Popular culture teaches that “perfectionism” is a negative trait that should be tamed or eliminated in the name of mental health. Yet most high achievers are perfectionists by nature, and their perfectionism is usually a key part of what enables them to perform at a high level. This workshop explores the differences between adaptive perfectionism, which is associated with positive mental health outcomes and strong engagement at work, and maladaptive perfectionism, which is associated with anxiety, burnout, and diminished work performance. It leverages techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to empower participants to move from a maladaptive to an adaptative perfectionist mindset, and to harness their perfectionism as a superpower that improves their work and quality of life.

High-achieving professionals need to be at the top of their mental game to perform at the highest level. In the stressful environment of a fast-paced corporation, failing to protect one’s mental fitness can lead to diminished performance, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. Yet many professionals do not pay adequate attention to mental fitness and see both their work performance and their quality of life decline as a result. This session teaches participants how to build a mental fitness routine that works for them in a high-stress job, and how to avoid common mental health mistakes frequently made by high-achievers.

This workshop equips legal professionals to effectively represent survivors of trauma while protecting their own mental health. Representing survivors of trauma (whether they are asylum seekers, victims of a crime, or juveniles separated from family members) often involves asking clients detailed questions about horrific experiences. Conducting such interviews without understanding the impacts of trauma can lead well-intentioned professionals to inadvertently retraumatize their clients or experience vicarious trauma as they absorb the details of other peoples’ experiences. This workshop provides participants with a foundational understanding of trauma that will allow them to better respond to their clients’ needs and develop strategies for avoiding the adverse impacts of vicarious trauma.

No matter how much we achieve, many high achievers remain plagued by self-doubt and the sense that others may discover that we are less smart or competent than we want to believe. This self-doubt can undermine both our quality of life and ability to perform at work. This workshop will explore where this “imposter syndrome” comes from and provide participants with concrete strategies for relieving unwarranted doubt and stepping into their power.