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If you're experiencing a few or more of the following on a fairly consistent basis, therapy for perfectionism is the right support system for you:

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  • Highly critical of yourself and others 

  • Judgmental of yourself and others when failure occurs

  • Setting goals that are out of reach or unattainable

  • Fear of not reaching goals

  • Feel like a failure when your goals are not met

  • Feel like you fail at everything you try 

  • Dread failure

  • Accept nothing less than perfect

  • Beat yourself up when expectations are not met

  • Procrastinate regularly

  • Put things off until the last minute

  • Fail to do anything or become immobilized 

  • Avoid situations in which you may be imperfect 

  • Difficulties with constructive criticism 

  • Self-critical 

  • Suffer from low self-esteem

  • Struggle to relax 

  • Controlling in your personal relationships

  • Controlling in your work relationships

  • Obsessed with rules, lists and work

  • Obsession with details

  • Often spot mistakes

  • Needing things to be in the rightful place to concentrate 

  • Difficulties with decision-making or too decisive 

  • Difficulties delegating tasks to others - it's better if it's just done by you

  • A need to make things right so you don't feel like you've wasted time

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It's not unusual for perfectionists to be unaware that they are perfectionists. Perfectionists can be extremely successful, but they may also be stressed out, controlling, rigid and uncompromising. 

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I specialize in counseling women, young adults and highly sensitive persons experiencing difficulties due to their perfectionistic tendencies. 

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I am an integrative therapist and I incorporate several evidence-based treatment models into the therapeutic process. Here are the most common approaches I use to support you: 

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As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, I have received specialized training in treating every person as a whole, and I help clients heal by taking the entire human being and their life experiences into consideration for assessment and treatment purposes. The goal is to help you strike a balance in taking care of your entire being, so you can effectively tackle and manage your perfectionism in a way that works best for you.

Perfectionism Therapy | Praus Guidance & Healing | Minneapolis, MN.jpg

Therapy for Perfectionism 

You have high standards for others and even higher standards for yourself. You have a method for completing tasks and you feel annoyed when you don't have enough time or energy to get everything done or when others can't do the job well. You spend copious amounts of time perfecting something even if it means sacrificing your sleep, relationships and personal time. On the flip side, you procrastinate or resist doing tasks because you worry that you won't do them perfectly or the end result won't be good enough. You often spot mistakes, you are extremely hard on yourself, and you find it hard to relax. 

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Being a perfectionist used to be helpful, but now you are tired of being frustrated and never feeling good enough. 

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I get it and I'm here to help!

 

Being a perfectionist isn't all bad. In fact, it might just be your superpower. I would love to help you tap into this strength in a way that helps you feel more balanced and in control, so you're not left feeling stuck, depleted and annoyed with your perfectionism. 

Common contributors to perfectionism:

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  • Fear of disapproval from others 

  • Feeling insecure or inadequate 

  • An insecure early attachment 

  • Other mental health concerns such as anxiety 

  • Having a parent who exhibits perfectionistic behavior

  • Rigid, high parental expectations

  • Disapproval from a parent when their children's efforts do not result in perfection

  • Defense against a chaotic, unpredictable or unsafe home

  • Excessive praise for your achievements

  • Attaching self-worth to achievements

  • Having a history of high achievement and feeling the need to to live up to this currently

  • Pressure to continue achieving as you age 

  • Cultural and media influences

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are therapeutic approaches that are commonly used to help treat perfectionism. These are evidence-based approaches that encourage you to take charge by implementing strategies and techniques that allow you to maintain your high standards while also accepting mistakes with compassion and kindness.

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These psychotherapy approaches aid you in understanding the thoughts and feelings that influence your behaviors, and how these behaviors impact your life in certain ways. You gain skills and techniques that assist you in being more in control of how you think, feel and react. 

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I incorporate CBT and ACT strategies into our therapy sessions to guide you in identifying and processing the connections between your emotions, thoughts and physical experiences. The goal is to help you break free from self-defeating thoughts, beliefs and behaviors, so you can learn to cope with your perfectionism and manage it in ways that feel healthier for you.

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If you are ready to take the next step, I invite you to connect with me. I offer a free 15-minute phone or video consultation so you can get a feel for whether I am a good fit for your unique needs.

 

If you’re interested in learning more, contact me. I'd love to help you get started!

Interested in Learning More About Perfectionism?

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