Therapy for Anxiety & Perfectionism in Indianapolis & Across IN, MA, & NY.
You deserve to enjoy your life—not just get through it.
You’re tired of your mind constantly running in circles, trying to plan, predict, and perfect.
But you worry everything might fall apart if you slow down.
For as long as you can remember, it’s been your responsibility to put out fires and handle crises. It seems like there’s always something to prepare for, improve, or get ahead of. You hold yourself to high standards and tell yourself that being vigilant, productive, and hard on yourself is what has kept you afloat this far. Even when you’re doing well, there’s a sense that you could be doing more or doing better.
Perfectionism may have helped you achieve and stay on top of your never-ending to-do list, but it’s also made it difficult to ever feel relaxed or satisfied. Mistakes feel unacceptable, and rest often comes with guilt rather than relief. And when you notice how the people around you benefit from your going above and beyond, resentment bubbles up and you wonder if anyone will ever reciprocate your efforts. You want off the hamster wheel of worry and pressure, but have no idea what life would look like without it.
Your days are ruled by...
Physical anxiety that shows up as tightness in your shoulders, neck, and chest.
A lack of restful sleep because of racing thoughts or lying awake replaying the day.
The belief that once things are “just a little more under control,” you’ll finally feel okay.
Discomfort with quiet moments, as if slowing down leaves too much room for worry.
Fear that easing up will mean you’re careless, complacent, or somehow letting everyone down.
Not knowing who you are without the perfectionism that has shaped your identity.
HOW I CAN HELP
Together, we’ll find clarity about what matters and create a life you can be present for.
Our work will begin by slowing things down enough to understand how anxiety and perfectionism have been operating together in your life. Slowing down in therapy means taking a closer look at the moments in our conversation when something spikes—maybe you tense up, express resistance, or try to gloss over something important—and staying there long enough to understand what’s driving it. We pause the reflex to problem-solve just long enough to ask more useful questions: “What am I reacting to right now?” “What am I telling myself?” “What does my body feel in this moment?” The answers to these questions can point us toward what’s happening on a deeper level.
We’ll look at where the patterns you’re noticing originated, including family influences and broader societal messages, and how being future-focused and highly productive may have been reinforced for you over time. The goal is to shift from the inclination to blame yourself to understanding why “just getting over it” can feel so hard.
In sessions, we’ll practice ways to cope with the physical experience of anxiety, such as deep breathing and relaxation strategies. We may experiment with approaching things differently, gradually introducing things like setting boundaries or saying “no” to help you learn that you can tolerate discomfort when it’s in service of what really matters to you. Throughout, we’ll come back to your personal core values as a compass—helping you make choices based on what you want to move toward, rather than what anxiety is telling you to avoid.
You don’t have to earn rest or support.
Taking a step back can actually be the first step toward living the life you want.
What we’ll work on
Specialized therapy for anxiety & perfectionism can help you...
Feel more capable and steady when anxiety shows up, instead of immediately trying to outrun or eliminate it.
Step off the hamster wheel of constant striving, performing, and self-monitoring.
Respond to anxious thoughts with more flexibility, rather than getting stuck in rigid, worst-case scenario thought loops.
Trust that you can tolerate discomfort without it derailing your life or your goals.
Make choices based on what matters to you, not just what keeps anxiety quiet in the moment.
Change is possible.
Give yourself some space to breathe.
Questions?
FAQs
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For many people, perfectionism develops as a way to manage anxiety: staying busy, setting high standards, and always looking ahead can feel protective. Over time, though, this often leads to constant worry, exhaustion, and difficulty slowing down or enjoying life. Therapy can help you understand this cycle and begin to step out of it.
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Partially, but we’ll also look for new insights as well. We’ll work to understand where your anxiety and perfectionism originated while also practicing tools that help you cope in the moment. The goal is meaningful change that lasts, not just short-term relief.
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My work is integrative and tailored to you, drawing from approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and skills from DBT when helpful. We’ll focus on understanding where anxiety and perfectionism came from, while also practicing tools to help you cope with worry, physical anxiety symptoms, and rigid thinking.
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Therapy isn’t about eliminating anxiety entirely—that wouldn’t be realistic or necessary, as anxiety can be a useful signal when our nervous systems aren’t constantly overloaded with it. Instead, we’ll work on changing your relationship with anxiety so it no longer controls your decisions or limits your life. Through this work, you can feel more capable, grounded, and confident, even when anxiety still shows up from time to time.