Perfectionism and Self-Criticism Therapy
Book a consultation
If “not enough” is the label you keep placing on yourself, you can book a free 20-minute consultation to explore whether therapy may help.
Therapy for perfectionism, self-criticism and never feeling good enough
Perfectionism can look like being organised, driven, capable, successful and at the top of your game, while underneath you feel exhausted. It can mean constantly trying to present a version of yourself that feels carefully maintained, rather than simply being yourself. No matter how much you achieve, how many projects you complete, how many extra courses you take or how many mountains you climb, it never quite feels like enough.
I am here to help you make your way back down that mountain safely, even when your resources feel depleted. High standards, fear of failure, self-criticism, shame and the persistent feeling of falling short may have helped you achieve a great deal, but they are unlikely to sustain you in the long term. Therapy offers a space to understand these patterns with curiosity rather than judgement, and to develop more sustainable ways of supporting yourself without having to sacrifice your ambition or what matters most to you.
This may fit you if:
You feel anxious when you make mistakes.
You believe that rest is something to be earned, or that slowing down is a sign of weakness.
You are harsh and self-critical, even when others see you as capable and successful.
You procrastinate because you fear not doing something perfectly, or you take on more than is realistically manageable and end up feeling overwhelmed.
You constantly compare yourself to others and feel as though you are falling behind.
You rely on pressure, guilt or self-criticism to stay motivated.
You often feel that, no matter what you achieve, you are simply not good enough.
How therapy can help
In therapy, we can explore the role perfectionism plays in your life and what it has come to protect you from. For many people, it develops around a need to feel safe, accepted, prepared or in control. It may have helped you achieve a great deal, while also leaving you exhausted, self-critical and unsure whether anything you do is ever enough.
We can look at the beliefs, experiences and emotional needs beneath these patterns, and notice how they shape the way you relate to work, mistakes, rest and your own sense of worth. From there, we can begin to develop more flexible and sustainable ways of responding to pressure, shame and the fear of falling short.
You can still care deeply, work hard and have high standards, without relying on constant self-criticism to keep going.
My approach
My work is grounded in CBT and informed by ACT and CFT.
This means we can tackle:
perfectionistic rules and beliefs
fear of failure and fear of judgement
self-critical thoughts
shame and not feeling good enough
avoidance, procrastination and overworking
compassion-focused practices
values-based action rather than fear-based striving
