Keynote Session: "They're All Going to Find Out I'm a Fraud!” Combatting Impostor Syndrome in the Gifted Brain - Dr. Matt Zakreski, PsyD

Impostor Syndrome is a psychological pattern where a person doubts their fitness, devalues their accomplishments, and fears being "discovered to be fraud.” It is a common pattern in individuals with a gifted brain and can be intensely dysregulating and unpleasant. Impostor Syndrome is created by a maladaptive pattern of cognition and social comparison that can have negative impacts on academic performance, social skills, activity engagement, and self-esteem. This session will define Impostor Syndrome, explore some symptoms of it both internally and externally, and give techniques on how to blunt its impact. Participants will be encouraged to learn how to check their thinking, practice self-compassion, and give themselves credit for the work that they have already done while appreciating the work that is left to do.