Online Perfectionism therapists in Sunnyvale, California CA
We are proud to feature top rated online Perfectionism therapists in Sunnyvale. We encourage you to review each profile to find your best match.
Mary Mallinson Therapy
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
Perfectionism often shows up as pressure, self-criticism, and fear of failure. Together, we explore the roots of perfectionism and work toward building self-compassion, flexibility, and a more balanced, sustainable way of relating to yourself.
5 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA (Online Only)
Elizabeth Nims
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
For those experiencing perfectionism, I can help you understand the origins of this belief and give skills to shift to seeking excellence over perfectionism and understanding your innate worth.
7 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
Tracey Kiernan
Marriage and Family Therapist, MA, AMFT
Perfectionism often looks like success on the outside but feels exhausting internally. I help you understand the drivers behind it and shift toward a more sustainable, self-supportive way of functioning.
2 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
Nes Pinar Psychotherapy
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
Many people don’t realize that perfectionism isn’t about doing things perfectly—it’s about feeling like anything less than what they had in their minds is unacceptable. This mindset often creates constant self‑criticism, pressure, and a sense that nothing is ever “good enough,” even when you’re working incredibly hard. I help clients notice these patterns with compassion and begin shifting toward a more grounded, accepting way of relating to themselves.
15 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
Wildflower Therapy Group
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, C-IAYT
At Wildflower Therapy Group, we help clients explore perfectionism with compassion and curiosity. Therapy can support clients in understanding the deeper fears, pressure, or self-protective patterns behind perfectionism while building more self-compassion, flexibility, and a stronger sense of worth beyond performance.
6 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
Liza Roth, MA, LMFT
Marriage and Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Perfectionism isn't about doing things perfectly, it's about finding fault easily. Somewhere along the way, you came to believe that if you did things perfectly, you would be safe and free from worry. Instead, you are still full of worry and are just plain exhausted. Let's work together to figure out how perfectionism serves you, how it doesn't, and how you can find balance and inner peace.
5 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
Danielle Esses
Psychologist, PsyD
Perfectionism can look like high standards on the surface, but often comes with anxiety, self-criticism, and difficulty feeling satisfied or at ease. Therapy helps you understand the function of these patterns and develop a more flexible, sustainable way of approaching achievement and self-worth.
8 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
G. Roman Gupta, LCSW
Therapist, LCSW
I have been practicing for almost 20 years and I have a strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally aware, LGBTQ+ affirmative, sex positive, kink positive, poly affirming, feminist perspective. I have trained and practiced in a variety of treatment methods that offer us a variety of ways to meet your goals whether as an individual, couple, or family.
18 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
Amy @ Inner Nature Therapy
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, PMH-C
Perfectionism is the thief of joy! As a recovering perfectionist myself, I will be kind but honest with you when I notice perfectionism creeping in to your thinking and self-image. By gently rooting it out, I can support you towards accepting things as they are while remaining confident in yourself and motivated to make positive changes.
13 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA (Online Only)
Mia Turner
Therapist, MA, RYT, ASDCS, LMFT, NPT-C, CMNCS, CMIP
Perfectionism is often less about striving for excellence and more about seeking safety, belonging, predictability, acceptance, or protection. It can develop in response to trauma, marginalization, giftedness, neurodivergence, family expectations, racism, ableism, cultural pressures, high-achievement environments, or experiences where mistakes felt costly and being "good enough" never quite felt good enough.
What is often labeled as perfectionism may also reflect a nervous system that learned to stay vigilant, perform, overprepare, overachieve, self-monitor, mask, or anticipate problems in order to avoid criticism, rejection, disappointment, conflict, shame, or harm. For many people, perfectionism becomes intertwined with identity, self-worth, productivity, competence, and the belief that value must be earned rather than inherently possessed. It may show up as chronic self-criticism, difficulty resting, procrastination, overthinking, people-pleasing, hyper-independence, fear of failure, fear of success, difficulty making decisions, or feeling as though there is always more that should be done.
This work explores the protective role perfectionism has played throughout your life while examining the ways it may be impacting relationships, wellbeing, creativity, joy, authenticity, and connection with yourself. Particular attention is given to the influence of family systems, culture, gender, neurodivergence, trauma, and the internalized narratives that shape how you relate to achievement, mistakes, success, failure, worthiness, and belonging.
My approach is grounded in the belief that perfectionism is often an adaptive survival strategy rather than a personal flaw. Rather than attempting to simply eliminate perfectionistic tendencies, we become curious about what those parts are protecting, what they fear might happen if they loosened their grip, and what needs may exist beneath the pressure to perform. Using EMDR, somatic therapy, mindfulness, polyvagal-informed practices, parts work, neuropsychotherapy, expressive arts, attachment-focused approaches, and liberation-oriented healing, therapy supports developing a more compassionate relationship with the parts of yourself that learned to equate achievement with safety.
Attention is also given to the ways perfectionism lives in the body and nervous system. This may include chronic tension, difficulty slowing down, overactivation, self-monitoring, exhaustion, difficulty experiencing satisfaction, or feeling unable to rest without guilt. Through greater awareness of sensation, emotion, nervous system states, and embodied experience, space is created for increased flexibility, self-trust, self-compassion, and choice.
