Licensed, capable, and still doubting? The quiet struggle of impostor syndrome

Instead of feeling excited about starting your journey as a licensed clinician, you find yourself constantly questioning how you got here, doubting yourself, and feeling like your employer and patients are judging you and your skills.

This experience is known as impostor syndrome or impostor phenomenon, and it can hit hard during your first year of practicing as a licensed, capable, and fully qualified hygienist. While this experience is not a true medical diagnosis, it is often characterized by self-doubt and a negative self-perception, which can leave you feeling fraudulent or afraid of being exposed. Thus, you may feel like a failure regardless of your achievements and accomplishments.¹ Sound familiar? Let’s dive into this a little further.  

What causes imposter syndrome? 

Impostor syndrome was first identified in the 1970s by two psychologists and is often known to affect high-achieving individuals, including those studying or working in healthcare professions.^2,3 It also often impacts individuals that experience other mental health or behavioral health issues such as anxiety, depression, or burnout.² So it seems that as hygienists, with highly motivated, dedicated, organized, and perfectionist personality types, we may be more at risk of experiencing this.  

Impostor syndrome can be caused or brought on by a variety of factors. For example, it can be triggered by one's upbringing. Maybe there was a large focus on achievements or a lot of pressure to be successful during childhood.³ Impostor syndrome can also be brought on during big transition periods such as starting an educational journey, starting a new career, or even during big life events like becoming a parent.³ In fact, it is estimated that 70% of individuals experience impostor syndrome at least once in their lifetime.³

Does this sound like something you may be experiencing, or are you still a little unsure? Here are some questions you can ask yourself. 

1. Do you have a hard time accepting praise, compliments, or positive feedback? Thinking that you just “got lucky” or that the person praising you is just “being nice”?

2. Do you overanalyze your performance after completing a test or patient appointment? Often telling yourself what you could have done differently or better, inspecting every detail?

3. Do you downplay your expertise even in the areas that you have excelled in or are fully qualified in?

4. Do you find yourself constantly comparing yourself to others that have more experience? Or are you setting high standards and challenging goals for yourself only to get disappointed and let down when they are not reached? 

Self-doubt, self-sabotage, and over analysis are often patterns and behaviors associated with those suffering from impostor syndrome. If you said yes to any (or all of these questions), or feel like you are struggling with this, the good news is that you can work through it! 

Tackling this condition 

Working through impostor syndrome can be done through a series of steps and may require professional help. You can start navigating impostor syndrome with the following steps. 

1. Start by identifying it and calling it what it is. It’s fear, not your reality. 

2. Ask yourself  “is this true?” If every patient is complimenting you and your employer is complimenting you, are you really “terrible” at your job? 

3. Focus on the facts! You graduated from an accredited program, you are a licensed registered professional, you obtained a job based on your qualifications.

4. Avoid comparison. Everyone has a different path and trajectory, just because your friend or colleague appears to be excelling in one area does not mean that you are any less capable. Focus on what you can learn from others instead.  

As a new grad hygienist there will be lots of firsts, lots of growth, and lots of questions. Keep that excitement, stay curious, and get rid of that fear. And if you find yourself struggling with this reach out to family, friends, colleagues, and your community for support. Don’t let impostor syndrome hold you back and be the first thing to shape or impact your career trajectory.  

References: 

1. Imposter syndrome may be holding you back. Cleveland Clinic. January 9, 2025. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/a-psychologist-explains-how-to-deal-with-imposter-syndrome  

2. Hacker MR, Shreffler J, McKeny PT, Davis D. Imposter Phenomenon. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585058/

3. Cuncic A. Is imposter syndrome holding you back from living your best life? Verywell Mind. Updated September 29, 2025.  https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469