THERAPY FOR PERFECTIONISM & PEOPLE-PLEASING IN LOS ANGELES & ONLINE IN CALIFORNIA
You don’t have to do it all.
You get to have needs too.
Let me guess…
You try so hard to get it right and keep everyone happy.
You’re the person others count on. You put thought into your work, notice what needs to be done, and try not to let anyone down. But a small mistake can overshadow everything you did well, and someone else’s disappointment can feel like something you need to fix.
Maybe you spend far longer on a task than you intended because it never feels finished. You say yes when you’re already stretched thin, soften your opinions to avoid conflict, or feel guilty resting while there’s still something to do. Between your own expectations and everyone else’s needs, it can be hard to hear what you actually want.
Therapy for perfectionism and people-pleasing gives us space to explore these pressures and practice doing things differently. Together, we’ll work toward more flexible expectations, boundaries that reflect your capacity, and relationships where your needs have a place, too.
You can care deeply without expecting everything of yourself.
Therapy can help you make room for your needs and
soften the pressure to get everything right.
Together, we’ll explore the expectations you hold yourself to and what feels at stake when you make a mistake, say no, or disappoint someone. We’ll look at how these patterns developed, what they’ve helped you navigate, and where they’re now asking too much of you.
I draw from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help you practice more flexible responses to self-criticism, guilt, and fear of disapproval. That might mean finishing a task without another round of edits, expressing a preference without apologizing, or taking a break before everything is done. We’ll choose practical steps that fit your circumstances and goals.
Our work will focus on helping you make choices based on your values, needs, and capacity. There will be space to consider your relationships, culture, and responsibilities as you decide what you want to keep giving your energy to and where you need a limit.
What we’ll work on
Here’s what we’ll do together:
Recognize rigid expectations and respond to yourself with more fairness.
Practice letting a task be good enough without repeatedly reworking it.
Express your needs and preferences more directly.
Set boundaries and navigate guilt without automatically taking them back.
Make space for rest, enjoyment, and relationships where you can be yourself.
FAQS
What you might be wondering about perfectionism & people-pleasing
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If self-criticism has been your main source of motivation, easing up can feel uncomfortable. We’ll explore how you can pursue goals you care about with expectations that leave room for mistakes, rest, and learning. You can stay committed to your work without making every outcome a measure of your worth.
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Caring about someone can include being honest about what you can offer. We’ll practice communicating limits in ways that fit your relationships and circumstances, while making space for the guilt or discomfort that may follow. You can consider someone else’s feelings while also considering your own needs.
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Maybe you reach a goal and immediately focus on what you could have done better or what you need to accomplish next. In therapy, we’ll explore the standards you measure yourself against and practice recognizing your efforts without constantly raising the bar.
More questions? Check out my FAQs page.
ready to get started?