Children grow up with all kinds of incentives to strive for perfection—from the encouragement of adults to the recognition and personal pride that can follow great achievement. There’s no question that this drive often serves kids and teens well. But, taken too far, it can also create serious mental health challenges for them, including anxiety, depression, and avoidance behavior.
So how can health care professionals, parents, educators, and others help adolescents find a balance between chasing worthwhile goals and taking care of themselves? What are the key signs of emerging perfectionism and related disorders? And when is professional help warranted?
Join us as R. Meredith Elkins, PhD, explains what sets adolescent perfectionism apart from healthy pursuits to excel, explores the short- and long-term impacts of unaddressed perfectionism, and answers audience questions about evidence-based treatment options.
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R. Meredith Elkins, PhD, is a clinical psychologist specializing in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety, mood, and related disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults. She is experienced in providing evidence-based interventions through individual, group, family, and behavioral parent training formats.
Dr. Elkins is currently a program director at the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program, an intensive group-based outpatient program for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and OCD.
