Vincentian counsellor tackles Imposter Syndrome in her first book

Former student of the Dr J.P Eustace Memorial Secondary School, Dr Teresa Endeavour-Ferdinand, shared her journey with imposter syndrome, on Friday, January 10, in her new book, ‘The Authentic You: Personal Stories and Practical Solutions for Conquering Imposter Syndrome.’

According to Ferdinand who holds a PhD in Counselling, imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern that often affects high achievers, making them feel like fakes who don’t deserve their accomplishments.

Ferdinand explained that this self-doubt can be more apparent in some people due to various factors, including one’s family background and environment.

In her case, she first encountered these feelings after succeeding in her common entrance exams but not getting into one of the top secondary schools.

She expressed that her past secondary school will always be a place she holds dear. Reflecting on her experience, she mentioned that after her friends, who attended more prestigious schools, began to distance themselves from her, she had to remind herself, “This is where I am, and I’m going to make the very best of it here”.

Ferdinand expanded her horizons by moving to the United States to pursue her career as a Family Counsellor. While working in the U.S., she faced moments of self-doubt, often triggered by her Vincentian accent, people made her feel nervous to speak.

She questioned her place among high-achieving colleagues, even when she was accepted into her PhD programme. The anxiety led to her receiving a C+ in a class she has solid knowledge of, but was graded based on verbal participation.

She pointed out that imposter syndrome can heavily impact young workers entering the job market, particularly those in the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.

New employees often face scepticism from more experienced co-workers, which can hinder their confidence and learning process.

Speaking from her experience of the programme she said, “everything is basically thrown on you, people look down on you. Your input is not valued, and the learning process may be a bit slow. For me, I was not trained in the area, so it would take a minute for me to grasp certain things,” she related.

Ferdinand emphasised that while interventions can help, imposter syndrome often persists in the face of success if individuals are not aware of it.

“You have to constantly remind yourself that you are worthy and deserving,” she advised, stressing the importance of recognising one’s achievement that they worked hard to get, just as others in the same field.

Drawing attention to imposter syndrome is crucial, especially in St Vincent and the Grenadines, where mental health is not taken seriously, according to the Family Court Counsellor. Ferdinand believes that increased awareness of imposter syndrome and other mental or psychological disorders can open doors to intervention, and result in a more supportive society.

Her book, which was released on November 28, 2024 after two years of dedicated writing and multiple title changes, has been positively received by her professors and other readers.

In the book, she talks about her and others’ experiences with imposter syndrome.

‘The Authentic You’ is available on platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, giving readers access to her insights and practical solutions to navigate imposter syndrome.