When "Good Enough" Isn't Good Enough:
Perfectionism as Coping through Oppression
Session Overview:
Maladaptive perfectionism poses considerable clinical concern, including social isolation, severe mental health disorders, and suicide (e.g., Siros & Molnar, 2016), and is known to be on the rise globally (Curran & Hill, 2018). A notable omission from theory and research is consideration of how perfectionism may differ in presentation and treatment needs based on factors of privilege and oppression. While it is increasingly common for therapists to encourage clients to engage in “good enough” practices in a wide range of life domains, this presentation suggests such intervention may be anything but simple for clients experiencing cultural and systemic oppression.
Learning Objectives:
1. Expand knowledge of theory and research about maladaptive perfectionism
2. Inspire clinicians to consider imperfection as privilege, perfectionism as a survival mechanism for oppressed populations, and the costs (safety, social judgment, opportunity, etc.) of not upholding perfectionistic ideals
3. Distinguish the clinical difference between treating maladaptive perfectionism and addressing psychological harm of the systems perpetuating the need for this style of coping
