Perfectionism
How it might feel
You might feel like nothing you do is ever quite good enough. Even when you meet your goals, you quickly move the bar, feel flat, or focus on what could’ve gone better. You may procrastinate out of fear, overwork to avoid criticism, or spend hours on something others would call “done” long ago.
You might hold yourself to unrelenting standards, such as at work, in relationships, in your appearance and still feel like you’re falling short. It may be that mistakes feel unacceptable or that rest needs to be something you earn. You may fear being seen as lazy, selfish or not trying hard enough, even though you're likely exhausted from trying all the time.
Perfectionism can look like achievement on the outside and anxiety on the inside. It often comes with self-doubt, burnout and the constant question: “Why can’t I just relax?”
How we’ll work together
We’ll begin by mapping the perfectionism cycle, the thoughts, behaviours and beliefs that drive you to push so hard. Together, we’ll explore where these patterns came from, how they’re reinforced, and whether they’re still serving you now.
CBT for perfectionism focuses on experimenting with new ways of thinking, behaving and relating to yourself. We’ll look at flexible goal setting, learning from setbacks, building self-worth beyond achievement, and softening the inner critic. You won’t have to give up your values or ambition — we’re not aiming for ‘careless or negligent’. We’re aiming for balance, freedom and ease.