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Break Free From the Perfection Trap

Stop being a slave to unrelenting standards and follow this science-backed plan to achieving high performance without the baggage

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Previously at

Goldman Sachs
Penguin Random House
University of Toronto
LEGO®
The Guardian

Course overview

Tame Your Perfectionism with the Help of the Six Rs

The six R method is a science-backed, clinically informed approach to taming perfectionism. It invites you to explore your goals and priorities without the destructive influence of unrelenting standards and self-criticism in the driving seat.


Through six transformative sessions—Reflect, Recognise, Reframe, Reality-Check, Relate, and Reload—you'll explore the type and origins of your perfectionism, align with your deepest values, gain tools for conquering insecurity, and draw a roadmap for the journey ahead.


When you finish, you’ll have newfound clarity and confidence, along with a clear, personal blueprint for high performance without the emotional and cognitive baggage of perfectionism.

Who is this course for

01

High-achieving perfectionists who are seeking a practical roadmap to help curb their unrelenting standards and silence the inner critic.

02

Overworked professionals who are ready for a change in their relationship with work but aren't clear on how to thrive without perfectionism.

03

Leaders who want to avoid falling into the perfection trap by inspiring confidence, creativity, and resilience in themselves and their teams

What you’ll get out of this course

A crystal-clear vision of why perfectionism harms us what we can do about it.

This course will use groundbreaking science to reveal the types and origins of perfectionism. We'll explore influential theories and research studies to uncover what perfectionism is, what it does to us, and why it isn't the insignia of hyper-functionality that we mistake it for.

A detailed action plan outlining the practical steps needed to achieve high performance without perfectionism.

This course is all about action. You'll reflect, assimilate, and begin acting on science-backed, perfectionism-busting strategies from the get-go. By the end, you'll walk away with a concrete action plan for your next steps and a wealth of resources to draw upon.

A vibrant community of ambitious and compassionate perfectionists to draw support from and keep you on track every step of the way.

Accountability is key, especially for perfectionists. In this course, you'll connect with others experiencing similar insecurities and blockages, creating relationships that will support you throughout the journey and long after the last day of class.

A rich collection of research, exercises, and resources—an abundant toolkit you can revisit time and time again.

In this course, you'll receive a workbook brimming with practical exercises, reflection prompts, and educational resources—tools you can revisit whenever you find yourself succumbing to perfectionistic thoughts and feelings.

Complimentary signed copy of The Perfection Trap

That's right! Each student on this course will receive a complimentary signed copy of Dr Thomas Curran's bestselling book The Perfection Trap.

What’s included

Live sessions

Learn directly from Dr Thomas Curran & Dr Anika Petrella in a real-time, interactive format.

Lifetime access

Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.

Community of peers

Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.

Certificate of completion

Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.

Maven Guarantee

This course is backed by the Maven Guarantee. Students are eligible for a full refund up until the halfway point of the course.

Course syllabus

12 live sessions • 26 lessons

Week 1

Jul 6—Jul 12

    Reflect

    We begin by reflecting on perfectionism, peeling back its many layers to reveal what it truly is—and what it is not. Through interactive lectures, reflective exercises, and a deep dive into the cutting-edge science of this curious trait, you'll explore perfectionism's impact on the mind and body, its true influence on performance, and the societal pressures under which it thrives. Below is a glimpse of the questions this week's content will answer.

    • 📄

      So... What actually is perfectionism?

    • 📄

      And... What isn't perfectionism?

    • 📄

      How exactly does perfectionism impact mental health?

    • 📄

      Perfectionism leads to high performance? Right.. Right!!

    • 📄

      Why does it feel like I need to be perfect? Am I crazy to think that??

    • Jul

      6

      Lecture 1: Reflect

      Mon 7/66:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)
    • Jul

      8

      Workshop 1: What Perfectionism Means to You

      Wed 7/86:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)

Week 2

Jul 13—Jul 19

    Recognise

    Next, we'll illuminate the many shades of perfectionism. Through interactive lectures and self-reflective exercises, you will hold a mirror to your own perfectionistic tendencies, uncovering in vivid detail where they come from and the direction in which they're projected. Along the way, we will seek answers to several questions shared below.

    • 📄

      Is perfectionism one size fits all?

    • 📄

      What's the source and who's the target of those unrelenting standards?

    • 📄

      How can we do too much and yet not enough?

    • 📄

      How do I hold a mirror to my own perfectionism?

    • Jul

      13

      Lecture 2: Recognise

      Mon 7/136:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)
    • Jul

      15

      Workshop 2: Measuring Up

      Wed 7/156:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)

Week 3

Jul 20—Jul 26

    Reframe

    Now, it's time to delve deeper. By using self-reflective tools and engaging in immersive, interactive activities based on proven therapeutic techniques, you'll have the opportunity to examine your own perfectionistic beliefs. You'll begin to build a toolbox to tackle those pesky irrational impulses, and ultimately have a definitive answer to the question: is my perfectionism really worth living in fear for? Below is a glimpse of the topics this week's content will cover.

    • 📄

      Wait.. is that me or my perfectionism talking?

