Perfectionism Therapy in Utah County
Keep your high standards. Let go of the constant pressure, self-criticism, and fear of falling short. Licensed therapists in Orem, Pleasant Grove, and online.
- Kids, teens & adults
- Most major insurance accepted
- In person or online
Does this sound familiar?
- “It’s not good enough yet.”
- “If I’m not perfect, I’m failing.”
- “Everyone else has it together.”
- “I’ll rest once everything is done.”
- “What will people think?”
You’re not alone, and it’s treatable.
High Standards Are Good. Never Feeling Good Enough Isn’t.
Perfectionism can look like ambition from the outside: the straight-A student, the organized parent, the dependable employee, the person who always follows through. On the inside, it often feels like constant pressure, harsh self-criticism, and a fear that one mistake will undo everything.
Here in Utah County, that pressure can be amplified. Many of us grow up around strong expectations for achievement, family, service, and doing things the “right” way. Those values can be a real strength, and they can also quietly become a standard no one could meet. Many of our clients tell us they don’t want to give up their values. They want to stop feeling like they’re always falling short.
Perfectionism is treatable. Therapy helps you keep what’s good about your high standards and loosen the parts that cost you your peace, your relationships, and your health.
Perfectionism isn’t about being perfect. It’s about believing you have to be perfect to be okay.
What Perfectionism Can Look Like
Perfectionism shows up differently for everyone. You may recognize yourself in a few of these.
Harsh self-criticism
A running inner commentary that zeroes in on what you got wrong and skips what you got right.
All-or-nothing thinking
If it isn’t perfect, it’s a failure. There’s little room for “good enough.”
Procrastination & avoidance
Putting things off because you can’t start until you know you can do it flawlessly.
Over-preparing & overworking
Spending hours on tasks that could take minutes, and struggling to call anything finished.
Fear of mistakes & judgment
Worrying about disappointing people or being seen as flawed, even by people who care about you.
Trouble resting
Rest feels undeserved until everything is done, and everything is never done.
Difficulty letting go of control
Feeling like you have to do it yourself to get it right, and struggling to delegate or ask for help.
Constant comparison
Measuring your behind-the-scenes against everyone else’s highlight reel, online and off.
Stress that builds up
Tension, irritability, fatigue, anxiety, or low mood that creeps up over time.
Where Perfectionism Shows Up
Perfectionism can follow you into every part of life. We help across all of them.
Students & teens
Grades, scholarships, college applications, and pressure to have a plan can make school feel like one long performance review. We help students work hard without tying their worth to results.
Parents
Trying to do it all, and do it all well, is exhausting. We help you let go of impossible standards for yourself and your family, and make room for the parent you actually want to be.
Professionals
Perfectionism can look like reliability until it leads to burnout, overwork, or fear of taking risks. We help you keep your standards while easing the pressure.
Athletes & performers
When the pressure is on the field, the stage, or in front of an audience, perfectionism can make it harder to perform. Explore our sports psychology and performance psychology services.
Couples & families
High standards can spill into relationships, with a partner or with kids, and create distance or conflict. Couples counseling and family therapy can help everyone relax into being real.
Faith & community
Many people in Utah County are motivated by faith, family, and service. Those are real strengths. For some, the drive to do everything right becomes constant guilt about falling short. We respect your beliefs and help you keep your values while easing harsh self-judgment.
How Therapy Helps
Our therapists use evidence-based approaches to ease perfectionism. The mix depends on you and on your therapist’s training.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Spot all-or-nothing thinking and unrealistic “shoulds,” test them against reality, and set standards that work for you. Learn about CBT.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Loosen the grip of self-critical thoughts and take action on what matters, even when things aren’t perfect. Learn about ACT.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Build skills for handling intense emotions, easing shame, and holding both “I want to grow” and “I’m okay as I am.” Learn about DBT.
Self-compassion skills
Learn to treat yourself the way you would treat someone you care about, without giving up your goals.
Small experiments in “good enough”
Try imperfect on purpose in low-stakes ways, then notice what actually happens. It’s often much less scary than predicted.
Mindfulness
Notice the critic without obeying it, and come back to the present when your mind races ahead. Explore mindfulness.
What Working Together Looks Like
Every person’s pace is different, but therapy for perfectionism often follows this path.
Start with an honest conversation
Your therapist listens to how perfectionism shows up in your life, what it costs you, and what you hope will change.
Understand where it comes from
Together you explore what perfectionism protects you from, where the rules came from, and how they got so strict.
Build new skills
You practice flexible thinking, self-compassion, and setting standards that fit your real life and values.
Practice “good enough”
You try small, planned experiments with imperfection and build confidence that you can handle mistakes.
Keep the gains
You strengthen what’s working, plan for stressful seasons, and learn to catch old patterns early.
Meet the Therapists Who Can Help
Our therapists work with perfectionism and the anxiety, depression, and burnout that often come with it. Choose by location, or call us and we’ll help match you.
