QUESTIONS? Email me at yanirahernandez@palantetherapy.com or call me at (424) 261-1572
The Pa’lante Therapy Inc. Blog
Do you ever find yourself grappling with self-doubt, struggling to set boundaries at work, or feeling like you can’t internalize your own successes? Are you your own harshest critic, constantly fearing that you’ll be exposed as a fraud? If these thoughts and questions resonate with you, you’re not alone. Many individuals, particularly those from historically marginalized backgrounds, such as Latinx, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ communities, contend with these self-sabotaging thoughts, and this experience is commonly referred to as imposter syndrome.
First introduced by psychologists Suzanne Imes, PhD, and Pauline Rose Clance, PhD, in the 1970s, imposter syndrome is described as a phenomenon that affects high achievers who struggle to acknowledge and accept their own accomplishments. It makes you feel like an imposter, insecure in the face of recognition or accolades, despite evidence that you are skilled, capable, and uniquely successful.
Common characteristics or signs of imposter syndrome include:
While the pressure to achieve and doubts about personal success are widespread, these experiences are more prevalent among BIPOC and marginalized communities. Individuals in these groups often face systemic oppression or are repeatedly told they are not good enough, leading them to internalize these negative narratives. For those with layered identities, such as being a first-generation Latinx individual, the burden of imposter syndrome can be particularly heavy. Research even shows that imposter syndrome can contribute to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or traumatic stress, further complicating mental well-being in communities of color.
So, how can we combat and overcome imposter syndrome?
Remember, you are not alone, and others share your struggles. Embrace self-love and self-compassion as you reclaim your self-worth, unapologetically. You are more than enough!
If you find yourself identifying with these struggles and wish to explore strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome, consider reaching out to Pa’lante Therapy Inc. Dr. Yanira Hernandez is here to support you on your journey towards self-acceptance and success.
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About a week ago I had the great honor to be the keynote speaker at Synergy Quantum Academy synergyquantumacademy @wearesynergy, a high school in South Central Los Angeles. What made this keynote one of the most special speaking engagements I’ve done was its connection to home. This was a homecoming for me. South Central LA.
My parents worked at a factory as garment workers blocks away from the school. As they toiled away in their Juki sewing machines for 30+ years, they birthed two kids from the hood who “made it” and decided to give back to that exact same community.
It was important for me to share my intersecting identities as a First Gen Doctora, daughter of undocumented immigrants from Mexico, and South Central native because if you don’t see people who look like you, you don’t think it’s for you.
What added to this serendipitous experience was having my little brother present for my keynote, as he is also the college counselor for the co-located high school. Y honestamente, eran las únicas porras que me movían.🥹
I’m humbly grateful for the SQA staff for not only putting together a successful all-day wellness event for the SQA scholars but for all also inviting me to be part of the SQA community for the day.
May our scholars from any ‘hood’ know that where we come from does not define us but motivates us. We also get ‘hooded’! 🎓
Vamos pa’delante!
Con mucho cariño,
Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy
#southcentral #southcentralla #losangeles #synergyquantumacademy #firstgeneration #firstgen #firstgenerationcollegestudent #firstgenerationgraduate #firstgenlatina #mexican #latina #latinx #latino #latine #firstgentherapist #latinatherapist #therapist #socialwork #socialworker #msw #lcsw #edd #keynote #speakingengagement #palante #palantetherapy #reels #reelsinstagram #fuerzaregida
Happy National First Gen Day! May we continue to step bravely into unknowns con un chingo de orgullo. They may try to silence us, dismiss our experiences, and bury our existence but they forgot we were seeds and we will bloom.✨
To the First Gen student/professional…
… from the hood,
… who is undocumented,
… who is a child of immigrants,
… who has parents that are undocumented,
… still living at home,
… leaving their home for the first time,
… taking financial and career risks with no safety net,
… learning how to complete benefit packages, 401K, payroll documents for the first time,
… who is navigating countless ‘first’ experiences,
May you continue to bravely and courageously navigate many unknowns con miedo pero con un chingo de ganas, fortaleza, y pasión.
As a First Gen Latina from South Central LA, daughter of immigrants, I’ve navigated many unknowns and continue to navigate many ‘first’ experiences. Pero me echo un padre nuestro before entering unfamiliar faces and remind myself of the numerous times I’ve walked unfamiliar territories con miedo pero con orgullo.
I am privileged to support the First Gen community every day. Our stories are diverse but of a collective resistance and resiliency.
