Helping high achieving adults move beyond perfectionism, people-pleasing, and trauma into more connected, fulfilling relationships.

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therapy for perfectionism Akron Ohio



Carley Irwin (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor

Therapy for Perfectionism
and Relationships
in Akron Ohio

Individual &
Couples Therapy

In Person (Akron) and

Virtual Sessions (Ohio)

It takes great courage to make mistakes

~~

It takes great courage to make mistakes ~~

Masking Through Competence

High Achievers

  • You are the capable one and learned to be reliable early in life by holding things together

  • You are the main person managing households, emotions, and relationships

  • You’re great at problem solving (even if it’s not your problem)

  • You feel like you can’t rest or things will fall apart

  • You feel exhausted from managing everything

People-Pleasers

  • You sacrifice your own needs for everyone else’s

  • You struggle to understand or establish boundaries

  • It’s hard to make decisions on your own because you fear being judged

  • People call you their best friend but you feel like no one really knows you

  • You spend much of your time anticipating others’ needs

Relational Challenges

Relationships

  • Repeating the same patterns across relationships

  • Difficulty setting or maintaining boundaries

  • People-pleasing habits

  • Feeling responsible for
    others’ emotions

  • Conflict avoidance

  • Choosing unavailable or incompatible partners

  • Feeling like you’re “doing more” than the other person

  • Struggling to understand
    and communicate needs clearly

Intimacy

  • Struggling to open up or share what you really feel

  • Feeling safer being the “strong one” than being vulnerable

  • Overanalyzing interactions for fear of being too much/not enough

  • Finding yourself disconnected even in close relationships

  • Not trusting others to be able to hold space for your needs

  • Actively avoiding moments that might lead to emotional/physical intimacy

Treatment Specializations

Relationship Issues

Perfectionism

People Pleasing

Communication Skills

Low Self-Esteem

Life Transitions

Sexuality & Intimacy

Complex Trauma

LGBTQ+ Support

“It’s the relationship
that heals.”

- Irvin Yalom

couples therapy Akron Ohio

My approach to therapy is relational. The challenges my clients often face stem from a broken sense of safety and connection with others. This suffering is healed relationally by feeling cared for and through experiencing a sense of safety in relationship to others. Psychotherapist Patricia Young describes it best…

“to survive, a self disconnects from the source of pain and learns how to live in emotional isolation. The pain of broken relationships morphs into a lifelong pattern of disconnection from self and others.”

I show up as a real person in my work. I feel genuinely interested in understanding your ideas, personality, humor, and I believe that you benefit from me revealing my own humanity in return. Let’s be real, it’s hard to let go and show up authentically. Being messy feels messy. But it’s absolutely welcome and valued here.


Working with Me

On the outside, you look composed. On the inside, you’re overwhelmed, disconnected, or quietly unraveling and no one seems to notice because you’re so good at performing stability.

I work especially well with people navigating perfectionism, difficulty in relationships, blocks in practicing intimacy, and sexuality exploration. Many of my clients are discovering who they are beyond expectations, untangling performance pressure, deepening relationships, or healing from complex trauma.

Therapy with me is a space to slow down and hear your own voice. Together, we’ll explore what authenticity actually means for you, not what you’ve been told it should look like. We’ll gently examine the roles you’ve learned to play, the parts of you that feel hidden, and the patterns that are no longer working for you.

My approach is rooted in trauma-informed care and attachment theory. Through this lens, we explore the experiences that lead you to today's struggles. We will reimagine what balance could look like in your life; closeness and autonomy, safety and healthy risk, transparency and boundaries. Not perfection.
Not performance.

therapy for complex trauma Akron Ohio

Carley Irwin
Licensed Professional Counselor

Frequently
Asked Questions

I love talking with prospective clients or people wondering about the therapy process! It can be a leap to begin therapy. You are always welcome to use the contact form below to ask any additional questions!

  • My therapy practice is private-pay only and I do not accept insurance. Many clients choose private-pay therapy for greater privacy and personalized care. I can provide a superbill for possible out of network insurance reimbursement.

  • My approach is warm, collaborative, and depth-oriented. I help you explore patterns and underlying experiences. I do not just focus on symptom management.

  • I love working with couples. In my opinion, some of the best therapeutic work is done in couples therapy because we can address attachment wounds, communication blunders, and stuck places in real time together.

  • Absolutely! I have a charming and inviting office nestled in a century home which was converted into office spaces. My office is located in Highland Square in Akron Ohio. I am always able to see clients virtually as well. Clients must be Ohio residents.

  • Carley Irwin, LPC
    License #C.2506790

    Supervisor
    Julie Labanz LPCC-S, CST-S
    Ohio License #E2102378

Welcome to the Office

Therapy for perfectionism and anxiety Akron Ohio
Therapy for complex ptsd Ohio
Therapy for people pleasers Akron Ohio

Located in Akron, Ohio

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Contact Form

For all other questions please use this form