Therapy for Perfectionism in Children and Teens in Calgary

Perfectionism is like walking a tightrope with no net. On the outside, your child might look like they’re excelling — top grades, high effort, laser focus. But underneath? Anxiety, fear of failure, self-criticism, and exhaustion.

At Creative Sky Psychology in Calgary, we support children and teens who feel like nothing they do is ever “good enough.” Whether it shows up as school stress, emotional meltdowns, avoidance, or burnout, we help kids step off the tightrope — and onto solid ground.

Perfectionism isn’t always obvious. Some kids push themselves relentlessly. Others shut down when they feel they can’t succeed. You might notice:

  • Homework taking hours due to rewriting or erasing

  • Fear of making mistakes — even tiny ones

  • Avoidance of new tasks, tests, or public speaking

  • Emotional meltdowns when things go “wrong”

  • Harsh self-talk, comparison, or self-blame

  • Over-apologizing or people-pleasing

  • “All-or-nothing” thinking (either perfect or a failure)

Sometimes, perfectionism hides behind anxiety, ADHD, giftedness, or low self-esteem. Many kids we support are bright, sensitive, and emotionally intense.

What Does Perfectionism Look Like in Kids and Teens?

How We Help Perfectionist Children in Calgary

We don’t try to “eliminate” perfectionism — we help kids and teens build flexibility, self-trust, and resilience. Our psychologists work with your child to:

  • Understand their perfectionistic patterns

  • Learn to tolerate mistakes and uncertainty

  • Build self-compassion and flexible thinking

  • Reduce anxiety, avoidance, and school stress

  • Separate their worth from their performance

We use developmentally appropriate, evidence-based therapies like:

  • CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

  • ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

  • Narrative Therapy

  • Emotion Regulation Therapy

  • Creative strategies (art, play, metaphor, sensory-based work)

Support Tailored by Age and Stage

Preschool & Early Years (Ages 4–6)
Young children may cry when drawings don’t look “right” or resist trying new things. We use play therapy, modeling, and parent-child work to build emotional safety and flexible thinking early.

School-Aged Kids (Ages 7–12)
Perfectionism often peaks in middle childhood — especially in gifted or anxious kids. We support emotional regulation, growth mindset, and problem-solving skills while collaborating closely with parents and teachers.

Teens & Tweens (Ages 12–17)
Teen perfectionism can be high-functioning or paralyzing — showing up as overachievement, burnout, avoidance, or imposter syndrome. We help teens explore identity, build realistic expectations, and separate self-worth from performance.

Support for Parents of Perfectionist Kids

It’s hard to watch your child beat themselves up over every mistake — or refuse to try things unless they know they’ll succeed.

We’ll help you:

  • Understand where the perfectionism is coming from

  • Use language that supports effort, not outcome

  • Navigate homework or school stress without power struggles

  • Support regulation and reduce performance pressure at home

You don’t need to reinforce confidence with cheerleading alone — we’ll help you build it from the inside out.

Why Families Choose Creative Sky Psychology

Our Calgary psychologists are specialized in working with children and teens navigating complex emotional and behavioral concerns—including eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and perfectionism. We are:

  • Evidence-informed

  • Compassion-focused

  • Developmentally tailored

  • Collaborative with families

  • Neurodiversity- and LGBTQ2S+ affirming

Therapists like Karli understand how perfectionism shows up differently at each stage. Whether it’s showing through school refusal, people-pleasing, or emotional shutdown, we help your child reframe, recover, and rediscover their voice.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Academic success doesn’t always mean emotional wellness. Gifted or 2e children may struggle with self-esteem, burnout, rigidity, or social isolation—especially if their abilities are misunderstood. Therapy helps support the whole child, including emotional development, identity, and self-advocacy.

  • We use creative, flexible approaches that match your child’s learning style and pace. Therapy may include CBT, narrative work, emotion coaching, art or play therapy, and mindfulness. With teens, we often explore identity, motivation, perfectionism, and future goals in a way that aligns with their depth and insight.

  • Absolutely. Many gifted and 2e children have uneven development—where cognitive skills are advanced but emotional, social, or motor skills lag behind. We help kids bridge those gaps by building self-awareness, frustration tolerance, and real-world coping strategies that match their unique developmental profile.

  • Yes. Supporting a gifted or twice-exceptional child can be both rewarding and overwhelming. We help parents understand their child’s profile, reduce power struggles, manage emotional intensity, and create structure that nurtures—not stifles—their child’s potential. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

  • Yes. Many gifted children experience emotional intensity, existential worry, social perfectionism, or sensory sensitivities. Their minds may move faster than their emotional development can keep up. Therapy offers a safe space to explore these big feelings and build healthy coping skills for life’s challenges.

  • Therapy supports gifted and 2e children in understanding their unique brain wiring, building emotional regulation, developing coping strategies, and reducing anxiety or perfectionism. Our Calgary psychologists take a strengths-based approach—helping these kids feel seen, supported, and accepted for who they are, not just what they can achieve.

  • Gifted or 2e kids may show advanced vocabulary, intense curiosity, deep emotional sensitivity, or rapid learning in one area—alongside challenges with attention, frustration tolerance, perfectionism, or social interactions. Some may be highly verbal but struggle with executive function. If your child seems both bright and easily overwhelmed, they may be 2e.

  • Twice-exceptional (2e) kids are both gifted and have a learning difference, neurodivergence, or mental health challenge—like ADHD, autism, anxiety, or dyslexia. These kids often fly under the radar: their strengths can mask their struggles, or vice versa. Therapy helps 2e children thrive by honoring both their brilliance and their areas of difficulty.