Perfectionism in Perspective

This programme is designed to help you understand what is helpful and unhelpful about being a perfectionist.  The goal is not for you to give up your high standards altogether but to learn to pursue healthy high standards rather than unrelenting high standards that negatively impact your life. The Programme is organised into modules that are designed to be worked through in sequence. We recommend that you complete one module before going on to the next. Each module includes information, worksheets, and suggested exercises or activities.

Programme Modules:

Module 1 – What is perfectionism?
In this module we will define perfectionism, identifying both the helpful and the unhelpful aspects of being a perfectionist, and identifying in what ways you might be a perfectionist.

Module 2 – Understanding perfectionism
In this module we will look at the underlying reasons for perfectionism.

Module 3 – What keeps perfectionism going?
In this module, we will explore what keeps perfectionism going and why it is so difficult to let go of high standards, even when pursuit of these standards has negative consequences for you.

Module 4 – Changing perfectionism
In this module, we will be helping you weigh up the costs and benefits of staying the same and the costs and benefits of changing your perfectionism. We will also be telling you what will be involved if you decide to change your perfectionism. 

Module 5 – Reducing my perfectionist behaviour
In this module we will introduce some strategies for reducing perfectionism behaviours and we will encourage you to conduct some experiments to test out your beliefs and fears.

Module 6 – Challenging my perfectionist thinking
In this module we will be looking at challenging and changing the thoughts that keep your perfectionism going. We will be introducing strategies to identify and challenge your perfectionism thinking.

Module 7 – Adjusting unhelpful rules and assumptions
In this module we will focus on the unhelpful rules and assumptions that keep you caught in the vicious cycle of perfectionism.

Module 8 – Re-evaluating the importance of achieving
In this module we will take a step back and look at the impact of perfectionism on your life. We will examine the tendency to over-evaluate the importance of achieving your unrelenting standards and offer you some strategies to create a more balanced life and a more balanced basis for judging your self-worth. We will then be looking at another way of thinking about perfectionism: as an overarching set of beliefs, or a mindset.

Module 9 – Putting it all together
In this module we will put together all you have learned, so that you have a clear ‘road map’ of how to continue keeping your perfectionism in perspective.