Therapy for Perfectionism and Fear of Failure
Therapist for expats and internationals
Perfectionism can look like success from the outside: good grades, praise at work, everything under control. On the inside it often feels like never being allowed to rest. The bar keeps moving, every mistake feels like proof of not being good enough, and the fear of failing can become so loud that starting anything feels risky.
At Bloomwave, I provide a space where you don’t have to perform. We’ll look at where the pressure comes from, and work together on loosening its grip. Book a first session to get to know each other. It’s free of charge, with no waiting list or referral required.
Location
🏠 Leiden
💻 Online
Languages
🇬🇧 English
🇪🇪 Estonian
Useful Info
⏱️ No waiting list
🧍Adults 18+
Who is this therapy for?
Perfectionism and fear of failure are especially common among students and professionals in demanding environments, and among people who learned early that love or approval had to be earned. You don’t have to be falling apart to take it seriously; the cost is often invisible, paid in rest, joy, and self-worth.
You might recognize yourself in some of the experiences below:
- Procrastinating on things that matter, then criticizing yourself for it
- Rereading, redoing, and double-checking your work
- Difficulty celebrating your achievements, or feeling like an impostor
- Fear of being seen making a mistake
- Setting standards for yourself you would never demand of others
- Exhaustion from always being “on”
Long-term perfectionism can also feed into (signs of) anxiety and burn-out.
How therapy can help with perfectionism
Therapy for perfectionism is not about lowering your ambitions or caring less about your work. It’s about separating your worth from your performance, so effort becomes a choice rather than a survival strategy. Our work together is tailored entirely to your own experiences, patterns, and needs.
Together we’ll look at where your inner critic learned its voice, and what keeps it in charge today. From there, I can help you experiment with new ways of working and living: taking up space, making mistakes, and discovering that the catastrophe you braced for doesn’t come.
Some of my approaches to perfectionism and fear of failure
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT helps you catch the all-or-nothing thinking behind perfectionism, like “anything less than perfect is failure”. Together, we work on realistic standards, experimenting with “good enough”, and breaking the procrastination cycle that fear of failure feeds.
Schema
Therapy
Schema Therapy looks at the roots of relentless standards and self-criticism, which often began as a way to feel safe, accepted, or in control. By understanding where the pattern comes from, we can work toward a kinder and more sustainable way of relating to yourself.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT helps you unhook from the inner critic instead of arguing with it. You learn to make room for the fear of failing while still doing what matters to you, so your choices are guided by your values rather than by avoidance.
Hi, I’m Laura!
Laura Ruusalu (She/Her)
As a licensed therapist and an expat myself, I know how the pressure to prove yourself can grow even stronger when you are building a life in a new country. I’m originally from Estonia and grew up moving between Finland and Norway before finally settling in the Netherlands.
Now I offer therapy in English and Estonian, in Leiden and online. I mainly work with expats, international students, and LGBTQIA+ individuals who are exhausted by their own standards and the fear of falling short. My approach is evidence-based and focused on creating a safe space where you don’t have to earn your place.
What you can expect when working with me
Free 30-minute session
Your journey begins with a free 30-minute online contact session, where we’ll explore how I can best support you.
Sliding scale pricing
I offer a sliding scale to keep therapy accessible, with rates based on your financial situation. €80 – €140 / hour
Personalised treatment
I use an integrative approach tailored to your individual needs and desires, always in collaboration.
Client testimonials
“Laura is amazing, as someone who intellectualises their feelings and experiences, finding a good psychologist is sometimes very difficult. However, Laura was heaven sent and has really helped me actually feel my feelings and process my traumas while also working on my triggers and coping mechanisms. Cannot recommend her enough. Thank you, Laura!”
– TK
“I had a very good experience with Laura. She is professional but also makes you feel very comfortable and made me realise things about myself that I still think about/use to this day (which is the first time this has happened for me in therapy). To me, this shows that Laura really listens to her clients.”
– ND
“Having tried various therapists in the past, I came in with feeling a little uneasy and curious to see how Laura from Bloomwave would address my issues and working together through therapy. I am a 22 year old female and I am extremely satisfied with my experience. In the past i often felt like I was not able to be fully understood. But with Laura I felt not only understood but also pulled out of my perceptions to think more critically and understand myself even better. Very professional and very good with helping one find comfort in the session environment. I hope to continue working with her for many sessions to come for my foreseeable future.”
– IW
Why choose Bloomwave practice?
- Personalised, integrative approach
- Accessible rates based on your financial situation
- No waiting list, no referral needed
- Safe space, LGBTQIA+ affirmative
Ready to take the next step?
If the pressure to get everything right is wearing you down, therapy is a solid place to start changing that. I offer a free 30-minute online consultation so we can chat about what’s been going on and see if working together feels like the right next step for you. There’s no pressure and no obligation. The contact session gives us a chance to see if my approach matches what you need.