Therapy for High Achievers
You’re the person others rely on. You meet every deadline, reach your goals, and appear calm and confident. People may even jokingly call you an “overachiever.” You’ve achieved the external success, whether that be the elite degree, the job in finance, or have climbed the corporate ladder. From the outside, everything looks great.
But inside? That might be a different story. Maybe you feel exhausted, anxious, or like you’re constantly chasing the next accomplishment. You may have set high standards for yourself, but the pressure to meet them is starting to feel like too much.
Achievements can bring a sense of fulfillment, pride, and motivation. But sometimes, the very qualities that help people succeed, such as ambition, responsibility, and high standards, can become overwhelming.
Therapy for high achievers can give you space to pause. You can take a step back, catch your breath, and start thinking about what drives these patterns and what you want success to look like for you.
Meet our therapists for high achievers
Georgia Kulok, LMSW
I work with high achievers navigating anxiety and the life transitions that they often deal with such as a career change, a move, a new role or relationship. Success can make it harder to admit when something feels off, and I help clients name and understand what's going on beneath the surface.
My approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, alongside a psychodynamic framework, so we can work on practical tools for managing symptoms while also understanding where your patterns come from. Together, we can build a clearer sense of who you are through change, not just how to get through it.
I offer both in-person and virtual therapy in New York & New Jersey.
Credentials: Licensed Master Social Worker
Education: Master of Social Work, New York University
Madeleine Phelan, LMSW
I work with clients who feel caught between living up to expectations and an inner sense of exhaustion. My experience supporting people with anxiety and perfectionism allows us to look at the standards you’ve set for yourself, where they may come from, and whether you want to approach them differently.
My approach combines curiosity, compassion, and evidence-based techniques. Together, we can explore what matters to you beyond achievement and the standards you place on yourself.
I offer both in-person and virtual therapy for high achievers in New York, NY.
Credentials: Licensed Master Social Worker
Education: Master of Social Work, New York University
Janel Coleman
Many high-achieving people have learned to excel by holding themselves to very high standards. I work with clients who may seem to have it all together on the outside but feel overwhelmed or exhausted by perfectionism. They may also find themselves wondering why success hasn’t brought the fulfillment they had expected.
I use a holistic approach that incorporates psychodynamic therapy, CBT, and mindfulness to help you understand the beliefs, relationships, and experiences that shape how you see yourself. Together, we can consider different ways of approaching challenges while developing more self-compassion.
I offer both in-person and virtual therapy for high achievers.
Credentials: Licensed Master Social Worker
Education: Master of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis
Kristin Anderson, LCSW
I work with people experiencing anxiety, stress, and the effects of traumatic experiences, as well as patterns that can make it difficult to feel at ease. For high achievers, this might mean looking at the experiences that influence how you cope, relate to others, and view yourself.
I draw from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, depending on what you’re experiencing and what you want from therapy. My approach combines practical techniques with deeper exploration, helping you make sense of what’s going on and consider different ways of responding to challenges.
I provide both in-person and virtual therapy for high achievers.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Education: Master of Social Work, Columbia University
Why high achievers might start therapy
High achievers are often hardworking and self-driven. They may be focused on their goals and good at making things look as though they’re under control.
But success doesn’t always mean you feel fulfilled, confident, or at ease. You might still put a lot of pressure on yourself or struggle with perfectionism. All too often, these issues can show up at work or school, in relationships or parenting, or even in creative pursuits or personal goals.
You might start thinking about seeing a therapist for high achievers when the pressure you put on yourself affects how you’re feeling, functioning day-to-day, and relating to the people around you. This could look like:
Feeling like your self-worth is connected to accomplishments, so that setbacks or mistakes may feel like a reflection of who you are
Finding it difficult to celebrate your achievements, even when you know you’ve done well, because you’re already focused on what you need to accomplish next
Feeling pressure to maintain a certain image, even when keeping up appearances is becoming exhausting
Setting extremely high standards for yourself and feeling like your efforts are never quite “good enough”
Seeing mistakes as personal failures rather than opportunities to learn, which may make you reluctant to take risks or try something new
Taking on too much responsibility, leaving you feeling overwhelmed or as though you always need to be the one who has things under control
Finding it difficult to rest without feeling guilty, even when you know you need a break
Being used to handling things on your own, which can make it difficult to recognize when you could benefit from talking to someone
Therapy for high achievers gives you the opportunity to understand what’s behind these patterns. Our therapists can work with you to consider the thoughts, experiences, and expectations that may be shaping the way you approach achievement.
How Therapy Works at Madison Square Psychotherapy
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Find Your Therapist
Know who you want to work with? Instantly book a complimentary consult here. If you’re not sure who is right for you, take our matching questionnaire to tell us about your needs, preferences, and schedule, and you’ll be hand matched by our Clinical Director.
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Assess the Fit
During your initial consultation call, your therapist will find out a little more about you and what brings you into therapy. At the same time, you can share what you’re looking for, ask questions, and talk through what kind of support feels most helpful for you to see if it feels like a match.
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Do the Work
Once you begin, we personalize the therapy to you. We take a client-centered and holistic approach, and believe that therapy shouldn’t be a cookie-cutter commodity. You’ll work with your therapist to focus on your goals and process whatever comes up in sessions.
Begin therapy for high achievers in New York today
Seeking therapy can feel difficult, especially if you’re used to being the person who handles everything on your own. You might even wonder whether you really need therapy at all.
Does stress follow you home from work? Maybe you’re exhausted from trying to be “perfect” all the time. Or, perhaps you just want more time to enjoy life outside of all of your responsibilities. Whatever brings you here, our therapists can work with you to understand what’s been weighing on you.
At Madison Square Psychotherapy, you can talk openly about the stress, anxiety, or pressure you’ve been carrying and start to make sense of what’s been contributing to it. With your therapist, you will look at where those expectations come from and decide which ones still make sense for you.
Whether you’re looking for an in-person therapist in NYC or prefer to meet with a therapist virtually from home, we offer options to suit your needs.
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A high achiever is generally someone who sets high goals for themselves and puts a great deal of effort into reaching them. This might mean doing well at school or work, excelling in sports or creative pursuits, or constantly setting new personal goals. However, while they may be highly motivated and proud of what they accomplish, they also tend to put a lot of pressure on themselves.
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Therapy for high achievers is a confidential and collaborative process. For instance, therapy for high-achieving professionals might involve exploring the pressure you place on yourself, where your expectations come from, and how achievement affects your relationships, self-esteem, and day-to-day life. Your therapist can also help you consider different ways of responding to stress, perfectionism, or the fear of failure.
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Yes, at Madison Square Psychotherapy, we offer both in-person appointments at our Manhattan office and online sessions through secure video. Virtual therapy provides an alternative to in-person sessions, allowing you to meet with your therapist from a private location that works for you.
Frequently asked questions about therapy for high achievers
If the pressure to achieve is affecting your life, you might have questions about whether therapy could help. Here, we’ve answered some of the questions clients often ask before starting therapy.
Clinically Reviewed by: Kristin Anderson, LCSW
Updated Sept 2026
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