When Imposter Syndrome Shows Up in the Therapy Space: A Music Therapist’s Reflection

When Imposter Syndrome Sneaks In – Even When You’re Experienced

I recently shared a post on Instagram about imposter syndrome and how it shows up in my day-to-day life as a music therapist. It’s something I’ve experienced often, and I had a feeling other therapists or practitioners might relate.

Feeling the pressure, despite past experience
Earlier this month, I facilitated an assessment session at a hospice memory care unit. It had been a while since I’d led a group assessment, and I felt the nerves creeping in—especially because this session was for my own business. I felt added pressure to build rapport with staff, make a good impression, and hopefully continue working with the facility long-term. That anxious energy started to build in the days leading up to the session, and I found myself talking it through with a couple of loved ones.

During one of those conversations, a fellow music therapist reminded me, “You’ve facilitated so many of these sessions.” And they were right.

Looking back to look forward
My clinical training has included extensive experience in hospice and palliative care. I completed a six-month intensive internship in this exact setting, where I had regular opportunities to lead both group and individual assessments. I learned how to approach sessions with individuals who need memory care, even when they might not be fully present in conversation.

In my first job, I facilitated music therapy sessions with this population weekly. In my current contractor role, I continue to lead a weekly group in a memory care unit. The experience is there—and still, the nerves showed up.

Why didn’t I remind myself of this sooner?
In the middle of feeling anxious, it hadn’t occurred to me to intentionally revisit my own experience as a way to ground myself. It was only after talking with friends that I looked back at old session notes and interventions. I reminded myself of songs this population tends to respond to, the kind of rapport I’ve built in the past, and how I’ve adjusted my facilitation techniques for memory care needs.

And when the day came, that muscle memory kicked in. I facilitated the session with confidence, got to know the residents and staff, and left feeling proud of the work I had done.

You can be confident and still have doubt
What this experience reminded me is that confidence and doubt can coexist. I trust in my training, skills, and experience—and still, I have human moments of insecurity. That’s not a contradiction. It’s just being human.

Sharing this story felt important to me because imposter syndrome is so common among therapists, especially those of us working independently or in high-stakes care settings. Even when we’re well-trained and experienced, we can still doubt ourselves. That doesn’t mean we’re unqualified. It means we care.

I wanted to bring this conversation to the blog, not just to reflect personally, but to humanize the therapist experience for others—whether you’re a fellow practitioner or someone curious about the work we do.