Ctrl+Alt+Support: Rebooting Mental Health at Work

Dec 9

Presented by Caleb Boston, MS, LPC, Beyond Healing Center

Why Mental Health Conversations Matter in Tech

In fast-paced technology environments, stress and imposter syndrome are common challenges. Caleb Boston’s session emphasized that imposter syndrome isn’t about lacking knowledge—it’s about feeling unsafe when making mistakes. When our brains perceive a threat of failure, we either push ourselves through stress or collapse into shame. The more stress we hold, the less efficient we become, and the more likely we are to experience burnout, fatigue, and even physical symptoms.

The Power of Emotional Awareness

Tech professionals are often taught to focus on thinking and doing, but emotions play a critical role in motivation and collaboration. Neuroscience shows that our ‘thinking brain’ (prefrontal cortex) is meant to guide—not replace—our ‘feeling brain’ (limbic system). Suppressing emotions can lead to depression and professional burnout. Motivation is emotional; thoughts reactivate emotions, and emotions drive action.

Building Psychological Safety

Research highlights the importance of psychological safety and vulnerability in teams. When leaders and team members feel safe to express emotions, it fosters creativity, personal buy-in, and a sense of community. Including emotional conversations in the workplace doesn’t change what you achieve, but it can transform how you get there.