The Perfectionist S Handbook

A guide for getting your perfectionism to work for you Is perfectionism a good thing or does it get in our way? In The Perfectionist's Handbook, clinical psychologist Jeff Szymanski helps readers navigate their way out of the "perfectionism paradox": if your intentions are good (wanting to excel) and the outcomes you want are reasonable (to feel competent and satisfied), why would perfectionism backfire and result in unhappiness and stress? Learn when perfectionism will pay off, and when and why it sabotages you. Specific strategies are outlined throughout the book to help readers transform their perfectionism from a liability to an asset. There is no reason to eliminate perfectionism altogether—instead, build on what's working and change what's not. The Perfectionist's Handbook helps readers to: Distinguish between intention and strategy as a way of improving outcomes Identify diminishing returns and how to redistribute time and resources Make the most of mistakes rather than being preoccupied with trying to avoid them Learn to focus on your "Top 10" list as a way of getting the most out of your life Access others more effectively as a way of improving performance Obtain more balance in their lives

From psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler, an invitation to every “recovering perfectionist” to challenge the way they look at perfectionism, and the way they look at themselves. We’ve been looking at perfectionism all wrong. As psychotherapist and former on-site therapist at Google Katherine Morgan Schafler argues in The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control, you don’t have to stop being a perfectionist to be healthy. For women who are sick of being given the generic advice to “find balance,” a new approach has arrived. Which of the five types of perfectionist are you? Classic, intense, Parisian, messy, or procrastinator? As you identify your unique perfectionist profile, you'll learn how to manage each form of perfectionism to work for you, not against you. Beyond managing it, you'll learn how to embrace and even enjoy your perfectionism. Yes, enjoy! Full of stories and brimming with humor, empathy, and depth, this book is a love letter to the ambitious, high achieving, full-of-life clients who filled the author’s private practice, and who changed her life. It’s a clarion call for all women to dare to want more without feeling greedy or ungrateful. Ultimately, this book will show you how to make the single greatest trade you’ll ever make in your life, which is to exchange superficial control for real power.

It’s hard for teens to be happy when they’ve created a very narrow window of what defines success. The goal of this helpful book is to encourage teens to maintain their desire to achieve without striving to always be perfect and to appreciate and love who they are just as they are, not for what they do or accomplish. Finding a balance between work and play is key. Challenging perfectionism is about the pursuit of happiness. When teens can recognize that perfectionism is a disadvantage, they can become motivated to do something about it. For many, it may just be shifting the perfectionism a bit to land in a more positive place. It might be about deciding when and where to be slightly perfectionistic, when and where they can let go of high standards and all-or-nothing thinking, and when it’s okay to simply do a “good enough” job on something.

Buy now to get the main key ideas from Katherine Morgan Schafler's The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control Perfectionism is not a negative trait to be eradicated; it is a powerful energy that can be harnessed for positive outcomes if understood correctly. In The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control (2023), Katherine Morgan Schafler draws from her experiences as a therapist and researcher to provide insights into how perfectionists can leverage their traits for personal growth rather than viewing them as flaws needing correction. She identifies five types of perfectionists, each with unique strengths and challenges. Schafler includes a quiz to determine which type of perfectionist you are and provides strategies to manage your traits effectively.

Perfectionism may seem like a worthy goal, but it’s actually a burden. When you believe you must be perfect, you live in constant fear of making mistakes. Most children don’t know what perfectionism is, yet many suffer from it. Nothing they do is ever good enough. School assignments are hard to start or hand in. Relationships are challenging, and self-esteem is low. Written to and for ages 9–13, this book helps kids understand how perfectionism hurts them and how to free themselves. Includes true-to-life vignettes, exercises, and a note to grown-ups.

"When I read this book, I was struck by how perfectionistic traits permeate the lives of many of our patients in ways I had not previously considered. Dr. Brustein has done a great service for the therapist in their treatment of many of the patients they will encounter. His text is very well organized and facilitated being able to compare and contrast different approaches to the treatment of perfectionism. The clinical examples provide clear applications of the research material which is described at the beginning of each chapter. Dr. Brustein clearly has a mastery of not only the dynamics of perfectionism, but various philosophical approaches to understanding and treating patients in general. He's a skilled and masterful therapist." Jacob Kader, PsyD Director of Psychology, Manhattan Psychiatric Center "Perfectionism is a prevalent issue that many of those I've treated have struggled with, to the point of serious impairment in daily functioning. This book is an excellent guide for any practitioner working with difficult perfectionist patients. It also provides rich case examples and applied theory that can be a useful tool for teaching purposes at any level." Rick Barnett, PsyD, LADC M.S. Clinical Psychopharmacology President, Vermont Psychological Association Compelling research has recently established the negative effects of perfectionism, yet until now, no serious texts have addressed the management of perfectionist traits as they arise in psychotherapy. This is the first professional volume to provide practical guidance in using psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapies to help clients who present maladaptive forms of perfectionism. The book uses an integrated approach to understand the etiology of perfectionism from the perspectives of respected researchers and theorists. It addresses the assessment of adaptive and maladaptive forms of perfectionism, how to manage the defenses and ambivalence displayed by perfectionist clients, and their tendencies toward termination. Case studies will aid psychotherapists in understanding the complex transference and counter-transference issues that often arise with this population. Key Features: Provides practical guidance from an experienced clinician Highlights the importance of addressing perfectionism as an underlying factor in psychopathology Presents a link between specific disorders and perfectionist traits Offers ways to create a positive therapeutic alliance with the resistant perfectionist client

The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Performance Psychology includes the latest research and applied perspectives from leaders in the field of performance psychology. Current and comprehensive, this foundational volume presents sport and performance psychology from myriad perspectives, including: - individual psychological processes in performance such as attention, imagery, superior performance intelligence, motivation, anxiety, confidence, cognition and emotion - the social psychological processes in performance including leadership, teamwork, coaching, relationships, moral behavior, and gender and cultural issues - human development issues in performance, such as the development of talent and expertise, positive youth development, the role of the family, end of involvement transitions, and both youth and masters-level sport and physical activity programs - interventions in sport and performance psychology and counseling of performers in distress including such important issues for all performers as: appearance- and performance-enhancing drug use, injuries, managing pain, eating and weight issues, burnout, and the role of physical activity in maintaining health. The chapters collected here also cover the history of sport and performance psychology; the scope and nature of the field; ethical issues in sport and performance psychology; performance psychology in the performing arts and other non-sporting fields; perfectionism and performance; the role of the performance coach and of the sport psychologist with a coach and team; supervision; and a look ahead to the future of the field.

In her first new book in fifteen years, personal development pioneer Shakti Gawain encapsulates a lifetime of teaching and learning to offer her most trenchant and universal work to date. These exercises and insights have been tested and refined in the popular workshops Gawain has taught for decades. They reflect the fact that each of us is in relationship with romantic partners, family, coworkers, and so on — but also with internal core beliefs and a variety of selves, including primary, disowned, and shadow selves. Her revelatory teaching incorporates strategies for becoming aware of hidden beliefs, applying the Voice Dialogue process developed by therapists Hal and Sidra Stone, and learning to experience our every relationship as a path to self-knowledge, intrapersonal enhancement, and even community and global betterment.