Life is about so much more than getting a gold star
But when you are used to working hard to achieve your goals, it can be difficult to distinguish between holding yourself to high standards and engaging in unhelpful perfectionism that only sabotages your efforts
Sarah M. Thompson, PhD
Striving for perfection feels like it should be helpful. But overly rigid expectations just set you up to fail.
Hi, I'm Sarah. I work with high achievers who struggle with the desire to be better and do more, but end up feeling like they are always falling short.
I'm a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, an active, evidence-based treatment for unhelpful perfectionism.
How Individual Therapy Addresses Unhelpful Perfectionism
01. Make Sense of Your Choices
Identify the function of perfectionistic behaviors
04. Break the Rules
Disengage from unhelpful, overly restrictive guidelines that have dictated your choices
02. Recognize the Impact
Unpack the unintended consequences of perfectionism
05. Practice Flexibility
Try out new behaviors that feel more aligned with the life you want to be living
03. Consider Your Values
What do you actually want your life to be about?
06. Live Authentically
Experience the joy of living the life you want, with far less stress around what you 'should' do
You don't have to be perfect to live a life of meaning and joy
Don't waste more time feeling trapped by your own standards at work or school, as a parent, in relationships, with regard to your body, weight, or health, or in some other area of your life.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy isn't about convincing yourself that everything is great when it isn't. It's about learning how to relate differently to your thoughts and emotions so that you can begin making choices that are less about living up to impossible expectations and more about making the most of your life.
If Doing Everything 'Right' Is Starting to Go Wrong
Let's talk.
The first step is a free, 15-minute phone consultation to determine if working with me might feel like a good fit.
We'll talk about where you're struggling and what therapy might look like. No pressure, just an opportunity to explore your options.