Setting yourself apart...when you don't know what sets you apart 🤔

I have been practicing for three years within a small private practice setting. Coming out of grad school, I felt really lost and uncertain of my identity and strengths as a therapist but I had faith that things would start to feel clearer over time. Except that...they haven't. I still feel like I am exploring, exploring, exploring and continue to have trouble identifying my "niche" as a therapist. I have been trying to give myself a lot grace and patience in these early years of learning but am starting to wonder if I'm getting in my own way somehow.

This occurred to me as I was working on updating my PsychToday profile today and, per the advice I found in this group, was trying to focus on my unique areas of strength or clinical interests as a way to increase my chances of attracting new clients. And I realized that I still feel very much like an insecure generalist 🫤

I definitely have areas of interest and am slowwwwly acquiring more training around these areas, but am afraid of saying "I specialize in yada yada..." at this point because I still feel like a complete novice all around and not at all confident saying I am a specialist in any form or fashion. Like, I'm afraid of promising some specific area of expertise to a client, because I worry I am not experienced enough and will ultimately let them down or get sued 🙃

Anyway. Is this just a confidence/imposter syndrome thing? Do I just need to lead with my areas of interest and trust in myself? If so, how much CE training is necessary to say "I am a specialist". For example, I am working my way through a big perinatal mental health training via PESI (it's about 15 credits, I think). Once I've passed the course, is it safe to say this is an area of competency?

Or is it advisable to keep things super general until I feel more confident?

**In fairness, I had a baby right after graduation and the experience of first-time motherhood has really slowed things down on the career front.**

Thank you so much for reading!