We are First Gen’s y vamos pa’delante! 🎓🤎
Con porras y abrazos,
Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy
#nationalfirstgenday
#firstgenerationcollegestudent #firstgen #firstgenerationlatina #firstgeneration #doctor #doctora #edd #usc #ucla #socialwork #southlosangeles #latino #latina #latinx #latine #latinxgrad #highered #latinasinhighereducation #latinatherapist #terapeuta #palante #palantetherapy #reelsinstagram #reels #explore #graduation #gradstudent #southcentral #southcentralla
When you’re tired of adulting but you remember that your mami said que sana sana colita de rana y vaporu heals all wounds y si no sano hoy, sanaré mañana 😅🐸 🩹
I take my @vicks_us Vaporub everywhere porque uno nunca sabe. Love DIYing my Halloween costumes. This one particularly was therapeutic and healing to create. 💚
Enjoy the Halloween weekend comunidad!
Con cariño,
Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy
#sanasana #sanasanacolitaderana #vaporub #vaporu #vicks #vicksvaporub #rana #mexican #growingupmexican #latine #latinx #firstgenlatina #latinatherapist #therapist #therapistsofinstagram #diycostume #halloween #halloween2024 #palante #palantetherapy
#Understoodpartner Comunidad, October is ADHD Awareness Month and we are debunking common ADHD myths in the Latine community featuring “La Tia”. Common ADHD myths include that only boys have ADHD and ADHD can be outgrown. However, ADHD affects both boys and girls, although girls are often underdiagnosed because their symptoms can manifest differently, such as being more inattentive rather than hyperactive. Also, while some symptoms may change over time, ADHD is often a lifelong condition that requires ongoing management into adulthood.
Addressing these myths in the Latine community is crucial for increasing understanding, encouraging early intervention, and reducing stigma associated with ADHD.
I’ve partnered with @understoodorg to increase access to resources for parents on how to support their children with ADHD and other learning and thinking differences. To access free resources in English and Spanish including articles, podcasts, psychoeducational handouts, and community groups, visit understood.org or click the link in bio.
Let’s continue to educate las tias and our comunidad on ADHD. Pa’delante!
#BeUnderstood #understoodpartner #adhd #adhdawareness #adhdawarenessmonth #latinementalhealth #latinxmentalhealth
On this second presentation, we discussed the social-cultural factors impacting diabetes management and care in Latine youth and families, specifically highlighting how systemic barriers and lack of cultural responsive care can impact our gente from accessing appropriate treatment and support.
This topic not only hit personal for us but also we know how prevalent diabetes is among our gente. We can’t speak about diabetes management and care among our gente without noting how our cultural foods are often policed by western/eurocentric medical practices and how inequitable systems impact accessibility to health and mental health support. This is why representation matters. Having bilingual Latine medical professionals that can affirm our gente’s experiences is important for collaboration with care. I couldn’t help and think about my parents’ and the trauma experienced navigating health systems as undocumented immigrants. May we continue to hold these infrastructures accountable with providing equitable linguistically and culturally responsive care to our gente. 🤎
Shoutout to all my Latine mental health professionals working with our gente with chronic health conditions. You are valued.✨
Con agradecimiento,
Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy
#diabetes #diabetesawareness #culturallyresponsive #chronichealth #latine #latinementalhealth #latinxmentalhealth #firstgenlatina #latinatherapist #nlpa #puertorico #palante #palantetherapy
Just two doctoras, eldest daughters of immigrants from South Central LA having brave discussions on reclaiming nuestras identidades using intersectionality lenses and deconstructing the imposter phenomenon through critical lenses and naming the experience for what it is… racism. It was important to center the diverse voices of Latine mental health professionals and place responsibility on systemic oppression and colonization. My corazoncito was so full hearing many resonate with our topic and was so appreciative of folx willingness to share their lived experiences. ❤️
I live for these conversations and profoundly enjoy hearing peoples lived experiences on how their uplifting their voices in academic and professional settings. Many of us are in continuous resistance and en la lucha in these spaces. ❤️
Also we unintentionally match and later realized I was wearing Mexico 🇲🇽 colors… when everything aligns✨
En comunidad y agradecimiento,
Dra. Hernández @palantetherapy
#decolonize #imposterphenomenon #impostersyndrome #latinementalhealth #latine #firstgeneration #firstgen #firstgenlatina #latinamentalhealth #systemicoppression #intergenerationaltrauma #intergenerationalhealing #nlpa #conference #highered #highereducation #doctora #southcentral #palante #palantetherapy
