Perfectionism therapists in Abingdon, England
Browse Perfectionism therapists in Abingdon, England, United Kingdom. Compare credentials, specialties and therapeutic approach. Contact a therapist to learn more.
Perfectionism
Kevin Martin
Counsellor/Therapist, Psychotherapist Psychodynamic Analysis & Transactional Analysis, BACP, ITTA, EA
Perfectionism is a personality style and mindset characterised by striving for flawlessness, setting excessively high performance standards, and engaging in overly critical self-evaluation. While many praise it in professional and academic settings as a driver of success, clinical psychology views it not as a healthy pursuit of excellence but as a rigid, self-defeating trap rooted in fear of failure, judgment, or rejection.
Understanding the Difference: Perfectionism vs Healthy Striving
Healthy Striving: Focuses on personal growth, enjoys the learning process, feels satisfied with a job well done, and views mistakes as valuable feedback.
Perfectionism: Focuses on avoiding failure, measures self-worth entirely by achievements, views anything less than flawless as total failure, and is driven by intense anxiety.
Common Dimensions of Perfectionism
Self-Oriented Perfectionism: Imposing unrealistic standards and harsh self-criticism
Other-Oriented Perfectionism: Expecting flawlessness, high precision, and perfection from family members, friends, or colleagues.
Socially Prescribed Perfectionism: The belief that others (parents, bosses, society) expect perfection, and that acceptance and love depend on meeting those impossible expectations. (This dimension is most closely linked to anxiety, burnout, and depression.)
Common Behaviours & Signs
Procrastination & Paralysis: Delaying tasks because the fear of not doing them perfectly makes starting feel too overwhelming.
All-or-Nothing Thinking: Believing that if a project or performance isn't 100% successful, it isn't a complete failure (e.g., "If I get a B, I'm a 'total failure'"). Chronic Dissatisfaction: Inability to celebrate achievements. Once a goal is met, the perfectionist immediately moves the goalposts or focuses on minor flaws.
Hyper-Focus on Detail: Spending excessive time on minor elements of a task at the expense of the bigger picture, often leading to severe burnout.
Masking Mistakes: Going to extreme lengths to hide errors or imperfections out of fear of looking incompetent.
The Impact on Well-Being
While perfectionists often achieve external success, it comes at a high internal cost. Chronic perfectionism is strongly linked to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, chronic stress, relationship friction, and physical exhaustion.
Remember: Perfectionism tries to convince you that your worth depends on your output. Letting go of perfection doesn't mean lowering your standards; it means valuing your well-being, progress, and humanity as much as your achievements.
10 Years Experience
Online in Abingdon, England (Online Only)
Perfectionism
Marc Donegan, Psychotherapist
Registered Psychotherapist, Psychodynamic Analysis & Transactional Analysis, PACFA, BACP, ITTA, EATA, UKATA
Perfectionism often masquerades as high standards, but underneath it’s usually a fear-driven strategy for avoiding shame or criticism. I help clients trace where that pattern was learned and separate genuine excellence from the exhausting, anxious version that never feels like enough.
10 Years Experience
Online in Abingdon, England
Perfectionism
Therapy with Ben
Counsellor/Therapist, MBACP
Perfectionism can create relentless pressure, self-criticism and a sense that your efforts are never quite enough. Together, we can explore where these expectations may have developed, what they protect you from and how they affect your relationships, choices and wellbeing. The aim is not to lower your standards, but to develop a more flexible and compassionate relationship with yourself.
3 Years Experience
Online in Abingdon, England
Perfectionism
Julie Cochrane - Clinical Hypnotherapist, Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) Therapist, CCP
Hypnotherapist, CCHt, RTT-T, Rewind Therapy Practitioner, Integration Coach, Safe Conversations Facilitator
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 Abingdon, England (Online Only)
Perfectionism
Mariana Amat
Psychologist
I work with perfectionism as more than a behavioral pattern, exploring the deeper fears and self-demands that drive it. Together, we aim to soften rigid standards, reduce self-criticism, and develop a more sustainable and compassionate way of relating to achievement and self-worth.
11 Years Experience
Online in Abingdon, England
Perfectionism therapists in Abingdon, England Statistics
Perfectionism therapists in Abingdon, England average 11 years of experience and charge around ¤164 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (59%), Integrative Therapy (47%), and Somatic Therapy (41%).
Average years in practice
11 Years Experience
Average cost per session
¤164
Accept insurance
35%
Offer sliding scale
41%
Gender ID
| 71% |
Female |
|
| 29% |
Male |
|
Session Type
| 53% |
Online Only |
|
| 47% |
In Person and Online |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 59% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 47% | Integrative Therapy |
| 41% | Somatic Therapy |
| 35% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 35% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 35% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 29% | Internal Family Systems (IFS) |
Ages Served
| 100% | Adult |
| 65% | Young Adult |
| 41% | Senior |
| 29% | Teen |
| 18% | Children |
Client Focus
| 65% | Women |
| 47% | LGBTQ+ |
| 35% | Men |
| 29% | Persons with Disabilities |
| 24% | Black / African American |