the promotion you talked yourself out of. the meeting you over-prepared for. the voice that says they'll find out.
Confidence coaching. You're not lacking confidence. Something is overriding it.
From the outside you look capable, and you are. Inside there's a running commentary: you got lucky, you're about to be found out, everyone else knows what they're doing. You over-prepare, under-delegate and stay quiet in rooms where you should be leading. That isn't a confidence gap. It's a pattern laid down long before this job, and it can change. I work on the root of imposter syndrome and self-doubt, not just the symptoms.
If this is you, you're in the right place.
"Any day now someone's going to realise I don't know what I'm doing."
"I over-prepare for everything, just in case."
"Praise slides off. Criticism sticks for weeks."
"I hold back in meetings and kick myself afterwards."
Confidence isn't something you lack. It's something that gets switched off.
Most people with imposter syndrome have plenty of evidence that they're good at what they do. The evidence doesn't help, because the doubt isn't based on evidence. It's an old rule, often learned early, that says being seen is risky, mistakes are dangerous or approval has to be earned.
That rule runs automatically. It fires before the thinking part of you can weigh in, which is why affirmations and pep talks wear off by Monday. The work is to change the rule itself.
Change the rule, and confidence takes care of itself
I use behavioural analysis to find where the doubt comes from and what it's protecting you from. Clinical hypnotherapy then changes the automatic response, so the old voice loses its grip. Where it started with specific experiences of criticism or humiliation, EMDR clears them.
Alongside that, we work on the real situations where it shows up: the presentation, the pay conversation, the room where you go quiet. The first session is two hours; then one-hour sessions, near Maidstone or online.
Confidence myths that keep you stuck
- I need more experience first. Most people with imposter syndrome have years of it. Experience doesn't fix a pattern.
- Confident people don't feel this. Many do. They just aren't run by it.
- If I stop worrying, I'll stop performing. The worry isn't what makes you good. It's what makes you tired.
- I'll grow out of it. Patterns don't fade with age. They get more familiar.
What people ask first.
Is imposter syndrome something you can actually change?
Yes. It's a learned pattern, not a personality trait. When the rule underneath changes, the constant self-doubt goes quiet without you having to fight it.
Is this only for work?
No. The same pattern usually shows up in relationships and life outside work too. Most people find the change carries across.
Can my company pay?
Yes. I can invoice your company directly, and what we discuss stays confidential.
How long does it take?
Usually fewer sessions than people expect. After the first session I'll tell you honestly what the work involves for you.
Got a question that isn't here? Ask me on WhatsApp. I reply personally.
More on this: Business coaching for owners and leaders
Jon Billingsley DHP CHyp MCMA. MSc Psychology. MSc Communication, Behaviour and Credibility Analysis. Master Certified Hypnotherapist, EMDR practitioner, Master NLP Practitioner, member of the MCMA and BAThH, published author. 25 years in business and personal development before this work, and I did it on myself first.
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A free 15-minute call. No pressure and no pitch. Tell me what's going on and I'll tell you honestly whether I can help, and how.