Perfectionism Therapy for High-Achieving Women
If you’re struggling with a harsh inner critic, procrastination-paralysis, or the pressure to be flawless, I provide practical, evidence-based tools (like CBT and ACT) to help you build a sustainable way of working and living across MA, NY, CO, VT, and FL.
Perfectionism therapy is a clinical approach designed to help high-achieving women, founders, and leaders break the cycle of rigid standards and self-criticism.
The "Never Enough" Loop Stops Here.
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: Tools and techniques 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.
How Therapy Helps You Shift the Pattern
You will be able 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
Mental and physical burnout
Difficulty resting or relaxing
Feeling behind despite being successful
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 perfectionism patterns that keep you stuck. You will learn to:
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Learn to speak to yourself with fairness instead of self-criticism.
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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 around imperfection 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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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 “perfect” version you think you must be.
Perfectionism Treatment Approaches
Therapy is personalized to your personality, patterns, and the pressures you carry. Perfectionism treatment techniques may include:
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How We’ll Use CBT: We don't just talk. We use CBT to retrain the 'all-or-nothing' neural pathways keeping you stuck in perfectionism mode.
We’ll help you work on not catastrophizing mistakes and address the mental rules that keep you over-preparing, over-working, and over-analyzing.
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Practice taking action with uncertainty instead of waiting to feel 100% ready.
Normalize mistakes and practice accepting imperfection as part of being human.
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Work with the part that puts pressure on you to be “perfect” and panics when there is one small mistake.
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Learn to identify and build strengths without reinforcing “perfection.”
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Notice the urge to perfect, fix, or redo, and learn to pause before you obey it.
PERFECTIONISM FAQs
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Yes. Perfectionism is especially common among high achievers, women working in male-dominated fields, and professionals in competitive environments where performance is rewarded.
If perfectionism shows up as overthinking, procrastination, or feeling behind even when you’re doing well, perfectionism therapy can help.
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Anyone who struggles with rigid standards, constant pressure to perform, or a harsh inner critic can benefit.
Perfectionism can be especially draining for professionally driven women and for entrepreneurs and business owners who feel like everything depends on them.
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Most clients begin within 1–2 weeks of reaching out, depending on scheduling availability. If you need evening sessions, feel free to ask.
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We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in, how perfectionism shows up in your life, and what you want to feel different. I’ll explain how I work, answer questions, and we’ll map out a plan that fits your goals and schedule.
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I’m licensed in Massachusetts (LICSW), New York (LCSW), and Colorado (LCSW). I also hold telehealth licenses for Vermont and Florida.
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Perfectionism therapy may be a good fit if you:
Feel constant pressure to meet high standards at work, school, or home
Struggle to relax or feel guilty when you’re not being productive
Avoid tasks unless you’re confident you can do them “right”
Have trouble celebrating accomplishments because you keep scanning for what could’ve been better
Want to feel more grounded without giving up your ambition
You don’t have to choose between caring about your work and caring about your well-being. Therapy can help you have both.
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Email Alexis Verbin to ask a question or schedule a free consultation.
Regional Guides & Deep Dives into Perfectionism
Untangling the “Never Enough” 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
[1] Melrose, S. (2011). Perfectionism and depression: Vulnerabilities nurses need to understand. Nursing Research and Practice. Source
[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. Source
[3] Nazari, N. (2022). Perfectionism and mental health problems: Limitations and directions for future research. World Journal of Clinical Cases, 10(14), 4709–4712. Source