true capabilities. Behavior analysis provides a framework for understanding and addressing Imposter Syndrome, offering hope and guidance for those seeking to overcome feelings of inadequacy. Here are 7 evidence-based strategies that could be implemented as a part of developing a plan for overcoming Imposter Syndrome:

  1. Operationalize Imposter Syndrome: Identify, in observable behaviors, thoughts, and coping strategies, the characteristics that  define this pervasive phenomenon. Common behaviors include:

  • Self-Doubt: Observable behaviors indicating hesitation or lack of confidence in one's abilities despite evident success. This may include verbal expressions of uncertainty, avoidance of challenging tasks, or seeking excessive reassurance from others.
  • Negative Self-Talk: Verbal statements or internal dialogue characterized by self-criticism, minimizing achievements, or attributing success to external factors rather than personal competence. This can be measured through self-report assessments or recorded instances of negative self-talk.
  • Avoidance Behaviors: Observable actions aimed at circumventing situations that trigger feelings of inadequacy or fear of failure. This may involve procrastination, withdrawal from opportunities for advancement, or reluctance to seek feedback or validation.
  • Attribution Errors: Misattributing success to external factors such as luck, timing, or the efforts of others, rather than recognizing your own skills and contributions. This can be assessed through structured interviews or self-report measures probing attributional tendencies.
  • Cognitive Distortions: Distorted patterns of thinking characterized by irrational beliefs, such as overgeneralization, catastrophizing, or all-or-nothing thinking, that contribute to feelings of imposterism. These distortions can be identified through self-report inventories or cognitive-behavioral interventions.
  • Maladaptive Coping Strategies: Observable responses to feelings of imposterism that exacerbate rather than alleviate distress, such as perfectionism, overworking, or seeking constant validation. These coping strategies can be assessed through behavioral observation or self-report measures of coping behaviors.

  1. Behavioral Self-Monitoring: Establish a system for tracking your thoughts and behaviors related to self-doubt and success. This self-awareness lays the groundwork for targeted intervention. By systematically recording instances of negative self-talk and avoidance behaviors, you can gain insight into the patterns that perpetuate Imposter Syndrome.

  2. Functional Analysis: Identify antecedents and consequences of maladaptive behaviors associated with Imposter Syndrome. By understanding the specific triggers and reinforcing consequences that maintain self-doubt, you can develop strategies to disrupt these patterns and replace them with more adaptive responses.

  3. Behavioral Activation: Gradually expose your to situations that trigger feelings of inadequacy, while reinforcing adaptive coping behaviors and positive self-talk. Through systematic desensitization, you can confront fears in a controlled manner and build confidence in your ability to navigate challenging situations.

  4. Behavioral Skills Training: Learn effective communication skills, assertiveness, and constructive ways to seek feedback and validation. By providing concrete tools and strategies for advocating for yourself and engaging in assertive behavior, you can build confidence and assert your competence in professional and personal settings.

  5. Behavioral Rehearsal: Role-play challenging scenarios and practice assertive communication and self-advocacy skills in a safe environment. This will allow you to build confidence and proficiency in real-world situations. By repeatedly rehearsing adaptive responses and receiving feedback, you can internalize these skills and apply them effectively in challenging situations.

  6. Reinforcement Management: Seek feedback from individuals that support you and celebrate successes, no matter how small. These essential steps will help shift focus from external validation to intrinsic reinforcement of personal growth and achievement. By reinforcing efforts to confront self-doubt and engage in adaptive behaviors, you can cultivate a sense of self-worth based on your own achievements and progress.


Key Takeaways

When it comes to launching an independent practice, struggling with imposter phenomenon can impede your efforts, delaying or even preventing you from fulfilling this professional goal. Here are the key takeaways to applying a behavior analytic approach to overcoming this syndrome:

  • Imposter Syndrome is a common experience that many successful behavior analysts face. That is to say, if you are struggling with imposter syndrome, it also means that you have experienced success rather than failure in your endeavors

  • Understanding imposter syndrome and operationalizing its characteristics, such as self-doubt, negative avoidance behaviors, and attribution errors, will help you to develop a plan to address these maladaptive behaviors

  • Behavioral strategies to include in your plan are behavioral self-monitoring, functional analysis, behavioral activation, skills training, rehearsal, and reinforcement management


TreSource offers behavior analysts numerous resources to establish, operate, and thrive in practice. If you would like assistance with overcoming imposter syndrome while establishing or operating your practice, learn more about our Products & Services, including a CEU course on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and our customized ABA Business Mentorship Services.


References

  1. ChatGPT 3.5
  2. Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 15(3), 241–247. 


Written February 15, 2024 - By Charity Steele, MS, BCBA