Therapy for High Achievers
High Performing but Anxious and Burnt Out
Let go of control…
You just hit a major milestone but it’s hard for you to truly feel like it’s a big deal. It was always going to happen and it was expected of you. You are always doing the best you can. You are also tired and overworked. You are afraid to make mistakes but even more afraid to ask for help.
You can continue to deliver at a high performance without panicking and criticizing yourself.
In therapy, you can learn to let go of control - not all of it! You have control over some things and the rest is inefficient. When we realize how ineffective our spirals can be, we can adapt healthier ways of thinking. And if you already know how ineffective it is to dwell on things but don’t know how to stop, we can address this in therapy!
Together we will figure out what works best for your schedule, goals, and life.
Meet your therapist:
Stephanie
I work with high achievers, because, well, it takes one to know one.
Guilty!
I have always been intrinsically and extrinsically motivated, whether it was doing a lot of volunteer work or getting A’s in school. Having passion for something and the internal satisfaction of doing something well is very rewarding.
Having short-term and long-terms goals has always anchored me to know where I am going next.
What does high achieving mean when it comes to therapy?
You don’t call yourself an overachiever so you think this doesn’t really mean you. You are doing well on paper but you don’t think you are going above and beyond.
Instead, these are things you might do:
Your to-do list gets done…but it always seems to keep expanding because there’s always more you can do.
You rehearse presentations or read over your work multiple times to make sure you get it right.
You keep thinking of your next step: promotion, certification, salary goal, etc.
Navigating a stressful job in Chicago? Feeling like everything is NOT fine?
You may have burnout.
burnout is sneaky and can look like:
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Overly Tired
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Easily Irritated
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Indifference
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Poor Eating Habits
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Trouble Focusing
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Dreading Work
You Don’t Have Time for Therapy …But You Have Time to Worry?
Many people have busy schedules but people find the time to have weekly therapy sessions (myself included!). You can bring your lunch or do a virtual session to avoid commute times! Taking the time to slow down is necessary and if you don’t your body will force you. Your stress affects your immune system, mood, and energy levels. We get sick when we don’t take care of ourselves. Don’t miss out on important meetings and events because you waited too long to prioritize your health. Come to therapy so you can keep reaching your goals effectively!
I see a lot of ambitious people!
I love that you have goals!
That’s not the problem at all; the problem is when you are paralyzed by overthinking, anxiety, panic attacks, and resorting to perfectionism. It’s not intentional, of course. We learned these behaviors or were passed down these traits but it doesn’t have to become the default option.