Perfectionism Therapy for High-Achieving Women
Perfectionism therapy helps high-achieving women, leaders, and entrepreneurs break rigid standards, reduce self-criticism, and build healthier patterns.
Online perfectionism therapy offered across MA, NY, CO, VT, and FL.
You’ve built a life others admire, but inside, it never feels like enough.
No matter how much you achieve, your mind moves to the next task, the next standard, the next thing that must be done flawlessly. I'm Alexis Verbin, LCSW, LICSW, a therapist specializing in perfectionism and high-performing women for 15+ years. Through online therapy, I help you feel better without sacrificing your ambition or the drive that makes you who you are.
Ready Take Back Your Mind and Time?
✔ LEARN: CBT, ACT, IFS, and Mindfulness tools beneficial to perfectionism treatment
✔ SECURE TELEHEALTH: HIPAA-secure video sessions
✔ SCHEDULE: Flexible scheduling with evening availability
✔ PRACTICE LOCATIONS: Licensed in Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Vermont, and Florida.
Support tailored to high-achieving women looking to heal perfectionism without pushing you past your limits.
Understanding Perfectionism
What is Perfectionism?
Perfectionism is a pattern of rigid standards, constant self-pressure, and the belief that your worth depends on how well you perform. For many high-achieving women, it becomes an automatic, even when it leads to exhaustion or self-doubt.
What is Perfectionism Therapy
Perfectionism therapy helps you understand why demanding standards feel necessary, how those patterns formed, and ways to heal.
You’ll learn to:
Identify perfectionistic thinking
Uncover the drivers behind overthinking, self-criticism, and avoidance
Challenge rigid expectations
Replace pressure-driven habits with flexible, realistic ones.
Build strategies that support sustainable achievement without sacrificing your wellbeing.
How Perfectionism Shows Up for Women
Perfectionism often appears as:
Fear of failure or judgment
Difficulty finishing tasks or making decisions
Constant self-criticism and self-doubt
Procrastination and avoidance
Difficulty resting or relaxing
If these patterns feel familiar, online perfectionism therapy can help you step out of survival mode and into a healthier, more sustainable way of living and working.
Clinical Research on Perfectionism in High-Achieving Women
Research consistently shows that for high-achieving women, perfectionism is strongly linked to chronic stress, self-doubt, anxiety, and burnout [1]. This is especially true for socially prescribed perfectionism, the chronic, painful inner standard driven by the belief that others expect flawlessness [2]. Studies find this often stems from conditional approval in early life, leading to emotional exhaustion and extreme self-criticism in professional and leadership roles.
Clinically, perfectionism is associated with a range of mental health challenges [3]:
Depression and persistent low mood, especially when self‑worth is tied to achievement.
Anxiousness, rumination, and fear of failure or judgment.
Burnout and emotional exhaustion are particularly prevalent in demanding roles.
Increased risk of eating disorders and other self‑critical behaviors.
Perfectionism Therapy Benefits
Therapy offers practical tools to help you shift the patterns that keep you stuck. Many clients experience:
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Learn to speak to yourself with fairness instead of self-criticism.
Learn the importance of self-acceptance, especially as it relates to “imperfections.”
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Shift from all-or-nothing standards to a mindset that values effort, growth, and sustainable progress. Perfectionism often operates in extremes.
Therapy helps you develop more flexible, realistic thinking so you can take action without fearing mistakes.
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When the bar feels impossibly high, starting becomes harder. You’ll learn practical ways to set goals that are realistic and aligned with your values, not driven by fear.
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You’ll learn strategies to quiet the inner pressure, calm your nervous system, and feel more grounded in your day-to-day life.
With less stress taking up time and space, you will be better able to enjoy the present moment.
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When you release some of the pressure to perform perfectly for others, connection becomes easier. Therapy can support you in setting boundaries, communicating more openly, and showing up as yourself instead of the version you think you must be.
Perfectionism Treatment Approaches
Therapy is personalized to your personality, patterns, and the pressures you carry. Techniques may include:
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CBT works by helping you recognize and challenge perfectionistic thoughts and replace them with more realistic beliefs.
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ACT will help you move toward your values instead of rigid expectations.
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IFS will work with the parts of you that drive pressure, high standards, or fear of mistakes.
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Positive Psychology works helping you build strengths rather than perfection, resilience, and a healthier relationship with success.
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Mindfulness helps you step out of autopilot, notice when perfectionism takes over, and return to the present moment with more calm and clarity.
