The Atkinson Institute · Est. 2025
Where science
meets purpose.
No one should feel almost worthy.
We study impostor syndrome, build evidence-based tools, and create workshops that help individuals, military spouses, and professionals step fully into their confidence and purpose.
Confronting the silent weight
of impostor syndrome
We exist to confront the self-doubt that holds too many people back from living fully in their purpose. Founded on the belief that worth is not earned through constant striving or external validation — but is inherent and unshakable — we combine rigorous research with practical, human-centered solutions. From military spouse transitions to the effects of AI on identity, our purpose remains the same: transform doubt into clarity.
This is the thesis behind every study we run, every publication we write, and every workshop we deliver. Worth is not a performance review. It is not a credential. It does not have a waiting period.
Core Values
Purpose
Every individual has inherent worth and a calling beyond comparison or doubt. We build toward that conviction in everything we produce.
Integrity
We commit to honesty, transparency, and accountability in our research, our publications, and our impact. We cite our sources. We name our limits.
Growth
We create structured pathways for resilience, transformation, and self-discovery — grounded in evidence, not inspiration alone.
Inclusion
We center diverse voices — military spouses, first-generation professionals, entrepreneurs, and youth — because impostorism does not discriminate.
Innovation
We explore new frontiers — including how AI is reshaping identity and confidence — with original frameworks that advance the field.
Empowerment
We turn knowledge into practical tools. Research that stays in journals doesn't change lives. Ours is designed to.
Peer-informed.
Originally framed.
Designed to be cited.
Five peer-informed publications. Six original frameworks. One active study. The Atkinson Institute produces scholarship that engages directly with academic literature — and introduces new concepts the field hasn't named yet.
View All Publications →Research translated
into action
Workshop
Resiliency Workshop
A structured workshop grounded in identity theory and resilience research. Designed for organizations, military installations, and professional communities navigating transition and self-doubt.
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Workplace Program
Belonging at Work
Addresses the structural and psychological barriers to belonging in professional environments — including remote and hybrid teams where impostorism is most likely to intensify.
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Leadership Program
Crowned Confidence
A leadership development experience that translates impostor phenomenon research into practical tools for self-trust, visible leadership, and decision-making under doubt.
Book a SessionSimone S. Atkinson
Identity & Resilience Study
Open to military spouses and transitional professionals. Participants receive a personal insight report, tools to strengthen identity clarity, and early access to published findings. Takes 15 minutes. No purchase required.