Perfectionism vs high standards can look similar on the outside, especially for high achievers, but they feel very different on the inside. High standards are values-driven and flexible. Perfectionism is fear-driven and rigid, often showing up as overthinking, guilt when resting, and never fully feeling done. Perfectionism vs High Standards: A Simple Comparison High standards […]

If You’ve Ever Wondered How to Control Your Emotions If you’ve ever wondered how to control your emotions — or felt frustrated when you can’t — you’re not alone. Last week at the beach, I witnessed a moment that perfectly captured how our feelings don’t always follow the rules we try to give them. A […]

Introduction: The High Achiever Struggle Every task feels like a test. Every achievement feels too small. For high achievers, life can feel like a constant performance — at work, in relationships, or even in personal goals. The pressure to excel can be exhausting. Just like pausing to reflect at a serene temple in Kyoto, therapy […]

Imposter syndrome in college is one of the most common struggles we see at Elevé Therapy & Co, especially among UC Berkeley students and others across the UC system. Many arrive as high school valedictorians or top performers, but in the competitive environment of a UC campus, they suddenly feel like they don’t measure up. […]

If you’re a high achiever—whether a driven professional or a college student used to excelling—you’ve probably searched “how to get rid of anxiety” and wondered if it’s possible to make it disappear completely. The honest truth? Anxiety isn’t something you simply erase. But that doesn’t mean you have to let anxiety control your life or […]