Series 2 of Work Truths: Off the Record continues with a reflective and truly insightful conversation with Charlotte Allocca, an integrative therapist based in London.

Ever wondered what therapists experience behind their closed doors that tell them feelings of being an imposter are present? Well, listen to find out.

I was especially interested in speaking with Charlotte because her work focuses on self-doubt, low self-esteem, and the stories people tell themselves about who they are and what they’re capable of. That gives her a very particular lens on imposter feelings – both how it manifests in the therapy room and what she hears about how it manifests in the workplace.

We talk about how imposter phenomenon often shows up as a disconnect between what someone is clearly capable of and what they believe about themselves. Charlotte shares what she looks out for with clients, from reassurance-seeking and hyper-vigilance to people minimising their own achievements and moving the goalposts every time they succeed.

A big part of our conversation is about where those stories come from. We explore how childhood labels, family narratives, underrepresentation, and experiences of not quite ‘fitting in’ can shape the inner voice people carry into adult life. Charlotte also explains why she sees self-compassion not as a soft option, but as a practical and necessary way of challenging our harsh internal critic when it gets vocal.

And for people managers and colleagues? You’ll find out about spotting the signs when someone is masking their struggle, and how to create space that feels safe enough for honest conversation.

If you’ve ever felt like you were doing fine on the outside while carrying a much louder story inside, this episode will resonate.

What helps most when imposter thoughts show up — reassurance, evidence, or simply being listened to? Listen now to find out.

Guest Information

Charlotte Allocca is an integrative therapist based in Clapham, and she works a lot with people who struggle with self-doubt, low self-esteem and things like imposter phenomenon.

Much of her work is about helping people understand where those internal beliefs about ‘not being enough’ have come from and supporting them to develop a more secure sense of who they are, beyond just what they achieve.

Charlotte’s Website and Social Links:

www.charlottealloccacounselling.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-allocca-625287367/

Recent Blog Post by Charlotte:

https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-from-bacp/blogs/2025/blogs-and-vlogs/10-september-imposter-syndrome/