Overcoming Perfectionism in Creative Work

This workshop will shed light on the roots of perfectionism and ways to begin overcoming it to support your creative process!

Perfectionism can feel like a silent creative killer—slowing your process, feeding self-doubt, and making it nearly impossible to finish (or even start!) the projects that matter most. Whether you’re a musician, voice actor, writer, visual artist, performer, or polymath creative, this workshop will help you break free from the pressure to “get it right” and reconnect with your authentic artistic voice.

What You’ll Learn

In this supportive, interactive workshop, we’ll explore:

Literature review:

• What is perfectionism really?
• Where does perfectionism come from? The psychology behind perfectionistic thinking

Perfectionism in creative work:

• Why perfectionism shows up in creative work (and how it protects and limits you)?
• How it impacts creatives similarly & differently than those in other careers

Tools & exercises:

• Practical tools to challenge inner critics, fear of failure/success, & comparison traps
• Ways to shift from fixed minset to growth mindset & psychological inflexibility to psychological flexibility to increase resilience
• Health & wellness strategies to support creative longevity

Question & answer:

• Ask Dr. Canfield anything related to the workshop topic

Who This Is For

This workshop is perfect for:

• Artists, musicians, voice actors, writers, designers, performers, & anyone else who does creative work
• Creatives who feel stuck, blocked, or overwhelmed
• Anyone whose inner critic is way too loud
• Neurodivergent creatives navigating ADHD, autism, OCD, trauma, & more
• Anyone ready to build a healthier, more sustainable creative practice

What to Expect

• A literature review that helps you understand perfectionism -- "knowing is half the battle"
• Tools & exercises you can implement immediately
• A warm, nonjudgmental environment where imperfection is celebrated

You’ll Walk Away With:

• A deeper understanding of perfectionism & how it impacts creatives
• Practical tools & exercises for beginning to overcome perfectionism in your creative work
• Health & wellness strategies to improve occupational health of creatives
• Exclusive invitation to further support led by the workshop facilitator

About the Facilitator

Led by Dr. Anastasia Canfield, a creative arts professional, health scienctist, researcher, and mental health expert who helps artists, musicians, voice actors, models, authors, poets, and other creatives address occupational health hazards particularly related to mental health concerns, neurodivergence, burnout, and more.