Christine interviews Catherine Norman, a renowned counselor, about managing the inner critic, one of the most common challenges facing women in business and tech.

Catherine breaks down why our brains have a negativity bias and explores how inner critics develop at different ages throughout our lives: from the emotional 5-year-old who experiences all-or-nothing thinking to the logical but rigid teenager who sees only black and white outcomes.

The conversation includes the “facts versus assumptions” exercise, strategies for talking to the different inner voices, and the importance of recognizing that many successful paths exist rather than falling into perfectionist thinking. Catherine also addresses how to navigate career uncertainty.

“Being able to notice that voice for what it is… Being able to say, ‘Hey, I noticed you,’ or, ‘Hey, that’s my negative thinking again’. That is the most powerful tool here inside your own brain. If you notice that, then that gives you the options to do something about it.”

– Catherine Norman, Counselor and Therapist