Presenter: Dr. Karla Steingraber, Psy.D.
Overview:
High-achieving individuals—including professionals, students, and compe11ve athletes—may present with anxiety, exhaus1on, sleep disturbance, depressed mood, or a persistent sense of inadequacy despite substan1al objec1ve success. This presenta1on examines how adap1ve striving can become rigid perfec1onism, con1ngent self-worth, chronic stress, and burnout.
Drawing on cogni1ve-behavioral and psychodynamic perspec1ves, the presenta1on dis1nguishes healthy high standards from perfec1onis1c concerns, emphasizing evidence that perfec1onis1c concerns are associated with psychological distress and burnout (Hill & Curran, 2016). A psychodynamic formula1on adds aden1on to the developmental and rela1onal meanings of achievement, including internalized expecta1ons, shame, self-cri1cism, iden1ty, and the ways achievement may become a means of regula1ng self-esteem.
These issues are par1cularly salient for athletes, whose iden11es and self-evalua1ons may become closely 1ed to performance outcomes. The presenta1on will examine fear of failure, overcontrol, difficulty recovering, and the tendency to interpret performance setbacks as evidence of personal inadequacy.
Evidence-based interven1ons will include cogni1ve restructuring, behavioral experiments, exposure to imperfec1on, values-based work, psychological flexibility, and strategies for developing sustainable performance and diversified sources of self-worth. The presenta1on will also address the clinical paradox of inadvertently helping high achievers become more efficient at overfunc1oning.
Clinicians will be encouraged to integrate empirical evidence, clinical exper1se, and individual client characteris1cs while considering contextual contributors to burnout.
Cost: SCP Members Free, $40.00 for Non-Members