Psychologists Off the Clock

250. Anxiety and Perfectionism with Clarissa Ong


Listen Later

Many of us make use of control agendas and get caught up in managing our experiences to be exactly the way we want them. Sometimes this is a good, rewarding type of behavior, but more often than not, perfectionistic behavior can leave you feeling stuck in a cycle of failure. Dr. Clarissa Ong, author of The Anxious Perfectionist, is an expert in the intersection of anxiety and perfectionism. On this episode of POTC, she and Debbie discuss this intersection and explore practical strategies for overcoming problematic, perfectionistic tendencies. Join us in this episode for advice on moving from rigidity into flexibility, practical strategies for distinguishing between helpful and harmful perfectionism, and so much more!

Listen and Learn:
  • Debbie and Jill discuss the double-edged sword of perfectionism
  • Dr. Ong’s personal experiences with perfectionism
  • Practical strategies for distinguishing between helpful and harmful perfectionism
  • The different forms of perfectionism and how they may present themselves
  • The intersection between anxiety and perfectionism
  • Contexts that can nurture or contribute to a person’s perfectionistic tendencies
  • Evidence-based advice for parents who don’t want to water the seeds of perfectionism in their children
  • How perfectionism can be like playing a game
  • What you lose when you’re trapped by perfectionism
  • Expert-approved advice on moving from rigidity into flexibility around perfectionism (and on helping your friends and loved ones do so as well!)
  • Practical advice for incorporating a little self-kindness into behaviors governed by perfectionism

  • Resources:
    • Read Clarissa’s book, The Anxious Perfectionist
    • Follow her on Twitter, @ongclarissaw!
    • Check out Debbie, Yael, and Jill’s websites to access their offerings, sign up for their newsletters, buy their books, and more!  

    • About Clarissa Ong:

      Clarissa W. Ong, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University. She received her doctoral degree in clinical/counseling psychology from Utah State University, and completed her clinical internship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Her research interests include acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), process-based therapy, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding disorder, and perfectionism. She has contributed to more than sixty peer-reviewed publications and a book. She has also received funding from the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS). She and Dr. Michael Twohig recently published a self-help book on perfectionism, The Anxious Perfectionist


      Related Episodes:
      • Episode 226. ACT for Perfectionism with Jennifer Kemp
      • Episode 88. Perfectionism with Sharon Martin
      • Episode 172. Performing Under Pressure with Sian Beilock 

        Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

        See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store

        Psychologists Off the ClockBy Debbie Sorensen, Jill Stoddard, Yael Schonbrun, Michael Herold & Emily Edlynn

        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6

        4.6

        307 ratings


        More shows like Psychologists Off the Clock

        View all
        Speaking of Psychology by American Psychological Association

        Speaking of Psychology

        802 Listeners

        The One You Feed by Eric Zimmer

        The One You Feed

        2,515 Listeners

        The Psychology Podcast by iHeartPodcasts

        The Psychology Podcast

        1,837 Listeners

        Therapy Chat by Laura Reagan, LCSW-C

        Therapy Chat

        674 Listeners

        10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

        10% Happier with Dan Harris

        12,636 Listeners

        Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

        Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

        2,463 Listeners

        Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

        Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes

        611 Listeners

        Therapist Uncensored Podcast by Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP & Ann Kelley PhD

        Therapist Uncensored Podcast

        1,378 Listeners

        Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel by Esther Perel Global Media

        Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

        14,904 Listeners

        The Couples Therapist Couch by Shane Birkel

        The Couples Therapist Couch

        271 Listeners

        Attachment Theory in Action by The Knowledge Center

        Attachment Theory in Action

        156 Listeners

        Light Up The Couch by Clearly Clinical

        Light Up The Couch

        327 Listeners

        Unlocking Us with Brené Brown by Vox Media Podcast Network

        Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

        23,598 Listeners

        Therapy in a Nutshell by Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam

        Therapy in a Nutshell

        535 Listeners

        Dear Therapists with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch by iHeartPodcasts

        Dear Therapists with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch

        2,343 Listeners