You can function well and still feel deeply anxious.
You might be productive, reliable, and capable — yet constantly tense inside.
Your mind doesn’t shut off. Mistakes feel heavier than they “should.” Rest feels earned, not allowed.
Perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety don’t usually look like panic.
They look like pressure.
Common experiences I hear from clients include:
• Feeling behind despite doing a lot
• Overthinking decisions long after they’re made
• A constant sense of “I should be doing better”
• Difficulty relaxing without guilt
• Self-criticism that doesn’t turn off, even after success
You may look calm on the outside — but internally, it feels relentless.
Perfectionism is often an attempt to feel safe, acceptable, or in control.
High-functioning anxiety isn’t a lack of competence — it’s too much responsibility turned inward.
Over time, this can lead to:
• burnout
• emotional numbness
• resentment toward yourself
• feeling disconnected from enjoyment
Nothing is “wrong” with you.
Your nervous system learned a strategy that worked — until it didn’t.
Therapy isn’t about lowering your standards or taking away what makes you capable.
It’s about:
• loosening the rules that say you must always perform
• changing the relationship you have with your thoughts
• learning to tolerate imperfection without self-punishment
• separating your worth from outcomes
I use a CBT-informed, rational, and human approach — focused on helping you respond differently to pressure, not eliminate it entirely.
This isn’t:
• productivity coaching
• positive-thinking exercises
• “just relax” advice
We work on:
• how you evaluate yourself
• how rigid expectations fuel anxiety
• how to live well without constantly proving yourself
The goal isn’t to become less capable —
it’s to become less at war with yourself.
This work may be a good fit if you:
• are outwardly functioning but inwardly overwhelmed
• struggle with self-criticism or perfectionism
• want practical tools and deeper perspective
• are tired of feeling like rest has to be earned
You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy.
You just need to be ready for things to feel different.
Start Therapy for Perfectionism & High-Functioning Anxiety
If you’re looking for therapy on Long Island and this resonates, you’re welcome to reach out.
📍 Long Island, NY
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You don’t have to stop being capable to feel okay being human.