20 therapists
Coming SoonDanny Gelalich
CMHC
Pleasant Grove · Orem · Virtual
Meet Danny →
Ashley Regulski
ACMHC
Pleasant Grove · Orem · Virtual
Meet Ashley →
Celeste Webster
CSW
Orem · Virtual
Meet Celeste →
Maria Soberon
AMFT
Virtual
English / Spanish
Meet Maria →
Kelsey Tuia
AMFT
Orem · Virtual
Meet Kelsey →
Morgan Lyons
CSW
Pleasant Grove · Orem · Virtual
Meet Morgan →
Hannah Wolverton
LMFT
Orem · Virtual
Meet Hannah →
Andria Beckham
ACMHC
Orem · Virtual
Meet Andria →
McKenzie Bolen
CSW
Virtual
Meet McKenzie →
Michaella DiRegolo
AMFT
Pleasant Grove · Virtual
Meet Michaella →
Sierra Livermore
AMFT
Orem · Virtual
Meet Sierra →
Arianna Fuller
CSW
Pleasant Grove · Orem · Virtual
Meet Arianna →
Brennan Bellon
ACMHC
Pleasant Grove · Virtual
Meet Brennan →
Alexis Acosta
ACMHC
Pleasant Grove · Virtual
English / Spanish
Meet Alexis →
Mariah Frias
LCSW
Pleasant Grove · Virtual
Meet Mariah →
Alisha Delacruz
LCSW
Pleasant Grove · Virtual
Meet Alisha →
Shannon Aaron
LCSW
Pleasant Grove · Virtual
Meet Shannon →
Ivy Christiansen
LMFT
Pleasant Grove · Virtual
Meet Ivy →
Jeanna Cunningham
PhD, CMHC
Pleasant Grove · Virtual
Meet Jeanna →
Samuel Major
PhD, LMFT
Pleasant Grove · Virtual
Meet Samuel →
Not sure who to choose? Call (801) 410-0542 or schedule online, and our team will help you find a good fit. See all therapist profiles →
Perfectionism and anxiety often go together.
If worry is a big part of your story, our anxiety therapy page explains how we help.
Insurance & Payment
We accept most major insurance plans, including Select Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and others. Perfectionism often comes with anxiety, depression, or burnout, and insurance typically covers therapy for those concerns. Coverage varies by plan and by the reason for care.
Our team will verify your benefits and talk through your options, including self-pay, before your first appointment. Check your coverage →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is perfectionism a mental health disorder?
Perfectionism isn’t a diagnosis on its own, but it’s closely linked to anxiety, depression, OCD, and burnout. You don’t need a diagnosis to get help. If perfectionism is affecting your peace, your relationships, or your health, therapy can help.
Is perfectionism the same as OCD or anxiety?
They overlap but aren’t identical. Perfectionism is a pattern of very high standards and harsh self-judgment. Anxiety involves excessive worry, and OCD involves intrusive thoughts and rituals, sometimes centered on doing things “right.” Your therapist can help sort out what’s going on. Learn more about anxiety therapy.
Will therapy make me lose my drive?
No. The goal isn’t lower standards or less ambition. It’s standards that motivate you instead of punish you. Many people find they keep their drive and gain more energy, focus, and enjoyment.
Can therapy really change perfectionism?
Yes. Perfectionism is a learned pattern, and patterns can change. Approaches like CBT and ACT, along with self-compassion skills, help people ease self-criticism and build healthier standards. How long it takes depends on you and your goals.
Will my therapist respect my faith and values?
Yes. You’re welcome to bring your faith and values into therapy, and our therapists will respect them. The goal is to keep what matters to you while easing the guilt and harsh self-judgment that can come with it.
Can kids and teens get help with perfectionism?
Yes. Several of our therapists work with children and teens, and perfectionism is common in high-achieving students. Parents are involved in getting started, and we talk with families about how to support without adding pressure.
How do I choose a therapist?
Browse the profiles above and filter by location, or call us at (801) 410-0542 and our team will help match you with a therapist who fits. If the first fit isn’t right, let us know and we’ll help you find a better one.
Do you offer online therapy?
Yes. Many of our therapists offer secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth therapy anywhere in Utah, and one therapist sees clients online only. In-person sessions are available in Orem and Pleasant Grove.
Is therapy for perfectionism covered by insurance?
Insurance typically covers therapy for conditions like anxiety, depression, and OCD, which often go hand in hand with perfectionism. Perfectionism alone isn’t a diagnosis, so coverage depends on your plan and the reason for care. We accept most major insurance plans, and our team will verify your benefits and talk through options, including self-pay, before your first appointment. Verify your coverage here.
Ready to Ease the Pressure?
You don’t have to be perfect to ask for help, and you don’t need to have it all figured out to start. Schedule an appointment in Orem, Pleasant Grove, or online.
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