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Trauma-Informed Therapy helps you understand and heal experiences that shaped perfectionism patterns in adulthood.
If past experiences shaped your need to achieve, please others, or avoid mistakes, we will approach those stories with care, context, and respect, always at a pace that feels manageable for you.
PERFECTIONISM FAQs
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Yes. Perfectionism is especially common among high-achieving women and professionals in competitive fields where performance is praised.
For a quick primer on patterns and impact, see how perfectionism shows up for professionals in NYC.
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Anyone struggling with Perfectionism would benefit from support.
Perfectionism can be paralyzing, especially for professionally driven women who demand excellence in every aspect of life as well as entrepreneurs and business owners who have a lot on their plate.
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Most new clients are able to begin within 1–2 weeks, depending on schedule openings. Feel free to ask about evening availability!
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In the first perfectionism therapy session, we will discuss what brought you to therapy, how perfectionism shows up in your life, and what you want to be different. I will share how I work, answer your questions, and collaborate with you on a plan that fits your needs, schedule, and goals.
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I’m licensed at the highest level in Colorado (LCSW), Massachusetts (LICSW), and New York (LCSW). I also hold telehealth licenses for Vermont and Florida.
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No. Healthy high standards allow room for learning, rest, and being human. Perfectionism ties your sense of worth to outcomes and leaves little room for mistakes or uncertainty. Therapy can help you keep what you value about your drive while letting go of what is draining you.
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Perfectionism therapy may be a good fit if you:
Feel constant pressure to meet high standards in work, school, or at home
Struggle to relax or feel guilty when you are not being productive
Avoid tasks unless you are confident you can do them very well
Have trouble celebrating your accomplishments before moving to the next goal
Often feel tense, on edge, or mentally exhausted
Want to feel more grounded without giving up your ambition
You do not have to choose between caring about your work and caring about your well-being. Therapy can help you have both.
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Yes. We’ll work on realistic expectations, delegating, giving/receiving feedback, and performing under pressure without over-preparing. If your role adds unique strain, see therapy for women in male-dominated fields.
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Email Alexis Verbin, LCSW, LICSW at Wellcore Healing. I’m here to help you heal your relationship with perfectionism!
Recent Wellcore Healing Articles for Perfectionists and High Achievers
Untangling the “Never Eough” Perfectionism Cycle
Perfectionism can look like procrastinating on big projects, rewriting emails ten times, or feeling behind even when everyone says you’re doing great. This collection of articles dives into how perfectionism shows up at work and at home, and offers practical ways to loosen the grip without losing your ambition. You’ll see strategies grounded in CBT, ACT, and self-compassion that many of my clients use between sessions.
These posts are written by a licensed therapist for high-achieving women and professionals across Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Vermont, and Florida who are ready to trade the need to be “perfect” for a more sustainable way of living and working.
Explore all perfectionism articles in the Wellcore Healing blog →
PERFECTIONISM BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
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Author: Brené Brown
This powerful, research-based book focuses on how to embrace vulnerability while also letting go of the need for perfectionism.
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Author: Stephen Guise
Looking for strategies to break free from perfectionism tendences? This book provides practical guide that offers strategies to break free from perfectionist tendencies.
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Author: Tal Ben-Shahar
Written by a Harvard professor, this book looks at toxic perfectionism vs. healthy striving.
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Authors: Martin M. Antony & Richard P. Swinson
A CBT-based workbook that provides exercises to manage perfectionism and self-criticism.
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Author: Jon Acuff
A motivational book on overcoming procrastination and the fear of imperfection in achieving goals.
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Disclaimer:
The books recommended here are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are struggling with perfectionism, anxiety, or any mental health concerns, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist or mental health professional for personalized support.
Start Your Therapy Journey Toward Balance!
Perfectionism Therapy can help you stop striving for impossible standards and start building a life that you actually feel is authentic and fulfilling. If you’re ready to shift out of all-or-nothing thinking and into a healthier way of achieving, I’m here to help.
Index Reference List: Perfectionism
[2] Hewitt, P. L., & Flett, G. G. (1991). Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(3), 456–470.
[4] Martin, R. L. (2024). Under the Surface of Perfectionism: A Qualitative Examination of Perfectionism in Women Leaders (Doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri–St. Louis).
[5] Melrose, S. (2025). Never Good Enough: How Perfectionism Harms Women’s Well‑Being (Summary of research, often cited in clinical settings).