Meet Brittany Webb

We were lucky to catch up with Brittany Webb recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brittany, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is something most of us can relate to experiencing at some point in our life lives, and my journey with it has been a winding road full of self-discovery and growth. Let me take you through a story that paints the picture of how I overcame this pervasive feeling of inadequacy. For me, mine really showed at work.

It was not with just one specific situation, but many. As a mental health therapist, I experienced most of my imposter syndrome when I worked in middle management and C-suite. I started my own private practice which challenged my imposter syndrome and led to me facing it head-on.
While each of us may slightly differ in how we got to experience imposter syndrome, mine developed from holding myself to unrealistic goals. These unrealistic goals were reinforced by things like negativity bias (the tendency to focus more on negative than positive information) and confirmation bias (tendency to seek out, interpret, and remember information that confirms your pre-existing beliefs), and maybe a little bit of gaslighting from colleagues. This lead to working longer hours, feeling stuck with no way out, and even being more reserved in how I responded in settings like meetings. When you combine all of these, it makes sense how one can experience imposter syndrome.

More specifically in my case, I experienced supervisors questioning my ability to provide clinical guidance despite intensive training and feedback from others. I experienced open communication being shut down despite this being conveyed as an important part of the job. I experienced meetings and decisions being made based on a supervisor’s headspace and emotions that day despite solutions presented and later coming back to after hours of work. Does this sound familiar to you? I know when I was in the thick of working for others, in environments where I did not find support, it was hard to think I was experiencing imposter syndrome… and I struggled to admit that.

When I finally had it and had to face admitting what I was experiencing, I had to face the fear and push myself leading to me starting my own private mental health practice, essentially creating the environment I wanted. I understood that running your own business comes with challenges but the rewards were so much higher. Creating a supportive and collaborative environment meant that clients are the ultimate winners. What I mean by this is when an employee, self and others, feel they are in the place they feel safe – something that is not far off from the bottom of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – then they can provide quality care to clients. Clients deserve this more than anything, I mean, how vulnerable is it to show up to a therapy appointment and work on yourself? You certainly can’t do that as a therapist in a stressful work environment.

Now the question is, do I still experience imposter syndrome? Heck yes. Is it as intense as it used to be? No. I built confidence in myself that I can navigate the times I experience imposter syndrome instead of what felt like I used to drown in it. I practice the following strategies, again and again, to navigate these challenges:

– Acknowledge My Feelings
By recognizing and acknowledging that I am experiencing imposter syndrome and all the feelings that come with it provides a label to my experience and helps me normalize what I am feeling.

– Talk About It
I became to develop a support system that was more aligned with my views and values. This showed a level of vulnerability and allowed others to be there for me (which I often wanted to handle on my own as a result of the imposter syndrome). I started by sharing things that were a little bit uncomfortable slowly until I became more comfortable with the uncomfortable.

– Challenge Negative Thoughts
When I catch myself thinking negatively or doubting my abilities, I challenge them. I ask for myself to really find the evidence to theses as a thought can truly be just a thought and not a true reflection of me.

– Document My Achievements
I keep track and reflect routinely on my achievements, and there is no “small” achievement, they are all achievements. A friend and I hold a weekly check-in to talk about our weekly achievements as it gets lost with us when things really happened and helps keep these in the present and thinking throughout the week.

– Set Realistic Expectations
I work hard to create realistic expectations. If I start to say I “should” do something, right there is something unrealistic I am trying to hold myself to that I will ultimately fail. If anything, every experience is a learning opportunity to take away for future situations.

– Embrace a Growth Mindset vs. Perfectionism
I focus on growing vs. doing things perfectly. Just like my “should” statements in the previous strategy, seeking perfection or doing things just right keeps me stuck. Do I want things to go as planned? Of course, but I know that is not real and often keeps me stuck and I lose focus on other things I want to do.

– Learning to Accept Compliments
I used to deny compliments which fed into my imposter syndrome which led me to deny compliments and the cycle continues. By learning to accept compliments, it helped to provide evidence to me when I struggled to identify evidence for myself.

– Therapy
I worked on this in therapy with my own therapist, helping to challenge my beliefs, label my feelings, and create a growth and resilient mindset.

