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Greg tells me that perfectionist tendencies can be very useful, but when they get in the way of a good career or patient care there is a problem. At the core, perfectionism is about excess expectations and rigid thinking. In this episode of Doctors at Work, we talk about how perfectionism shows up in clinical work, we talk about fear of failure, and discuss some ways that we can help ourselves and others. See transcript for meeting summary.

Gregory S. Chasson, PhD, ABPP, is an esteemed psychologist, board-certified cognitive-behavioral therapist, researcher, educator, and international invited speaker helping organizations, communities, and individuals address mental health challenges, such as perfectionism, using practical and feasible strategies. He sees the inner workings of perfectionism and its pitfalls, as well as how best to dismantle it with tips and insights grounded in science and honed through real world practice. He is the author of Flawed: Why Perfectionism is a Challenge for Management. He has served on the Board of Directors for a variety of professional non-profit organizations (e.g., Maryland Psychological Association) and owned and operated two mental health practices, giving him an intimate familiarity with how organizations and teams function. Dr. Chasson is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, where he’s also the Director of Behavioral Interventions of the Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders Clinic. He specializes in the nature and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related conditions (including perfectionism), high-functioning autism spectrum conditions, and anxiety disorders. He has provided cognitive-behavioral therapy for clinically severe perfectionism for nearly 20 years. As an active scholar, Dr. Chasson has authored or co-authored more than 70 scientific publications and one academic book (Hoarding Disorder: Advances in Psychotherapy – Evidence-Based Practice). He serves as the Editor of the scientific journal, the Behavior Therapist. Find him at www.gregchasson.com, Twitter GregChasson, www.facebook.com/DrChasson, www.linkedin.com/in/gregchasson, and www.instagram.com/gregorychasson

Listen at https://matdaniel.net/podcast/; https://open.spotify.com/show/1j8uLaUU1g5bYTRVuwUX7j?si=672ec26a73164d7f; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doctors-at-work/id1701284564; or watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.
Production: Shot by Polachek

You can find out more about Mat's coaching to help doctors create successful and meaningful careers at www.MatDaniel.net.