Perfectionism is a trans-diagnostic process that causes, maintains, and exacerbates a wide range of mental health disorders and can interfere with the effectiveness of therapy. Both client and therapist can struggle with unhelpful perfectionistic patterns such as setting very high standards, fear of failure, self-criticism, procrastination, and avoidance.
This introductory webinar will provide participants with a concise framework for understanding perfectionism from a functional, contextual, behavioural perspective, including how to recognise the five key processes of perfectionism. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their own unhelpful perfectionistic habits together with those of their clients, and explore how these habits may contribute to anxiety, stress, and burnout.
Finally, the presenter will describe a framework for treatment that addresses these processes by integrating acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with mindfulness and self-compassion. Participants will leave the workshop with an understanding of how building psychological flexibility and developing self-compassion can help them, and their clients, live their best (‘imperfect’) lives.