Feeling Good Podcast | TEAM-CBT - The New Mood Therapy · David Burns, MD

The Perfectionism Webinar, Part 2 of 2

August 25, 2025·1 hr 2 min·5 clips

Discover how explaining cognitive distortions can turn self-criticism into a profound healing moment for patients.

This episode is the second part of a webinar on perfectionism, hosted by Dr. Rhonda Barovsky and featuring Dr. David Burns, a renowned psychiatrist and author of "Feeling Good." They continue exploring therapeutic techniques to combat perfectionistic thinking. Dr. Burns outlines several methods, including identifying cognitive distortions, explaining those distortions, and the externalization of voices technique. He describes explaining distortions as a three-question process to challenge a thought like "I'm failing my patients," moving it from an intellectual exercise to a powerful intervention. The externalization of voices involves role-playing where the therapist voices a patient's negative thoughts, and the patient practices defeating them using self-defense, acceptance, or counterattack strategies. A video demonstration shows a former patient, Amy, successfully using these strategies against attacks on her therapeutic skills. Another technique, the feared fantasy, invites patients to confront a caricatured, hyper-critical person in a role-play to defang the fear of judgment. Dr. Burns shares an anecdote about a highly accomplished physician client who used a "pleasure-perfection balance sheet," discovering activities like fixing a toilet brought 100% satisfaction despite low perfection ratings. Co-host Jill Levitt provides a personal example of using self-disclosure about parenting struggles to build connection instead of shame. The hosts emphasize that the goal is for patients to achieve "huge" victories over negative thoughts, leading to emotional change and what they describe as a form of enlightenment. The tone is educational and conversational, blending clinical explanation with live demonstrations and personal stories. Listeners interested in practical cognitive-behavioral tools for self-criticism or professional development would appreciate this episode. Those seeking entertainment or narrative storytelling might find the workshop-style format less engaging.

As heard by us

A practical CBT discussion of perfectionism, judgment fears, and the tools used to face them.

The episode treats perfectionism as a fear problem, not a polished virtue. David Burns and Rhonda Borowski keep circling the idea that mistakes can cost approval, love, or acceptance, and then move straight into practical tools.

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Why you'd press play

You want a straight talk on perfectionism and the fear of disapproval underneath it.

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