Specialties:
Perfectionism &
Self-Criticism
Online Therapy for Perfectionism & Self-Criticism in Maryland
If you’ve ever felt your mind racing for no clear reason, your chest tightening before a simple conversation, or a constant hum of worry that makes even small decisions feel impossible, you know how overwhelming it can be. It’s exhausting, isolating, and can start to feel like it’s running your life rather than the other way around. You may notice yourself avoiding situations, overthinking every choice, or feeling stuck in a cycle of “what ifs” that never ends.
Anxiety shows up differently for everyone. Sometimes it comes as tension, irritability, or sleepless nights. Sometimes as avoidance, perfectionism, or the feeling that you’re constantly on edge. You might know that these patterns aren’t serving you, but breaking free feels impossible when your mind keeps pulling you back into fear and overthinking.
This is where support can make a real difference. Together, we help you identify the triggers and thought patterns that fuel anxiety, explore the physical and emotional signals you might be overlooking, and develop strategies to respond instead of react. Through guidance that is practical, personalized, and grounded in real-world experience, you will learn not to eliminate anxiety entirely, but to stop letting it control your life.
FAQ’s About Perfectionism & Self-Criticism
What Perfectionism and Self-Criticism Are
Perfectionism and self-criticism often come from a place of wanting to get things right, avoid mistakes, or meet expectations that feel non-negotiable. Over time, this constant pressure can turn into a cycle of fear, overthinking, and never feeling “good enough.” You may work harder, push yourself further, and still feel like you missed the mark. When perfectionism and self-criticism take over, they limit your confidence, your energy, and your ability to enjoy your accomplishments.
How Perfectionism and Self-Criticism Feel In Real Life
These patterns show up differently for everyone. They can feel like:
Internal pressure
The sense that you must perform perfectly. Worry that others will judge you. A feeling that one mistake could ruin everything.
Emotional strain
Guilt when you rest. Shame when things do not go exactly as planned. Difficulty celebrating wins because you see what could have been better.
Mental overload
Overthinking every choice. Replaying conversations. Constant doubt about whether you said or did the right thing. A loud inner voice that points out flaws.
Everyday patterns
Procrastinating because starting feels too risky. Redoing work repeatedly. Avoiding tasks because you fear disappointing someone. Feeling tense even when you succeed because it never feels like enough.
If any of these feel familiar, you are not alone. Perfectionism and self-criticism often begin as ways to stay safe or meet expectations, not as personal flaws.
Why Perfectionism and Self-Criticism Happen
These patterns usually develop from a mix of early experiences, high expectations, and environments where mistakes were not safe. Your mind learns to rely on pressure and self-correction as protection. Over time, this becomes a cycle that feels normal even when it is exhausting. Understanding why this happens creates room for compassion instead of self-blame.
How We Treat Perfectionism and Self-Criticism Together
Therapy helps you understand where these patterns come from and how to shift them without losing your drive or values. Together we:
Build awareness
Identify the rules and stories you have carried that shape how you treat yourself.
Regulate your nervous system
Learn skills to calm the internal pressure that keeps you on high alert.
Shift thought patterns
Work with your inner critic so it becomes calmer and more balanced instead of harsh and punishing.
Create healthier expectations
Explore what is actually important to you and what pressures no longer serve you.
Strengthen self-worth
Develop a steadier sense of confidence that does not depend on perfection or constant achievement.
The goal is not to remove your ambition or your care for quality. It is to help you move through your life with more ease, less pressure, and a kinder internal voice. With support, you can step out of the cycle of perfectionism and feel more grounded, capable, and at peace with yourself.