Overcoming imposter syndrome is not about eliminating self-doubt entirely but learning to navigate and manage it. It is going to show up when you least expect it, and the more you try to push it away, the more it pushes back. By acknowledging my achievements, creating a support system, embracing a growth mindset, and setting realistic expectations for myself, I transformed my insecurities into strengths. This journey has taught me that self-belief is a continuous practice, one that shapes us into resilient and capable individuals.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am Brittany Webb, founder and therapist at my practice, Better Minds Counseling & Services. While being based out of Pennsylvania, specifically Philadelphia, I am licensed to see clients in multiple states (MD, NJ, PA, and VA). I started the practice to create an environment I wanted to work in and evolved it to be an environment for others to work in – ultimately providing quality care to our clients.
I love what the practice is transforming into. We provide individual, couples, family, and group therapy all online! This allows us to not be limited to providing therapy to those locally, but state-wide. We help those experiencing ADHD, Anxiety, Grief, Hoarding, LGBTQIA+, OCD, and Trauma. Better Minds therapists hone in on their skills and focus on specific specialties instead of being “generalists” (aka being the jack of all trades). I am excited to see the practice grow, care for clients expand, and even our latest achievement being the start of our internship program!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are resilience, adaptability, and effective communication. These qualities have shaped my professional and personal growth, enabling me to navigate challenges and seize opportunities with confidence and clarity.

Resilience
Resilience has been fundamental in overcoming setbacks and maintaining a forward-looking perspective, especially during the most challenging of times. In times of difficulty, such as dealing with imposter syndrome or facing unexpected obstacles in my career, resilience has allowed me to persist, learn, and grow stronger.

Advice: For those early in their journey, developing resilience begins with embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. Cultivate a mindset that views failure not as a reflection of your abilities but as a step towards success. Practice self-care and mindfulness to maintain mental and emotional well-being, which are crucial for building resilience. It’s like the age-old saying, you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Adaptability
Adaptability has enabled me to thrive in dynamic environments and adjust to changing circumstances. Whether it was wearing various “hats” or responsibilities, learning new technologies, or navigating shifts in industry trends, being adaptable helped me stay relevant and effective.

Advice: To develop adaptability, embrace continuous learning and be open to change. Step out of your comfort zone regularly by taking on new projects or responsibilities. Stay curious and proactive in acquiring new skills and knowledge. Flexibility in thinking and action will prepare you to handle any curveballs that come your way.

Building Relationships
Building relationships has been crucial in creating a supportive network and fostering collaboration. Strong relationships have provided me with mentorship, opportunities for growth, and a sense of community. They have also enabled me to work effectively with clients and my team.

Advice: To build meaningful relationships, prioritize authenticity and genuine interest in others. Look for those that align with you in your values and how you best show up in any relationship. Invest time in getting to know your colleagues, peers, and mentors. Offer help and support without expecting immediate returns. Networking is not just about making connections but about nurturing them over time. Strong relationships are built on trust, respect, and mutual benefit.

General Advice
– Seek Mentorship and Supports: Find mentors who can provide guidance, support, and perspective. Their experience and insights can be invaluable in your growth.
– Set Realistic Goals: Break down your goals into manageable steps and celebrate your progress along the way. This will keep you motivated and focused.
– Network and Build Relationships: Cultivate a strong professional network. Building genuine connections can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations.

By focusing on resilience, adaptability, and building relationships, and following these pieces of advice, you can create a strong foundation for your journey. Growth is a continuous process, and each experience contributes to your development.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

There is no one answer. I have a close bond with my support systems which breakdown into professional and personal. The importance is that there is a balance in these relationships, all of those in my support systems are givers and takers. This is just one aspect to create a relationship where both parties can be open and provide guidance. I have found by putting a question or challenge out in the open when I think one person in particular cannot help, I am more often than not surprised by what that person knows whether by skills or even just insight.
While I do not want a group of “yes people”, just telling me what I want to hear, all of my supports challenge me to push me a little more into my uncomfortable zone to reach whatever goal I am striving for at that time.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

images created by self, Brittany Webb

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