The goal is not to stop caring, striving, creating, achieving, or growing. It is to cultivate a relationship with yourself that is not dependent upon performance, productivity, approval, or getting everything right. Often, the work involves reclaiming authenticity, playfulness, creativity, rest, joy, pace, and the internal permission to be fully human rather than a constant self-improvement project.
10 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA (Online Only)
Layla Ashley Psychotherapy
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
Perfectionism can create constant pressure to perform or appear flawless. In sessions, we explore how to shift rigid expectations, and cultivate a healthier relationship with achievement and self-worth.
23 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
Allie Michie, MS
Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT159347
Perfectionism often looks like high standards from the outside, but on the inside it can feel like never being enough. I work with clients to get curious about where that drive comes from, what it's protecting, and how to build a relationship with yourself that's a little more honest and a lot more kind.
2 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
Dr. Michael Marossy
Psychologist, Ph.D.
Perfectionism often involves far more than simply having high standards. Many individuals struggling with perfectionism experience chronic self-criticism, fear of failure, anxiety, procrastination, emotional burnout, shame, difficulty relaxing, or a persistent feeling that they are never “good enough” regardless of achievement or external success.
I help clients better understand the emotional and relational roots of perfectionistic patterns while developing greater self-compassion, psychological flexibility, and a healthier relationship with achievement, performance, and self-worth. Therapy focuses on reducing rigid thinking and chronic pressure while helping clients build more balanced, meaningful, and emotionally sustainable ways of living.
8 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
Emily St. Amant
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC-MHSP-S (TN), LPCC (CA)
Perfectionism shows up in many of my clients for a variety of reasons, and I enjoy working with people as they embrace their real selves.
18 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA (Online Only)
Sandy Kong
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT 119380
Therapy for perfectionism focuses on reducing rigid, unrealistic standards, and alleviating associated anxiety, depression, or burnout. Perfectionism is seen as a trauma response. Trauma has shaped someone's life into believing that they have to be "perfect" in order to be "loveable" or "worthy". The most effective approach is generally learning how to identify and challenge distorted beliefs; changing your relationship with perfectionistic thoughts and focusing on values over flawlessness; exploring early life experiences and deep-rooted causes behind the need for control; develop
mindfulness-based approaches to help manage anxiety by staying present, reducing the need for constant, perfect self-presentation; and cultivating kindness toward oneself, especially when facing imperfections or failures.
11 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA
Julie Cochrane - Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) Therapist
Hypnotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, RTT-T, Rewind Therapy Practitioner, Integration Coaching
Perfectionism is not really about high standards. It is about safety. Somewhere along the way, the subconscious decided that being good enough, being beyond criticism or being in complete control was the way to be safe and accepted. That decision then becomes a daily tax: overworking, second-guessing, never quite arriving. RTT goes back to the moment that decision was made and updates the meaning underneath it. The standards can stay. What changes is the price you pay to meet them. Most of my perfectionist clients are women in leadership, founders or creatives. The work is online via Zoom and confidential.
6 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA (Online Only)
David Sudyka
Marriage and Family Therapist, Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA
Perfectionism can create constant pressure to get everything right, often leading to stress, procrastination, or feeling like nothing is ever good enough. It can be hard to relax or feel satisfied with what you accomplish. In therapy we will work on understanding where these patterns come from and how to shift them into something more balanced. The goal is to help you feel more flexible, more self accepting, and less weighed down by expectations.
4 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA (Online Only)
Amber McKinney-Morgan
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, LICSW
Perfectionism can look like high achievement on the outside but often feels like pressure, self-criticism, and never feeling “enough.” I help clients understand the roots of perfectionism and develop more flexible, compassionate ways of relating to themselves. The goal is to maintain excellence without sacrificing your well-being.
8 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA (Online Only)
Abigail (Abi) Zarate Ramsay
Pre-Licensed Professional, Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee, Professional Clinical Counselor Trainee
I help clients struggling with perfectionism, self-criticism, and burnout learn to set kinder expectations, tolerate mistakes, and build a more flexible, values-based sense of success.
0 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA (Online Only)
Melissa Berschauer
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
Holding yourself to impossible standards usually results in a lot of anxiety and procrastination rather than actual satisfaction. Feeling burned out is sometimes the next level of perfectionism. I help you untangle your worth from your productivity, allowing you to breathe a little easier without losing your drive.
14 Years Experience
Online in Sunnyvale, CA (Online Only)
Perfectionism therapists in Sunnyvale, California Statistics
Perfectionism therapists in Sunnyvale, California average 13 years of experience and charge around $203 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The most commonly treated issues are Perfectionism (100%), Trauma and PTSD (83%), and Anxiety or Fears (80%).
Average years in practice
13 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$203
Gender ID
| 71% |
Female |
|
| 15% |
Male |
|
| 7% |
Gender Fluid |
|
| 7% |
Non-Binary |
|
Session Type
| 55% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 45% |
Online Only |
|
Top Specialties
| 100% | Perfectionism |
| 83% | Trauma and PTSD |
| 80% | Anxiety or Fears |
| 78% | Life Transitions |
| 75% | Stress |
| 70% | Depression |
| 65% | Loss or Grief |