Using CBT or ACT for Overcoming Perfectionism

Perfectionism impacts your life in many ways.

When you struggle with perfectionism it can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed because of all the mental hoops you might jump through.

Perfectionism can also leave you doubting yourself and your abilities. Producing a constant need to work harder to prove yourself to others and satisfying your own inner critic telling you to do more and be better. Often this can lead to imposter syndrome.

In the last part of this 3 part blog series on perfectionism, I think it is important to address 2 different therapy styles for perfectionism treatment, CBT vs. ACT. If you want to check out the other blog posts in this series, click the links below.

3 Ways Perfectionism Can Hold You Back

4 Tips to Help Overcome Perfectionism

I am a therapist for perfectionism in Wilmington, NC and specialize in providing anxiety counseling for women in Wilmington, NC. I also provide therapy for imposter syndrome and burnout counseling.

I provide online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in North Carolina and Maryland.

If you are ready to treatment for perfectionism, click the button below and online schedule your free 15 minute consultation to get started in therapy with me.

I’m Ready to Overcome Perfectionism

Keep reading to learn more about therapy for perfectionism.

Using CBT for Perfectionism Treatment

Cognitive behavioral therapy can be really helpful for treating anxiety and perfectionism. CBT has been around for a long time in the therapy world and is an evidenced based practice. Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered a gold standard in therapy but that does not mean it is the best model of treatment for everyone.

CBT focuses on how thoughts impact feelings and behaviors and then work to challenge and restructure thought patterns. Sometimes these thoughts are caused from core belief system. Often our core beliefs have impacted how we respond to self, others, and the world.

For example, often time perfectionists tend to have a very black and white thought process and this can keep you stuck in life and make life rigid. Using CBT, the client and therapist would work to deconstruct these cognitive distortions and find a healthier balance.

CBT also incorporates a lot of skill training to help manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors too.

Because anxiety and perfectionism are so closely linked, check out this blog post about using CBT for anxiety.

Click the link for a more in-depth look at using CBT therapy in Wilmington, NC

Using ACT for Perfectionism Treatment

Acceptance and commitment therapy is my preferred therapy model to use. It is a newer but still evidenced based therapy model. ACT focuses on the present and is a very mindfulness based therapy model. It is also a very active form of therapy requiring clients to be active in working to make changes in their life.

ACT places a lot of emphasis on values and living life in according to those values. Acceptance and commitment therapy also places emphasis on learning how to change the relationship you have with thoughts and feelings rather than work to constantly challenge the thoughts and feelings that are showing up.

Like CBT, ACT also incorporates a lot of skills training using mindfulness exercises, goal setting, and problem solving skills.

You can check out these other two helpful blog posts for more information on ACT.

Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Helpful?

ACT Therapy in Wilmington, NC

CBT or ACT: Which One is Better for Perfectionism Treatment?

In this situation, there is no right or wrong or good versus bad.

Both therapy models are really useful, helpful, and have some similarities. And there are quite a few differences too.

Do some research and ask some questions. Find a therapist for perfectionism and request a consultation. Most therapists don’t mind this at all because we want to be good fits for our clients.

Overcome Perfectionism and Start Therapy for Perfectionism in Wilmington, NC

You are tired of feeling frustrated and overwhelmed because of the perfectionism. Keeping up with the demands or having parts of your life impacted by perfectionism is no longer acceptable to you. Thankfully, you can get support to overcome perfectionism.

Follow these 4 simple steps to get help today for perfectionism and get started in therapy for perfectionism at Calm Waters Counseling.

Click the button below to online schedule for your 15 minute consultation with me!
Complete the brief questionnaire sent to your email before the consult
Meet your caring therapist
Start living a life you enjoy

Schedule My Free 15 Minute Consultation

Online Therapy for Perfectionism in Wilmington, NC

My Wilmington, NC online counseling practice offers therapy for high achieving women experiencing anxiety. I provide anxiety treatment as well as therapy for perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and burnout counseling.

I offer online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy appointments for North Carolina residents. Click the link below to learn more about online therapy in North Carolina.

Online therapy in North Carolina

Online Treatment for Perfectionism in Maryland

Although I am currently located in Wilmington, NC, I am licensed to provide therapy to Maryland residents. I am from Frederick, MD and lived in MD almost all my life until 2019 when I moved to North Carolina.