Impostor Syndrome: A Social Work Graduate Student’s Experience

by Renata Bralla, MSW, BSW

(Editor's note: This article was written while Renata Bralla was an MSW student. She graduated with her MSW just prior to its publication.) 

     “A psychological phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments.” We have all heard of the term “impostor syndrome” before – but what does it look like for those of us working toward our MSW degrees? We go through roughly five to seven years of rigorous schooling and field placements. We write more papers than we can keep count of. I can vividly remember graduating with my BSW and feeling so accomplished for finally completing my degree at 27 years old. That same year, I began my advanced standing MSW program with a concentration in clinical practice with families and children. Going into the program, my fears and anxiety were entirely different from the way I am feeling now. When I graduated with my BSW, I did not feel that sense of impostor syndrome, because I knew I had another year of being a student. Fast forward to April 2020, and I am just two weeks shy of being an MSW and on the road to licensure. Impostor syndrome is in full force.

     I am a nontraditional college student. I took three years off from school and did not go back until I was 21. I have now been a student for seven years. I feel that my whole identity has revolved around being a student during those years. It is practically all I ever talked about and one of the most asked about parts of my life. After talking to many of my fellow graduate students about this, I feel that this is something we all experience on some level.

     Although making the transition from student to social worker is exciting, it can also be daunting and somewhat scary. We will no longer have that “safety net” of being a student and being in a role that is exclusively about learning. As we enter the profession and leave our title of “student” behind, we are forced to utilize our skills that we have learned throughout graduate school and take on the tremendous responsibility to serve our chosen populations. At this point, feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and anxiety are starting to settle in for many of us.

     Impostor syndrome is not an actual disorder; it is a term coined by clinical psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978, when they found that some people become convinced that they do not deserve the success they have, despite having evidence of their accomplishments (such as a degree). It involves feelings of inadequacy, particularly around one’s academic or professional abilities. Studies on graduating MSW students have shown that feelings of unpreparedness and uncertainty about the future are emergent themes when asked to reflect on their education, competence, and skills.

     Why do so many of us feel this way? We are learning from some of the most experienced professionals, both in the classroom and in our field placements. We spend many hours reading, researching, role playing, and having clinical interactions with folks in our agencies. We have had countless discussions with our supervisors, our professors, colleagues, and fellow students. And yet, we still somehow feel inadequate and unsure of how well we will do our jobs post-graduation.

     After sitting with these feelings for a while, I realized that my fear is somewhat centered around the idea that I will be completely on my own after graduation. The more I think about it, the more I realize that’s not necessarily the case. I will likely have a job in which I have other colleagues and supervisors I can turn to for support and guidance. We need to give ourselves grace and realize that we would not have made it this far if we were not capable. As I did a little research on ways to combat impostor syndrome, I found the following ideas:

• Connect with a supportive and understanding advisor, mentor, or colleague.
• Call on your partner or your friends, so they may be supportive and talk you through impostor feelings.
• Make a list of your strengths.
• Look back at examples of your own successful work or positive reviews, and remind yourself of your own accomplishments.
• Accept that some tasks will not be done perfectly.
• Be aware of your language choice. If you find yourself thinking you were “lucky” to get into a competitive MSW program or to provide counseling as an intern, focus on what you did to earn it.
• Avoid negative self-talk. It’s normal to feel self-doubt at times, but know when you are beating yourself up.
• Try the “fake it until you make it” approach.
• Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself. Reward yourself.

     These are only some of the ideas that I found while searching for ways to help overcome impostor syndrome. Although I found these very helpful, I feel there are other things we should remember. We must remember that we are in this profession for a reason. We are capable. We are skilled enough to graduate from our master’s programs and become licensed professionals. We are prepared to enter the workforce. And most importantly, we are capable of making a difference in the lives of the people we will serve.

Resources

Bodenheimer, D. (n.d.). The impostor syndrome and the social worker. https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/real-world-clinical-sw/the-impostor-syndrome-and-the-social-worker/

Dalla-Camina, M. (2018). The reality of imposter syndrome. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/real-women/201809/the-reality-imposter-syndrome

Imposter syndrome. (n.d.) University of Michigan. https://caps.umich.edu/article/imposter-syndrome

Kuliesis, J. W. (2016). Impostor syndrome in social work: why do we feel like we're not good enough? https://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/social-life-blog/2016/may/04/impostor-syndrome-social-work

Tham, P., & Lynch, D. (2017). ‘Lost in transition?’ – Newly educated social workers’ reflections on their first months in practice. European Journal of Social Work, 22(3). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13691457.2017.1364701

Renata Bralla, MSW, BSW, is a 2020 MSW graduate of Monmouth University in New Jersey. She received her BSW from Monmouth University in May 2019. Her experience includes working with older adults in a skilled nursing facility and working in a school-based program in a high school providing individual counseling to students. She is passionate about her education and advocating for social justice and human rights.