Therapy for Perfectionism & Self Criticism
Virtual and in-person therapy in Indiana
“Life doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing — you can live with balance, freedom, and grace.”
– Emily Paxton MA, LMHC, RD
Why You’re Here
You’ve worked hard, cared deeply, and carried more than your share — yet it still feels like something inside never lets you rest.
Maybe you’ll recognize yourself here:
You swing between perfectionism and procrastination — either pushing until you burn out, or avoiding because it never feels “good enough.”
You’re admired for being the reliable one, but secretly, you’re exhausted by always holding it together for everyone else.
You feel a constant inner critic that points out every mistake, replays conversations, and keeps moving the bar higher.
Rest feels like a guilty indulgence, not a right. A quiet part of you whispers: “If I stop striving, will I still be enough?”
You’ve done therapy, read the books, maybe even tried all the productivity hacks — but deep down, you still feel like you’re not measuring up.
If faith is important to you, you might wrestle with Christian perfectionism, wondering: “How do I trust grace when I’m so used to proving my worth?”
Beneath it all, the secret fear lingers:
👉 “What if I stay stuck in this perfectionism–burnout cycle forever?”
Imagine This
You wake up without the weight of yesterday’s “shoulds” hanging over you.
The inner critic that once shouted is now softer, more supportive — even quiet at times.
You can start projects without the paralysis of needing them to be perfect.
Rest no longer feels like guilt; you can actually enjoy slowing down and being present.
Your work and caregiving flow from steadiness instead of pressure, and you have more energy left for yourself and your family.
You no longer feel like life is all-or-nothing. Balance, freedom, and grace guide your days.
For the first time in years, you feel enough — not because of what you achieve, but because of who you are.
I Get What You’re Going Through
I know what it’s like to live under the constant pressure to get everything just right. For years, perfectionism and self-criticism shaped how I showed up in my work and in my life. On the outside, I looked like I had it all together — but inside, I was exhausted and always questioning if I was doing enough.
Learning to step off that treadmill and find balance hasn’t been easy, but it’s been life-changing. I’ve experienced firsthand what it’s like to quiet the critic, release the pressure, and discover a steadier way of living.
Now, I bring both my personal understanding and my professional training to help you do the same. Together, we’ll create space for you to loosen perfectionism’s grip, soften that relentless inner voice, and finally experience the freedom of being enough — just as you are.
This therapy is for …
→ The person caught in the all-or-nothing cycle — swinging between perfectionism, procrastination, and burnout.
→ The helper or professional who is always reliable for others, but secretly feels drained, resentful, or invisible.
→ The one with a harsh inner critic that never lets them rest or celebrate what they’ve done.
→ The person who feels guilty slowing down and wonders, “If I stop striving, will I still be enough?”
→ Those who’ve done therapy or self-help before, yet still feel like they’re not measuring up or “should already be healed.”
→ Anyone wrestling with Christian perfectionism, longing to trust grace over performance.
Together, we’ll create a personalized approach that gets to the root of perfectionism and self-criticism. Instead of surface-level tips, you’ll gain tools that quiet the inner critic, ease the pressure to perform, and help you build a more balanced way of living.
I draw on evidence-based methods including IFS and EMDR, and compassionate strategies to guide you toward lasting change — so you can move from burnout and “never enough” to freedom, balance, and grace.
