Perfectionism Therapy in Toronto and Across Ontario

When high standards and burnout start running your life

Your work gets praised, yet you still reread the email five times before sending it. You say yes to one more thing because saying no feels risky. By Sunday night you are tired in a way a nap does not fix, and the list is still there.

That mix of high standards, people-pleasing, and exhaustion is common. From the outside it looks like reliability. On the inside it can feel like holding your breath. Many people have tried planners, longer to-do lists, and a week off, only to land back in the same place by mid-month.

You can keep your standards and lose the dread. Willpower alone rarely helps you overcome perfectionism, because the habit has been doing a job for you. Perfectionism therapy starts by asking what that job is.

What burnout feels like and how perfectionism feeds it

Perfectionism is a habit of measuring your worth by how flawless your work, body, or behaviour looks. Burnout is the depletion that often follows when you run on that habit for a long time. The two feed each other. Higher standards demand more effort. More effort drains you, and a drained mind makes mistakes that your inner critic reads as proof you should try harder.

You might notice procrastination that looks like laziness but is really fear of doing it imperfectly. You might notice irritability, trouble switching off, dread on Monday mornings, or distance from things you used to enjoy.

What perfectionism therapy looks like at Elements

Our perfectionism therapy focuses on the beliefs and habits underneath the overworking. We draw on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for perfectionism, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), emotion-focused therapy, and psychodynamic work, and we shape the mix around you.

Tracing where your standards came from

Many high standards are learned early: a family that praised results, a school that ranked you, a workplace that rewarded whoever never said no. We look at those messages with curiosity, so you can decide which ones still deserve a place in your life.

Practising rest, boundaries, and good-enough work

CBT-informed experiments let you test what actually happens when you send the draft at 80 percent, decline a request, or log off on time. DBT-informed skills give you ways to ride out the discomfort that follows.

Helping you recover from burnout and the pattern behind it

Burnout therapy starts with what is draining you now, such as workload, caregiving, or constant masking, and builds toward changes you can sustain. Some sessions are practical planning. Others are slower, more reflective work.

Meet the Registered Psychotherapists behind your perfectionism therapy

Elements Therapy Group is a two-therapist practice founded by Loreana La Civita, MPsy., R.P., and Samantha Szirmak, MPsy., R.P., who met in graduate school. The small size is deliberate: you meet the person who will actually be working with you.

Loreana has five years of clinical experience, a research background in body image and eating disorders, and ongoing training in trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming care. Samantha has more than ten years of experience supporting adults and adolescents in mental health and educational settings. Perfectionism therapy and burnout therapy are part of the work she offers.

Our style is collaborative and down to earth. You will hear plain language, and you set the direction.

What to expect from your first weeks of perfectionism therapy

Talk it through first. Book a free 15-minute call to describe what is going on and ask anything you like before you commit.
Map the pattern together. Your first session is a conversation about when the pressure shows up, what it costs you, and what you would like more of.
Build at a speed you can sustain. From there, sessions blend practical tools with reflection, and we check in regularly on whether the plan still suits you.

What changes when perfectionism and burnout loosen their grip

Change happens at different speeds, and we cannot promise a timeline. These are the shifts many people work toward.

Work that ends. You close the laptop at a reasonable hour, and the guilt gets quieter.

Mistakes that stay small. A typo or a late reply stays a small problem and stops turning into a referendum on your worth.

Rest without a penalty. You may take a full weekend off, or say no to a request, and feel steadier afterwards.

Energy for what you love. Over time, there may be room again for the hobbies, friendships, and quiet that exhaustion pushed aside.

Frequently asked questions about perfectionism therapy and burnout

How do I know if it’s burnout or just tiredness?

Ordinary tiredness usually eases with rest, while burnout tends to linger and often brings dread, cynicism, or a sense that nothing you do is enough. Only a health professional can assess this, so mention it to your family doctor too. We can help you sort out what is driving it.

How long does it take to recover from burnout?

There is no fixed timeline, because recovery depends on what is draining you and how much of that can change. We review progress together every so often, so you can see what is shifting.

Is perfectionism therapy only for people with demanding jobs?

No. Students, parents, caregivers, and teens 14 and older come to us for therapy for perfectionism and burnout in very different settings. Grades, sports, family expectations, and social media can fuel it as much as an office can.

Do I need a referral, and is perfectionism therapy covered by insurance?

You do not need a doctor’s referral to book a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario. Many extended health and workplace benefit plans cover psychotherapy, so check your plan for registered psychotherapist coverage.

Can I do burnout therapy online?

Yes. We offer virtual sessions anywhere in Ontario, and in-person sessions at 55 Eglinton Ave East, Suite 705, near Yonge and Eglinton in Toronto.

Let’s Work Together

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