Counselling Directory
0
menumenu
Are you a counsellor? Log in Join us
Find a counsellor
  • Home
  • What's worrying you?
  • Getting help
    • What is counselling?
    • Types of therapy
    • FAQs
    • Find a counsellor or psychotherapist
    • Worried about someone else?
    • Not sure where to start?
    • Self-care
  • Articles
  • Events
  • Facts & Figures
  • News & Stories
    • Recent news
    • Your stories
Log inJoin us
Saved profiles (0)
  • Home>
  • Expert articles>
  • Perfectionism and self-sabotage

Perfectionism and self-sabotage

Written by listed counsellor/psychotherapist: Dr Graziella Ferigo

22nd February, 20180 Comments

Dr Graziella Ferigo

In my clinical practice, I had the pleasure to work with many clients that at one point in their lives found themselves stuck in a vicious circle. People who have been high achievers for most of their life and suddenly something triggered their way of perceiving their ability to cope with challenges. 

I am referring to those people who have always succeeded academically or in their careers as they learnt that effort, concentration and meticulousness were the keys for success. People who became accustomed to being rewarded and expected to be recognised and valued for their merit. 

What happens if a gifted student one day gets a negative mark? What if a famous football player confident at scoring goals fails in an important match? What if a manager does not meet the company targets? 


When people who are not “trained to fail” fall from a high position without a safety net, their confidence is dramatically hit. Like a car at high speed hits a solid surface. For some people it can be quite traumatic and they would try to re-establish their role adopting a “past successful strategy” which no longer serves their cause as the current situation is different. Because it worked in the past – they will increase their effort, concentration and self-consciousness which often leads to a performance block. Their reactive-perceptive system becomes progressively rigid with an intense self-observation stopping the natural achievement towards the external objective. 

When these clients decide to seek support they often feel demoralised and frustrated and they start thinking they have never really been successful. A counsellor can help by using specific strategies to enable them to become more flexible in their way to perceive the trigger. “Brief Strategic Therapy” is a model focussed on breaking the vicious circle through specific strategies and has had over 87% of positive outcomes. It was developed in USA – (G. Bateson, J. Weakland, P. Watzlawick, J. Jackson - Mental Research Institute of Palo Alto) and Italy by Professor G. Nardone who has created specific protocols of treatments for specific mental health problems. 
 

About the author

Dr Graziella Ferigo, chartered clinical psychologist and brief strategic therapist.

View profile

Related articles from our experts

Dahlian Kirby
How to be counselled - a beginners guide

Dahlian Kirby

April 7th, 2018
Marissa Walter Dip Therapeutic Counselling, MBACP (Reg) NCS (Accred Reg)
The value of counselling - what am I paying for?

Marissa Walter Dip Therapeutic Counselling, MBACP (Reg) NCS (Accred Reg)

April 5th, 2018
Andrew Harvey Counsellor & Therapist, In Nottingham
From addiction to recovery

Andrew Harvey Counsellor & Therapist, In Nottingham

April 16th, 2018
Can a relationship survive without intimacy?

Keeley Townsend BA (Hons), Ad.Dip.CP with Distinction, MNCS (Acc)

December 14th, 2009
Imi Lo: Psychotherapist, Art Therapist & Author (MMH,UKCP,HCPC,FRSA,MBPsS)
Why do I feel nothing? Emptiness and borderline personality

Imi Lo: Psychotherapist, Art Therapist & Author (MMH,UKCP,HCPC,FRSA,MBPsS)

March 29th, 2015
Andrea Harrn Psychotherapist and Author of The Mood Cards
What is Passive Aggressive Behaviour?

Andrea Harrn Psychotherapist and Author of The Mood Cards

May 13th, 2011

Counselling Directory is not responsible for the articles published by members. The views expressed are those of the member who wrote the article.

Share on: Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn
Find a counsellor or psychotherapist near you
Select multiple
Advanced search

print this pagePrint this page

Get involved Connect with us, we're social.
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
More information
  • About us
  • Recommend us
  • Legal terms
  • Privacy/Cookies
  • Browse by region
  • Press centre
  • Find a supervisor
  • Links
  • Site map
  • Site help

Contact us

  • Counselling Directory, Building 3
  • Riverside Way, Camberley
  • Surrey, GU15 3YL
  • Membership Services Team:
    0333 325 2500 *
  • Contact us
Copyright © 2018 site by Memiah Limited

* Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling an 01 or 02 number and
count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.

Healthy ideas that change the world

Get our free monthly e-magazine straight to your inbox

Find out more at happiful.com