The most popular workshop Crystal provides is the Impostor Syndrome Workshop. Impostor syndrome is a term developed in the 1970s. It involves doubting one’s abilities or accomplishments, feeling like a “fraud,” which can lead to crippling anxiety, low productivity, and fear of collaborative projects. Recent research has suggested that applying a trauma-informed, trans-inclusive, intersectional feminist lens can best aide in addressing these feelings and their impact. This training defines, identifies, and helps mitigate impostor syndrome within oneself and in organizations and communities.
Beginning with an interactive presentation, Crystal offers perspective on impostor syndrome based on social sciences research, historical data, personal anecdotes, and global perspectives. Applied exercises help each participant understand and address imposter syndrome directly. Combined with a 16-page handout and “homework” for after the session concludes, the Impostor Syndrome Workshop is designed to help manage feelings of impostor syndrome, increase personal understanding of underlying causes of the issue, and assist in creating an organization that doesn’t increase impostor syndrome feelings in others.
The ideal format for the workshop is 3.5 to 4 hours, with 10 to 30 participants, which allows time for discussion and practicing skills. A shorter version of the workshop can be as brief as 90 minutes. Crystal can work effectively with small groups and individuals.
Rates vary depending on the number of participants and size of organization. Corporate entities start at a rate of $7,500 per workshop (for up to 30 participants per session), not including travel costs. Nonprofits, volunteer organizations, educational institutions, and private individuals receive a discount, dependent on circumstances.
A sample flyer for the workshop can be found here: Impostor Syndrome Workshop Flyer for University of Chicago, Feb 2019
You can also watch a 35 minute talk about impostor syndrome that Crystal gave at the Lead Developer Conference in 2016.
Here’s what previous workshop participants have said:
The Imposter Syndrome Workshop doesn’t just give you tools for dealing with the inner voice of doubt that accompanies professional accomplishments in competitive fields. It’s also about taking ownership of your own feelings, both positive and negative, so that you can make joy the resilient center of your journey. Crystal is an amazing facilitator with the gift of helping you discover your own insights, the only kind that sticks. (Boston, 2019)
While I was familiar-ish with the term, I’m not sure I’d have been able to define “kyriarchy” before the workshop! (San Francisco, 2018)
Having concrete ways to act in groups and communities that might help not incite impostor syndrome in others is really great, and I’ll be referencing that list a lot in how I behave both at work and in other groups. (Reykjavik, 2019)
I felt relieved to put terms to emotions I was having. The presentation normalized my feelings. (Helsinki, 2016)
I found this emotionally draining, but in a good way?! It felt very vulnerable to be honest about some of my feelings of insecurity, even just in terms of writing them down. I could also tell how intensely my fellow-participants were feeling, which contributed to that atmosphere. (Chicago, 2017)
I felt less alone hearing that experiencing Imposter Syndrome is normal and widespread. There was a lot of “oh, yeah. I do that. Yup. I do that a lot too,” which certainly made me feel like I was in the right place. (Boston, 2019)
Crystal Huff 