What is High-Achiever Syndrome?

High-Achiever Syndrome (aka High-Functioning Anxiety or Maladaptive Perfectionism) isn’t a formal diagnosis, but it describes a very real, often hidden struggle. It shows up in people who are driven, capable, and outwardly successful… but inwardly exhausted.

You might feel a constant pressure to prove yourself, tie your worth to your performance, and rarely give yourself permission to rest. Even when you hit your goals, the satisfaction is fleeting and the bar only moves higher. Overthinking, perfectionism, imposter-syndrome, guilt, and feeling like you can’t let anyone down are all common signs.

Many high achievers look like they have it all together, but quietly carry stress, anxiety, depression, or burnout that few people see. This can ultimately lead to struggles at work, constantly feeling overwhelmed, difficulty feeling satisfied in relationships, and ultimately feeling like a fraud in your own skin. Therapy can help you untangle your identity from achievement, learn to rest without guilt, and become a genuine version of yourself.

Where does High-Achiever Syndrome come from?

High-Achiever Syndrome is influenced by many factors. Many high-achievers grew up in environments where love, approval, or safety felt tied to performance (e.g. good grades, excelling in sports, or being the “responsible one”). Additionally, trauma and unstable environments can lead to people needing to control everything. Over time, achievement became more than a goal, it became a way to feel safe, secure, or worthy.

Culturally, we also reward overwork, perfectionism, and self-sacrifice, which reinforces the idea that your value is based on what you do vs. who you are. This can create a cycle where rest feels like laziness, vulnerability feels like failure, and even big accomplishments never quite feel like enough.

Is High-Achiever Syndrome a diagnosis?

High Achiever Syndrome isn’t a formal diagnosis, but it’s deeply connected to several recognized mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma responses.

The challenge is that many formal diagnoses require significant impairment in daily functioning. But high-achievers are often high-functioning to a fault, pushing through distress, over-performing despite exhaustion, and masking symptoms.

As a result, many of my clients have struggled to find the right diagnosis and treatment. They often don’t meet criteria in traditional ways, even though they’re suffering beneath the surface. Some have tried therapy before, and while it may have helped with certain issues, many have found therapy to be incomplete. It’s for this reason, that I focus on deep, quality, individualized treatment for my clients.

Do you take insurance?

No. I’ve chosen not to work directly with insurance companies so I can provide care that’s more personalized, private, and free from outside restrictions.

Insurance can limit how many sessions you have, requires a mental health diagnosis, and can even dictate what your treatment looks like. By working outside of insurance, I can tailor treatment to your actual needs. It also protects your privacy, since nothing is shared with third parties unless you request it.

I understand that paying out-of-pocket is a significant investment, I accept HSA/FSA payment, and I’m happy to provide superbills if you’d like to request reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits.

This model allows me to keep my caseload small, so I can offer high-quality, individualized care to each person I work with.