Perfectionism therapists in Salinas, CA
Browse Perfectionism therapists in Salinas, California. Compare credentials, specialties and therapeutic approach. Contact a therapist to learn more.
The Connection Clinic
Marriage and Family Therapist
We assist individuals struggling with perfectionism by helping them cultivate self-compassion and realistic expectations. Our goal is to allow for healthier living and greater life satisfaction.
9 Years Experience
Online in Salinas, CA (Online Only)
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 Salinas, CA
Alexis Cabrera
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPCC, LMHC, LPC
I am engaged and alert with my clients. I support your growth while Frustrating your defenses- I work to confront my clients in their blind spots, because (as a New Yorker) I understand that speaking from a place of love may not always mean people-pleasing. But with the warmth of my California Licensure (c;) I work to be fluid and flexible, using somatic interventions to develop and cathart Embodied Trauma. Sometimes the history lives in the present.
11 Years Experience
Online in Salinas, CA
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 Salinas, CA (Online Only)
Monica M. Huston
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
Perfectionism often develops as a way to manage anxiety, self-worth, and fear of failure. While it can lead to high achievement, it can also create pressure, rigidity, and dissatisfaction. I help individuals understand the underlying drivers of perfectionism and develop more flexible, balanced ways of approaching themselves and their work.
9 Years Experience
Online in Salinas, CA
Salinas is the county seat of Monterey County and the birthplace of John Steinbeck, a city with a majority Latino population deeply rooted in the agricultural economy of the Salinas Valley, and a mental health landscape shaped by the significant challenges of agricultural labor, immigration stress, gang violence in some neighborhoods, and limited access to culturally and linguistically appropriate care. Spanish-language therapy is essential here, and the demand for bilingual practitioners who understand the specific stressors of farmworker and immigrant community life significantly outpaces supply. Natividad Medical Center, a county-run hospital, provides some behavioral health services, and community health organizations supplement what is a relatively limited private therapy sector. Common therapy concerns include trauma, family separation stress, anxiety, depression, and the intergenerational challenges faced by a community navigating the intersection of a demanding agricultural economy and evolving cultural identity.
Perfectionism therapists in Salinas, CA Statistics
Perfectionism therapists in Salinas, CA average 13 years of experience and charge around $214 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (67%), Somatic Therapy (46%), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (44%).
Average years in practice
13 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$214
Accept insurance
42%
Offer sliding scale
42%
Gender ID
| 71% |
Female |
|
| 21% |
Male |
|
| 5% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 3% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 56% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 44% |
Online Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 67% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 46% | Somatic Therapy |
| 44% | Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) |
| 40% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 38% | Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) |
| 35% | Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) |
| 33% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
Ages Served
| 100% | Adult |
| 69% | Young Adult |
| 60% | Senior |
| 40% | Teen |
| 23% | Children |
Client Focus
| 69% | Women |
| 54% | LGBTQ+ |
| 38% | Asian |
| 37% | Hispanic / Latino |
| 35% | Men |