Perfectionism

Authenticity

Instead of Trying to Be Perfect, Choose to Be Authentic

Leon Garber LMHC on June 13, 2025

While we may believe that we need to hide our flaws from ourselves and the world, the existential philosophers argue that authenticity provides a meaningful life.

While we may believe that we need to hide our flaws from ourselves and the world, the existential philosophers argue that authenticity provides a meaningful life.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Leon Garber LMHC on June 11, 2025

Despite being preoccupied with it, achieving any form of success can't make us feel valuable, yet those with OCD continue to chase it, hoping it will.

Despite being preoccupied with it, achieving any form of success can't make us feel valuable, yet those with OCD continue to chase it, hoping it will.

Perfectionism

The Critical Thinking Traps in Perfectionism

Leon Garber LMHC on June 6, 2025

Perfectionists tend to stubbornly hold onto their negative self-concepts, even when they're largely based on distortions. These approaches could help them become more flexible.

Perfectionists tend to stubbornly hold onto their negative self-concepts, even when they're largely based on distortions. These approaches could help them become more flexible.

Perfectionism

Why We're So Judgmental

Leon Garber LMHC on June 4, 2025

When we judge others, we believe we're protecting ourselves from danger, yet, in reality, we're really protecting ourselves from our inner-critic.

When we judge others, we believe we're protecting ourselves from danger, yet, in reality, we're really protecting ourselves from our inner-critic.

OCD

Addressing the Need for Certainty in OCD

Leon Garber LMHC on May 31, 2025

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder tend to fixate on uncertainty and self-doubt, using unhealthy mechanisms to control them.

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder tend to fixate on uncertainty and self-doubt, using unhealthy mechanisms to control them.

Perfectionism

Dealing With Perfectionism in Couples Therapy

Leon Garber LMHC on May 24, 2025

Perfectionists often struggle with taking responsibility for their difficulties with their romantic partners, believing the only thing that matters is being right.

Perfectionists often struggle with taking responsibility for their difficulties with their romantic partners, believing the only thing that matters is being right.

Perfectionism

Why Can't I Just Be Happy?

Leon Garber LMHC on May 20, 2025

Anhedonia is the inability to find pleasure in people and experiences that once elicited it. For perfectionists, this state emanates from their expectations and disappointments.

Anhedonia is the inability to find pleasure in people and experiences that once elicited it. For perfectionists, this state emanates from their expectations and disappointments.

Perfectionism

Challenging the Perfectionist's Beliefs About Being Loved

Leon Garber LMHC on May 17, 2025

We often sabotage meaningful relationships due to misinterpretations of motives that stem from our flawed beliefs about ourselves and others.

We often sabotage meaningful relationships due to misinterpretations of motives that stem from our flawed beliefs about ourselves and others.

Imposter Syndrome

How Envy and Perfectionism Help Sustain Imposter Syndrome

Leon Garber LMHC on May 14, 2025

Imposter syndrome is often based on idealization and envy, believing that others in an important group are perfect while you're far from it.

Imposter syndrome is often based on idealization and envy, believing that others in an important group are perfect while you're far from it.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism in Avoidant Personality Disorder

Leon Garber LMHC on May 10, 2025

Those with avoidant personalities tend to use perfectionism to delay decisions, telling themselves that they'll only be able to make meaningful choices when they're perfect.

Those with avoidant personalities tend to use perfectionism to delay decisions, telling themselves that they'll only be able to make meaningful choices when they're perfect.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism's Role in Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Leon Garber LMHC on May 7, 2025

Intermittent Explosive Disorder is often associated with perfectionistic expectations of others, which, when unmet, cause emotional outbursts that are believed to be justified.

Intermittent Explosive Disorder is often associated with perfectionistic expectations of others, which, when unmet, cause emotional outbursts that are believed to be justified.

Rejection Sensitivity

Rejection Sensitivity Isn't a Dead End

Leon Garber LMHC on May 3, 2025

While rejection sensitivity may be strengthened by bad environments, good ones can help us learn to cope with rejection and build our self-esteem.

While rejection sensitivity may be strengthened by bad environments, good ones can help us learn to cope with rejection and build our self-esteem.

Confidence

The Overthinker's Paradox

Leon Garber LMHC on April 30, 2025

Overthinking implies extreme self-doubt and extreme self-confidence.

Overthinking implies extreme self-doubt and extreme self-confidence.

Perfectionism

When the Pursuit of Success Becomes Self-Defeating

Leon Garber LMHC on April 23, 2025

Decisions are self-defeating if the constant sacrifices and pain significantly outweigh positive outcomes.

Decisions are self-defeating if the constant sacrifices and pain significantly outweigh positive outcomes.

Perfectionism

Childhood Patterns That Fuel Enmeshment and Perfectionism

Leon Garber LMHC on April 19, 2025

With enmeshment, people take on too much responsibility for another in the hopes of saving everyone involved. Here's a look at what causes enmeshment and how to break free.

With enmeshment, people take on too much responsibility for another in the hopes of saving everyone involved. Here's a look at what causes enmeshment and how to break free.

Depression

Perfectionism's Role in Depression

Leon Garber LMHC on April 16, 2025

Perfectionists are often preoccupied with justice, fairness, and order. They tend to struggle when treated unfairly. Exploring expectations can alleviate some of the suffering.

Perfectionists are often preoccupied with justice, fairness, and order. They tend to struggle when treated unfairly. Exploring expectations can alleviate some of the suffering.

Cognition

Overthinking Isn't as Helpful as You Think

Leon Garber LMHC on April 12, 2025

Overthinking, although it may appear to be beneficial in many ways, is based on a high degree of self-importance, which, eventually, becomes a burden.

Overthinking, although it may appear to be beneficial in many ways, is based on a high degree of self-importance, which, eventually, becomes a burden.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Perfectionism in Borderline Personality Disorder

Leon Garber LMHC on April 9, 2025

Perfectionism often manifests in borderline personality disorder due, in part, to the tendency to anxiously search for clarity, security, and self-esteem.

Perfectionism often manifests in borderline personality disorder due, in part, to the tendency to anxiously search for clarity, security, and self-esteem.

Intelligence

Why Gifted People Tend to Struggle in Relationships

Leon Garber LMHC on April 5, 2025

Some gifted people believe that their skills automatically make them important to others, yet that belief often contributes to dysfunctional relationships.

Some gifted people believe that their skills automatically make them important to others, yet that belief often contributes to dysfunctional relationships.

Narcissism

The Insatiable Hunger of Narcissism

Leon Garber LMHC on April 2, 2025

Gifted children may be pressured by their parents to be great, yet they don't know that, for those parents, satisfaction may never be attainable.

Gifted children may be pressured by their parents to be great, yet they don't know that, for those parents, satisfaction may never be attainable.