Perfectionism therapists in Lancaster, CA
Browse Perfectionism therapists in Lancaster, California. Compare credentials, specialties and therapeutic approach. Contact a therapist to learn more.
Perfectionism
Sarah Jane Thomas
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
Perfectionism keeps you stuck in all-or-nothing thinking, where everything has to be perfect or it feels like a total failure. This mindset makes it really hard to exist in the grey area where life actually happens. We will explore where those rigid standards came from and practice getting comfortable with the messiness of being human instead of striving for unattainable perfection. Our work is about reminding you that you matter even when you are not producing, achieving, or grinding your way through the day.
11 Years Experience
Online in Lancaster, CA (Online Only)
Perfectionism
PBA Psychology Group, Inc.
Psychologist, Clinical and Forensic Psychology
Perfectionism makes demands on the self that can be overwhelming and paralyzing. Helping you develop insight into these struggles is the work that we do. To be released from these demands and the underlying fears that drive them will bring relief.
30 Years Experience
Online in Lancaster, CA
Perfectionism
Melanie Simms
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
I believe that self-compassion is the antidote for perfectionism. I work with clients to heal from early traumatic experiences that may have led to the development of perfectionism as a coping mechanism. I help clients develop their overall feeling of self-worth and treat themselves with greater compassion to reduce perfectionistic tendencies.
11 Years Experience
Online in Lancaster, CA
Perfectionism
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 Lancaster, CA (Online Only)
Perfectionism
Shohreh ("Sho-ray") Schmuecker
Marriage and Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
The parts of you that strive for perfection may have learned that having this drive can come with real advantages. The parts of you that try to be perfect may encourage you to do your very best and support you in striving for excellence. However, the relentless push for perfectionism can give you very little space for the mistakes and limitations that come with being human. Over time, the self-criticism and internal pressure tied to inflexible expectations can feel exhausting.
In our sessions together, we can work together to understand the parts of you that are working so very hard. We can explore how they came to be, how they have been helpful and if they are still serving you in the same ways they once were. Supporting you to understand what you would like moving forward and helping you find a more balance way.
12 Years Experience
Online in Lancaster, CA
Lancaster is the largest city of the Antelope Valley, a high-desert community north of Los Angeles shaped by aerospace employment tied to Edwards Air Force Base and the region's flight-test heritage, alongside families drawn by affordability. Geographic isolation from the LA basin, extreme summer heat, and long commutes for many workers contribute to stress, and the valley has historically had fewer providers than its population needs. Antelope Valley Medical Center and regional clinics anchor care, with telehealth increasingly bridging the distance to LA's larger therapy market.
Perfectionism therapists in Lancaster, CA Statistics
Perfectionism therapists in Lancaster, CA average 13 years of experience and charge around $215 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (69%), Somatic Therapy (47%), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (43%).
Average years in practice
13 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$215
Accept insurance
43%
Offer sliding scale
41%
Gender ID
| 70% |
Female |
|
| 21% |
Male |
|
| 5% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 4% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 57% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 43% |
Online Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 69% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 47% | Somatic Therapy |
| 43% | Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) |
| 41% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 37% | Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) |
| 35% | Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) |
| 33% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
Ages Served
| 100% | Adult |
| 69% | Young Adult |
| 59% | Senior |
| 41% | Teen |
| 24% | Children |
Client Focus
| 69% | Women |
| 53% | LGBTQ+ |
| 37% | Asian |
| 35% | Hispanic / Latino |
| 33% | Men |