For a long time, perfectionism was considered a strength. It was assumed that people who set high standards for themselves will achieve a great deal. However, psychological research has since debunked this idea, showing that excessive perfectionism primarily leads to exhaustion, procrastination, and, in the worst cases, serious mental health issues rather than motivating peak performance. Many perfectionists find that their fear of making mistakes is paralyzing. Numerous studies have confirmed that perfectionism is linked to a wide range of mental health conditions. These include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Furthermore, people with high levels of perfectionism tend to perform worse than those who set more realistic standards for themselves.
So, how can you cope when high levels of perfectionism limit your daily life? Perfectionism is characterized by a lack of flexibility above all else. Those affected do not allow themselves any exceptions, even when a situation calls for letting go of perfectionist standards, whether the demands arise at work or in their personal lives. For this reason, treatment programs for perfectionists aim to help them become more psychologically flexible.
New Group Therapy for Perfectionism
This treatment is now being offered for the first time via Psychotherapeutic University Outpatient Services over the Lifespan (PULS) at the University of Bremen. It is a compact group therapy program consisting of four weekly sessions, known as the COMPASS group. The name COMPASS is derived from the behavioral therapy concepts incorporated into the program. On the one hand, COMPASS stands for "compassion." Based on Compassion-Focused Therapy, patients learn to meet their own strict demands with greater self-compassion. On the other hand, COMPASS refers to the compass that plays an important role in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It is intended to guide patients on their path to a fulfilling life. Thus, the four sessions are designed to encourage a more compassionate view of one’s expectations and a more flexible approach to difficult emotions.
COMPASS is offered as “basic group psychotherapy care.” This format enables a quick and administratively straightforward entry into outpatient care. Since no scientifically tested programs for this format exist yet, the COMPASS group may fill a future gap in care. COMPASS is particularly suitable for patients with little prior psychotherapeutic experience who wish to receive guidance on their path toward subsequent, guideline-based therapy.
Therapy Based on Latest Research
COMPASS is offered as part of a research project. Therefore, patients can only participate in the group if they also participate in the associated study, which includes diagnostic interviews and questionnaires. Participation in the study is compensated, meaning patients gain access to the COMPASS group, which is billed through health insurance, and receive additional financial compensation.
The project received 72,000 euros in funding as part of the Christoph Dornier Foundation for Clinical Psychology’s postdoctoral grant program.
Further Information:
https://www.uni-bremen.de/ambulanz-puls (only available in German)
https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/clinical-psychology-and-psychotherapy-of-adulthood
Contact:
Dr. Nathalie Claus
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of Adulthood
Faculty of Human and Health Sciences
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-68540
Email: nclausprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
