Therapy for Perfectionists & People-Pleasers

From Self-Criticism to Self-Acceptance

Anxiety doesn’t always look like panic attacks or racing thoughts. Sometimes, it shows up as:

  • People-pleasing until you’re drained

  • Overthinking every conversation

  • Setting impossibly high standards — then still feeling like you’re falling short

If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t just relax or felt like you’re always bracing for something to go wrong, you’re not alone.


Anxiety often hides behind the roles we play: the responsible one, the achiever, the helper, the one who seems to have it all “together.”

But holding it all together is exhausting.

Therapy can offer a gentler way forward, one that helps you quiet the inner critic, reconnect with your needs, and feel more at ease in your own mind and body.

I offer anxiety therapy for adults in Round Rock, TX and online across Texas, especially for those who keep it together for everyone else but feel like they’re unraveling inside.

Different Faces of Anxiety You Might Recognize:

  • Perfectionist person meditating.

    Perfectionist

    You’re always striving, always pushing, but it never feels like enough.
    You second-guess your decisions, overanalyze conversations, & feel pressure to get everything “just right.” Even when things go well, your brain is already scanning for the next thing to fix or do better.
    You’re exhausted from the constant mental pressure, but resting feels unfamiliar, or even guilty.

  • Group of women in formal dresses chatting and laughing in an outdoor setting and people-pleasing.

    People-Pleaser

    You want to be liked and understood.
    You work hard to avoid conflict, make others comfortable, & smooth things over, even when it costs you your own peace. You often wonder: “What if they’re upset with me?” or “Did I do something wrong?” Anxiety can show up as a fear of being disliked, misunderstood, or rejected.

  • A high-achieving woman in a cap and gown holding books in a library.

    Helper

    You’re the one others count on: dependable, supportive, steady.
    You show up with care & compassion, often putting your own needs last.
    Underneath, you might feel anxious, drained, or resentful, but it’s hard to name that out loud. You worry that asking for help means letting others down, or that you’re too much when you finally do.

What would it be like to step out of the pressure and into a life of ease and self-acceptance?

Therapy can help you:

  • Quiet your inner critic

  • Reconnect with your needs

  • Feel more at ease in your mind and body

  • Manage anxiety and perfectionism with compassionate tools

I’m Heather.

I help people-pleasers and perfectionists untangle the patterns of over-giving, self-doubt, and impossible standards. Together, we’ll work on setting boundaries with compassion, releasing the pressure to do it all perfectly, and creating space for your own needs.

My approach is trauma-informed and collaborative, blending parts work, EMDR, somatic tools, and practical strategies. I show up as your partner, not your critic. Therapy isn’t about making you tougher or more accommodating—it’s about helping you trust yourself, feel grounded, and live in alignment with what actually matters to you.

Let’s create a path where you can care for yourself as much as you care for others.

Schedule a phone consultation from Round Rock or anywhere in Texas.