Bespoke Members
Introduction
Perfectionism, shame, self-criticism, and low self-esteem are commonly encountered by clinicians as obstacles to progress in therapy, reagrdless of the Axis 1 disorder being treated. These obstacles can prevent early change in therapy, thereby decreasing the chances of a good outcome. This workshop will acquaint attendees with using a “micro-intervention approach” utilising aspects of cognitive behaviour therapy for perfectionism (CBT-P) as an efficient and evidence-based approach to improving not only perfectionism, but shame, self-criticism, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and disordered eating. Perfectionism is a transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factor, relevant across a variety of psychopathologies, and translates into behaviours that many clients experience but may not label as “perfectionism”. It can reduce engagement in therapy and the tasks of therapy.
The event will be equivalent to 5.1/2hrs of CPD.
Content
The content in the workshop will assume that the client is presenting, and being treated, for an Axis 1 disorder. Regardless of the disorder and treatment modality used, we will first examine how to embed ten generic therapist competences that can help the client get the best start in therapy i.e., early change, a strong predictor of good outcome across psychopathologies. We will then examine evidence-informed protocols for deciding how to review early change and identify obstacles that are contributing to more gradual change. Approaches to augmenting treatment for people who are “gradual” as opposed to “rapid” responders to therapy will be examined. We will then explore a toolbox of micro-interventions within CBT-P and how these can be used as an augmentation of ongoing therapy related to an Axis 1 disorder.
Learning Objectives
Attendees will:
1. Understand how to apply the generic competences that guide more effective therapeutic practice.
2. Work more effectively with therapy non-negotiables.
3. Have a big picture view of therapy progress and how to use collaborative reviews and augmentations where progress is gradual.
4. Have a working knowledge of CBT-P.
5. Be confident in utilising a micro-intervention approach with CBT-P alongside a substantive therapy for an Axis 1 disorder.
Training Modalities
A variety of training modalities will be used including didactic content, Q&A, some videos illustrating key principles, self-experiential components, problem solving exercises, and interactive polls and quizzes using Slido.
Key References
Shafran R, Egan SJ, Wade TD. (2023). Coming of age: A reflection on the first 21 years of cognitive behaviour therapy for perfectionism. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 161, 104258.
Wade TD, Shafran R, Cooper Z. (2024). Developing a protocol to address co-occurring mental health conditions in the treatment of eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 57, 1291-1299.
Wade TD, Waller G. (2025). Ten generic competences to improve outcomes of cognitive behaviour therapy: Evidence, postulated processes, and clinical implications. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 193, 104826.
Egan S, Wade TD, Shafran R, Antony, M. (2014). Cognitive-behavioural treatment of perfectionism. New York: Guilford.
Shafran R, Egan S, Wade TD. (2018). Overcoming Perfectionism. Second Edition. London: Little, Brown Book Group.
See also: https://www.overcomingperfectionism.com/
About the presenter
Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor Tracey Wade has worked as a clinician and researcher in mental health for almost 40 years. She is the director of the Flinders University Services for Eating Disorders. She has cowritten 4 books on cognitive behaviour therapy (two on eating disorders and two on perfectionism) and has over 300 publications in peer reviewed journals with an h-index of 59. She has received over $7 million in competitive research funding. In 2015 she was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. In 2023 she was the recipient of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy Distinguished Career Award. In 2025 she received the Academy of Eating Disorders Leadership Award in Research. A major focus of her research is the implementation of evidence-based practice in real-world settings. Over 2024 to 2028 she is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant 2025665.
Who should attend
Content is suitable for any mental health practitioner who works with evidence-based therapies with teenagers upwards.