Perfectionism is sometimes considered a healthy pursuit of excellence, reflected in the motivation to act, achieve goals, and be effective or efficient. However, it is also seen in dysfunctional and unrealistic standards leading to severe emotional distress. In this article, perfectionism is considered as a tendency to maintain overly high and rigid standards, associated with significant suffering and functioning impairment, which is referred to as clinical perfectionism. This type of perfectionism is called a “transdiagnostic” process that encompasses many types of disorders, the treatment of which results in their reduction. Research on perfectionism allows for a better understanding of its sources and the processes that sustain it and contribute to the development of numerous therapeutic techniques. The purpose of this article is to present clinical perfectionism, its definition, models, sources and consequences, as well as to define appropriate techniques used by therapists working within the cognitive-behavioural approach. These techniques target both cognitive processes, allowing for cognitive restructuring of negative automatic thoughts, principles, and beliefs of the patient (by recognising one’s own thoughts, cognitive distortions, and negative beliefs and modifying them to be more realistic and adequate), and direct changes at the behavioural level. The effectiveness of cognitive behavioural techniques is supported by scientific evidence.

cognitive behavioural therapy, clinical perfectionism, cognitive techniques, behavioural techniques