Imposter Syndrome Episodes

168
Oct. 9, 2025

Imposter syndrome revisited (with Marie Vakakis)

We covered imposter syndrome wayyy back when the podcast started in 2021 - it's time for a revisit now that we're older and... wiser? Bron is joined by Marie to share new thoughts and research on how imposter syndrome affects early career mental health workers, how feelings of self-doubt can both hinder and help, how workplace environments play a significant role in fueling imposter syndrome, and what helps to reduce imposter feelings. If you've ever felt like an imposter, this episode is for yo...
Guest: Marie Vakakis
99
April 4, 2024

Failing the National Psychology Exam (with Betty Farrell)

Bron chats with Betty about her experiences of failing the National Psychology Exam. Betty shares the emotional toll of failing, the financial implications, and the struggle with shame and self-doubt it brought. We highlight the need for more open discussions about setbacks in the psychology profession and stress that failing an exam does NOT define one’s worth or capability as a psychologist. We thank and applaud Betty for vulnerably sharing her story, and hope that listeners who have not succe...
Guest: Betty Farrell
73
Sept. 14, 2023

Taking up space in psychology & tackling imposter syndrome (with Dr Catherine Hart)

How experienced do you have to be to contribute to discussion about the Psychology profession? This episode is all about that imposter syndrome-y self-doubt that holds early-career psychs back from taking up space and shaping the profession. Bron and Catherine unpack 👉🏽 How to feel comfortable with taking up space 👉🏻 How to give effective feedback at work 👉 How to step into sharing opinions about the profession 👉🏿 Feeling confident about your work as a psych. Guest: Dr Catherine Hart (Clinica...
56
April 20, 2023

Getting comfy with mistakes (with Neeraja Shankar)

Bron is joined by Neeraja Shankar (Clin Psych registrar/PhD Candidate) to unpack getting comfortable with making mistakes as an early-career psych. They chat about 👉🏽 How being human means you're gonna make mistakes, and - take a deep breath - that's ooooook 👉🏿 What counts as a mistake in therapy? 👉 How to see mistakes as growth opportunities 👉🏻 The mistakes we've made and how we've survived. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’...
51
March 16, 2023

Never good enough: Therapist perfectionism (with Kate Christie)

Do you feel like you'll never be a 'good enough' therapist? Do you over-prepare for sessions, or procrastinate on reports? You might be a perfectionist. Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Kate Christie (Psychologist in schools and private practice) to unpack perfectionism among therapists. They touch on 👉🏽 The role that perfectionism plays in burnout 👉🏻 How perfectionism shows up in the therapy room 👉 The benefits of perfectionism 👉🏿 Practical tips for reducing the downsides of perfectionis...
Guest: Kate Christie
47
Feb. 16, 2023

Coping with challenging feedback (with Betty Farrell)

Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Betty Farrell (Provisional Psychologist) to unpack how to cope with confusing, ambiguous, and sometimes mean feedback from supervisors. We chat about 👉🏽 How to cope with feedback in the moment 👉🏻 How to not ruminate endlessly 👉 Growth vs fixed mindset 👉🏿 Tough feedback experiences we've had and how we've gracefully and not-so-gracefully dealt with them. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’...
Guest: Betty Farrell
19
June 15, 2022

"I feel like I'm not helping anyone!"

If you're a Helping Professional you're supposed to be helping people, right? So what happens when you feel like you're not helping anyone. Bron unpacks what to do when you're struggling with self-doubt. She talks about 👉🏽 What the research says about professional self-doubt and client outcomes 👉🏻 How to get a reality check on your self-doubt 👉 Using progress measures 👉🏿 Getting feedback from clients 👉🏾 Recognising the value of the therapeutic relationship 👉🏼 Her own experiences with feelings of...
17
May 12, 2022

When all the clients cancel

Bron unpacks what to do when all the clients cancel. She talks about 👉🏽 what it feels like when clients cancel 👉🏻 therapy and non-therapy reasons why clients cancel 👉 practical ways to minimise client cancellations. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the podcast for early-career mental health professionals that unpacks the everyday challenges they face, so they don’t have to go it alone. Love the...
1
Dec. 8, 2021

Imposter syndrome

Do you feel that you’re going to be exposed as a fraud any moment now? In this episode, Bron & Rach take a closer look at Imposter Syndrome, discussing what it is and how to give it the flick. Thanks for listening. Mental Work is the podcast taking a closer look at the everyday challenges faced by mental health professionals, so they don’t have to go it alone. Love the podcast? You can help keep it alive by joining our Patreon for $2 a month at patreon.com/mentalworkpodcast Want more? Websit...