CBT for Perfectionism in Manchester.

Perfectionism is remarkably common, particularly among successful people.  By being driven to succeed and do well, success often comes in its wake.  But there is a paradox here.  If you become too attached to perfection, you actually put a ceiling on your level of achievement.  It’s the 20/80 rule:  the first 20% of our efforts creates the first 80% of our results.  What perfectionists end up doing is spending the remaining 80% of their time chasing diminishing marginal returns.

Psychological health, of course, is about choice.  Sometimes it may be appropriate to do a task perfectly.  What I notice with my perfectionist clients is that they have to do most things perfectly.  As a result they slow up their productivity, and by applying the same rules to others, end up having chaotic and quarrelsome relationships.

Is it time to get your perfectionism in balance?  If you feel I might be the therapist to help you, check my availability to see if it’s practical for us to meet.