    • 📄

      Too much of a good thing? Maximisation tipping points

    • 📄

      Panning out for perspective

    • 📄

      Taking back the mic

    • 📄

      Embracing good enough (80% rule)

    • Jul

      20

      Lecture 3: Reframe

      Mon 7/206:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)
    • Jul

      22

      Workshop 3: Taking Back the Mic

      Wed 7/226:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)

Week 4

Jul 27—Aug 2

    Reality-Check

    Perfectionism holds us to an overwhelming standard, making it tough to accept our own limitations. This week, we'll explore how perfectionism can twist our understanding of what's considered "normal". Plus, we'll offer you some practical steps to gently break free from this distortion by embracing radical acceptance and finding the courage to let go of the things that weigh us down.

    • 📄

      Step back, breathe, rationalise

    • 📄

      Observing distorting thoughts without getting entangled in them

    • 📄

      Crushing overthinking, indecisiveness and procrastination

    • 📄

      Radical acceptance and the "letting go" of what's not in our control

    • Jul

      27

      Lecture 4: Reality-Check

      Mon 7/276:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)
    • Jul

      29

      Workshop 4: Progress Over Perfection

      Wed 7/2911:00 AM—12:00 PM (UTC)

Week 5

Aug 3—Aug 9

    Relate

    One of the lesser-discussed challenges of perfectionism is its potential to create social disconnection. In our quest for approval from others, we often find ourselves drifting away from those very connections. During this session, we'll take a closer look at how perfectionism can contribute to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Together, we’ll share practical steps toward embracing authenticity, vulnerability, and the beautiful art of forging deeper connections with those around us.

    • 📄

      (In)authenticity and the perfectionist's mask

    • 📄

      Vulnerability and the art of moving toward other people

    • 📄

      Leaning into failure

    • 📄

      Healthy assertiveness and the microdosing of discomfort

    • Aug

      3

      Lecture 5: Relate

      Mon 8/36:00 AM—8:00 AM (UTC)
    • Aug

      5

      Workshop 5: Moving Toward Others

      Wed 8/56:00 AM—8:00 AM (UTC)

Week 6

Aug 10—Aug 16

    Reclaim

    We’ve reached the point where we can bring together all the material we've discussed throughout the course. The goal in this session is to create a comprehensive course wrapper, which serves as a strong commitment to reclaiming ourselves from the hold of perfectionism. This journey won't be simple, but the tools introduced in this session, along with prior ones, offer a foundation for reintegration, enhanced mental health, and ultimately, better performance.

    • 📄

      Returning ourselves to ourselves

    • 📄

      Values driving behaviour

    • 📄

      Recasting efficiency, effectiveness, and success in our own image

    • 📄

      Committing to a stepped approach

    • Aug

      10

      Lecture 6: Reclaim

      Mon 8/106:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)
    • Aug

      12

      Workshop 6: Committing to it

      Wed 8/126:00 PM—8:00 PM (UTC)

Week 7

Aug 17
    Nothing scheduled for this week

What people are saying

        Thomas’ workshop provided valuable insights into the myths behind perfectionism and the difference between a desire for high standards vs. a need to be perfect. The practical tips and mindset shifts offered were empowering and allowed us to all embrace imperfection, whilst fostering a more productive work environment.
Anita Bhalsod

Anita Bhalsod

Head of HR, Tapestry
        The feedback from Thomas’ talk has been immediately and overwhelmingly positive and it seems to have made an impact with so many people who watched. The number of questions I was still getting through even right towards the end, showed such an engagement with the subject, not something we can always take for granted with everyone’s busy schedules.
Charlotte Wandowski

Charlotte Wandowski

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead, JP Morgan Chase

Meet your instructor

Dr Thomas Curran

Dr Thomas Curran

Psychology professor and international bestselling author of The Perfection Trap

Dr Thomas Curran is the world's leading expert on perfectionism, author of the international best-selling book The Perfection Trap, and acclaimed professor of psychology.


‍His TED Talk on perfectionism received over three million views, he has written for major international publications such as TIME magazine and the Harvard Business Review, and his work has been featured in the BBC, New Scientist, New York Times, CNN, and Wall Street Journal.

Dr Anika Petrella

Dr Anika Petrella

Clinical researcher and acclaimed psychotherapist

Dr. Anika Petrella is a Registered Psychotherapist and currently serves as a Research Associate in Health Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London. 


In her clinical practice, Dr. Petrella provides therapeutic support to adolescents, adults, and couples grappling with various mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties, with particular emphasis on the complexities of perfectionism and the emotional burden imposed by high expectations. Throughout her career, she has garnered experience across hospital, university, and private practice contexts, in addition to consulting for distinguished organisations, including LEGO and Vogue.

Course schedule

3-5 hours per week

  • Monday's lecture

    2:00pm - 3:00pm EST

    Interactive science-backed, lecture-style session including dedicated question time with Dr Thomas Curran.

  • Wednesday's workshop

    2:00pm - 3:00pm EST

    Practical workshop-style session with clinically-informed inner work exercises, group activities, and self-care techniques with Dr Anika Petrella.

  • Weekly homework

    2 hours per week

    Extra-curricular materials intended to cement the learnings and reflections.

Learning is better with cohorts

Learning is better with cohorts

Active hands-on learning

This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects

Interactive and project-based

You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams

Learn with a cohort of peers

Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you

Frequently Asked Questions