Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Mental Health Stigma: Insights from Licensed Therapist Kelvin Peprah
Photos by Victor Jones
Recently, Kelvin Peprah appeared on The Day With Trae, hosted by guest host Besa Gordon, to discuss several vital issues impacting the BIPOC community. Peprah is a licensed mental health therapist who runs Peprah Counseling.
Peprah began the conversation by addressing the topic of imposter syndrome.
“Imposter syndrome typically happens for folks who are, say, high-achieving individuals, and have certain high expectations for themselves,” Peprah said. “So, when we find ourselves in situations where we're having difficulty even accepting or internalizing our own achievements, we feel as if somehow we don't know what we're doing, aka that we’re somehow an imposter.”
Peprah explained that imposter syndrome is very common, but due to its nature, many individuals believe they are the only ones experiencing it. He pointed out that once individuals recognize imposter syndrome, there are steps they can take to overcome it.
“I think first and foremost, asking yourself if the expectations that you have for yourself are realistic, right?” Peprah said. “Oftentimes, one of the things that happens for folks who have impostor syndrome is a sense of perfectionism. I believe in safety, they must be the expectation every time and that they can't fail. But again, is that actually realistic? They know what you're doing, you aren't perfect and make it all the time. Right? So addressing that sense of professionalism.”
Peprah also noted that imposter syndrome often originates from messages received during childhood. For instance, how a person was treated when they failed at something as a child can have a significant impact. If their parents were understanding and conveyed that making mistakes is okay and part of learning, it fosters a healthier mindset. On the other hand, if they were often told that they would never amount to anything or that failure was a reflection of their inherent worth, these negative messages may affect individuals differently.
“When we grow up, we kind of internalize those messages,” Peprah said. “So when something goes wrong, we feel as if it’s us—like there’s something wrong with us internally and that we’re defective. We don’t know what we’re doing, whereas we see everybody else achieving and doing well, but we’re not able to achieve or get to the same marks as they are.”
Peprah touched on the fact that the Black community has historically faced a stigma regarding mental health. Due to past misdiagnoses, there has been a deep-seated mistrust. For instance, there was a time when Black individuals would go to hospitals seeking help for real incidents of racial trauma.
“I think in the Black community, we have a natural distrust of the healthcare system in this country. Just considering historically how the healthcare and medical systems have treated Black folks, it definitely makes sense,” Peprah said. “But I think Black people are also human beings. And as human beings, we also have mental wellness that we need to take care of, just as much as we take care of our physical health. Mental health is also just as important.”
Lacking the terminology to express their experiences, individuals in the Black community were often misdiagnosed with conditions like schizophrenia and institutionalized. This history has naturally led to a cultural mistrust of mental health professionals. However, Peprah emphasized that mental well-being is as important for the Black community as it is for anyone else. Despite the lingering stigma, it is crucial to talk to someone and name the experiences, because these issues are real and need to be addressed.
Peprah explained that in his practice, he predominantly works with Black men, many of whom initially present with a sense of resilience, saying they've persevered through difficulties but still feel something might be wrong. Often, it's their first time seeking therapy, and they come in to see what happens. Peprah approaches these clients with curiosity, asking what might be missing that brought them to therapy.
"One thing I notice in most of my clients, especially Black men, is the experience of neglect during their youth—emotional absence from their parents and a scarcity of mentorship while growing up," Peprah said. "They didn't have many Black male figures in their lives to guide them on how to navigate being a man, especially a Black man in America. They've carried this trauma with them, persevering and surviving, but still feeling they haven't achieved their desired goals. That's typically where we start our sessions."
Peprah is hosting an event on June 22 to foster connections with therapists of color and facilitate conversations aimed at reducing the stigma around mental health in the Black community.
The event is free to attend, and further details can be found online at peprahcounseling.com or on Instagram @peprahcounseling.
For more on local businesses you can support in Seattle, tune into Besa on Back2Besa on FOX 13 Thursday at 8:15 am, and with Trae every weekday at 11 a.m. on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
