Perfectionism therapy · Northwich & online
Perfectionism therapy that changes what is really driving it
Keep your standards. Lose the fear of getting it wrong. I am Leanne Astbury, a CBT psychotherapist. I help people understand what they are really afraid a mistake would mean, and change it, so perfectionism stops running the show.
Does perfectionism run your life like this?
- You redo, recheck and refine long after it was already good enough.
- A single mistake can undo a whole day, or a whole sense of yourself.
- You put things off, because if you never quite finish, it can never be judged.
- You struggle to hand things over, because no one will do them "properly".
- Achievement brings relief rather than pride, and then the bar quietly moves.
- Your inner critic is far harder on you than you would ever be on anyone else.
How perfectionism therapy with me works
Most advice for perfectionists tells you to relax, lower the bar, and let things be good enough. You already know all that. Knowing it has never been the problem. The problem is that easing off feels genuinely unsafe, because of what you are afraid falling short would mean about you.
So we do not start with the checking and the redrafting. Using CBT, we look at how your perfectionism works, and then we go beneath it, to the belief underneath. Often it traces back to learning, a long time ago, that being good, capable and impressive was how you earned approval or stayed safe.
As that fear is understood and loosened, the standards can stay. You keep caring, keep doing good work, keep taking pride in it. You simply stop needing it to prove that you are enough. We work one to one, online or face to face in Northwich, Cheshire.
What we can work on together
Perfectionism shows up in many ways. Whichever of these sounds like you, we can work with it, and with the fear underneath it.
- The fear of making mistakes
- Procrastination and paralysis
- A harsh, relentless inner critic
- All or nothing thinking
- Never feeling good enough, whatever you achieve
- The anxiety and burnout perfectionism can lead to
Starting perfectionism therapy
Every session is £100 — online or face to face in Northwich.
Most people begin with a free phone consultation, so we can talk through what you are struggling with and make sure I am the right fit for you before you commit to anything. There is no referral needed, no waiting list, and no pressure either way.
You can also start in your own time with my CBT workbook, Awaken Your Worth, or read more about how I work.
Book a free consultation call
Someone qualified to help
I am a qualified CBT Psychotherapist and Coach, and the author of Awaken Your Worth, with over ten years of experience helping perfectionists find a gentler way to live.
- Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy — University of Salford, 2017
- BA (Hons) in Psychology and Sociology — Liverpool Hope University, 2005
- Over 1,000 people helped
★★★★★After a lifetime of perfectionism that caused daily anxiety and eventually burnout, Leanne helped me understand the behaviour and change my thoughts. My day to day anxiety has gone and I feel so much lighter, without the weight of constant worry or fear of failing. — Gemma, five star Google review
Common questions
Do you offer perfectionism therapy in Northwich and online?
Yes. I work online with people across the UK, and I also see people face to face in Northwich, Cheshire, so we can meet whichever suits you best.
Is your perfectionism therapy CBT?
Yes. I am a qualified CBT Psychotherapist and the work is grounded in evidence based CBT, combined with going beneath the behaviour to understand what you are really afraid a mistake would mean.
Will therapy make me lose my high standards or my drive?
No. The goal is not to make you care less or lower your standards. You keep your standards and your ambition. What changes is the fear underneath them, so your standards stop being a source of dread and become something you choose, rather than something that runs you.
Do I need a referral from my GP?
No. You can contact me directly to arrange a free consultation call. There is no waiting list and no referral needed.
How much does perfectionism therapy cost?
Sessions are £100 each, online or face to face in Northwich. Most people begin with a free consultation call so we can make sure I am the right fit before booking.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies from person to person, and we talk it through on the call. There is no lock in, and we review how things are going as we go.
You are allowed to be enough, not just impressive.
Booking a call is the hardest part. Everything after that, we do together, and you will not be doing it alone.
Book a free consultation call