Therapy for Perfectionists and People Pleasers
You don’t have to
perform or be responsible for another person here.
In therapy, you can fully express your frustrations, shame, challenges, and expectations.
Your needs take center stage.
This fact alone can be transformational.
Perfectionist and
High Achievers…
Perfectionists often feel shame when they do not meet their own impossible expectations. They sense that their value comes from producing exceptional results. Perfectionists come to therapy to “fix” themselves because they think surely they can figure out how to do it all.
People Pleasers
People pleasers give and give of themselves. They put their own needs last and struggle to ask for help. People pleasers are on high alert monitoring every else’s moods and they are devastated if someone is mad at them. They feel that their value comes exclusively from being useful to others.
Perfectionist and people-pleasers often need the context of therapy to feel they have permission to focus on themselves for an hour.
Reconstruct Your Life
There are moments in life when something stops working but nothing new has fully taken its place yet.
You might feel tired of repeating the same patterns in relationships. You might be questioning roles you’ve always inhabited, or realizing that the life you’ve built no longer feels like your own.
I work with people who are in the process of rethinking their lives. That might include exploring new ways of relating, redefining boundaries, or ending people-pleasing behaviors. This phase can feel uncertain, disorienting, and even isolating—but it can also be a powerful opportunity to build something more aligned.
In our work together, we’ll slow things down enough to understand what’s no longer working, where those patterns come from, and what it might look like to move forward in a way that feels more honest and sustainable.
“You don’t need to be perfect in relationships…
…and when you stop expecting perfection from yourself, you can stop expecting it from others. We’re all going to mess up, say things we didn’t mean, misunderstand each other’s needs, miscommunicate our wants. How we repair those moments is what makes relationships even closer.”
-Meg Josephson author of “Are You Mad at Me?”
Frequently
Asked Questions
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Friends can provide support and encouragement. Therapy offers a dedicated space focused entirely on you, where you can explore patterns, underlying causes, and obstacles that may be difficult for you to recognize on your own or with a friend. My role is not to give simple advice, but to help you better understand yourself and create meaningful change.
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No. You don’t need to have the right words or know where to start. We’ll work together to figure out what’s bringing you in and what you hope will be different.
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Not at all. Many people seek therapy because they’re functioning well in most areas of life but feel stuck, disconnected, overwhelmed, and dissatisfied. Therapy isn’t just for crises, it’s an also a place to gain insight, strengthen relationships, and build a more fulfilling life.
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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.
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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.
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My approach is warm, collaborative, direct, and depth-oriented. I help you explore patterns and underlying experiences. I do not just focus on symptom management.
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Carley Irwin, LPC
License #C.2506790Supervisor
Julie Labanz LPCC-S, CST-S
Ohio License #E2102378
Feel free to book a consultation to ask further questions before jumping into therapy. Consultations are a free resource I offer to ensure that you feel I’m a good therapist for you.
My approach is compassionate but direct. The focus of therapy centers around your needs and goals.
Other Specializations
In person sessions available
Conveniently located office
Plenty of off-street parking
ADA accessible building
Book a 15 Minute Consultation
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For all other questions please use this form