"Perfectionistic behaviors make life easier for other people—
but often harder for ourselves."

In this insightful episode of Success Reimagined, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Clarissa Ong, co-author of The Anxious Perfectionist, to explore the hidden emotional costs of perfectionism, the psychological trap of coherence, and how high achievers can begin to shift from performance to presence.

Together, they explore:

✅ The rigidity at the root of perfectionism
✅ How the “coherence trap” keeps us stuck in self-limiting narratives
✅ People-pleasing as a form of self-erasure
✅ The problem with replacing rules with values—without flexibility
✅ Why “almost perfect” can feel worse than failure
✅ Tangible ways to reconnect with a values-based identity

👤 About the Guest:
Dr. Clarissa Ong is a clinical psychologist, assistant professor at the University of Louisville, and co-author of The Anxious Perfectionist. She leads the Process-Oriented Intervention Science (POIS) Lab and has authored over 60 peer-reviewed papers focused on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), OCD, hoarding, and perfectionism.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Ong:
📘 The Anxious Perfectionist: https://www.newharbinger.com/9781684038459/the-anxious-perfectionist/
🧪 Lab Website: https://www.poislab.com
📊 Participant Recruitment: https://www.poislab.com/current-projects
🌿 Clinical Page: https://junipermh.com/team/clarissa-ong/
💬 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/clarissaong.bsky.social

🎙 About the Host:
Dr. Amna Shabbir is a Dual Board-certified Geriatrics and Internal Medicine Physician, Master Certified Coach, Professional Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, and Super Mom. She is the Founder of Amna Shabbir Wellness Coaching and the Early Career Physicians Institute®, where she empowers high achievers to redefine success and create sustainable well-being.
This episode is part of her special book-writing project on unmasking perfectionism.

🔹 Connect with Dr. Shabbir:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

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What if we’re grooming our future doctors for burnout before they even start training?

In this powerful episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Stuart Slavin, Vice President for Well-Being at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and a national leader in physician mental health, to explore how maladaptive perfectionism begins long before medical school—and how the culture of high achievement can deeply impact mental health.

Together, they explore:

✅ How maladaptive perfectionism develops early in life
✅ The difference between healthy standards and toxic self-criticism
✅ The emotional cost of “Stanford Duck Syndrome” in medicine
✅ Strategies to build self-compassion and reframe harmful inner narratives

About the Guest:

Dr. Stuart Slavin is a Pediatrician, Medical Educator, and Vice President for Well-Being at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). A national leader in physician mental health, he has led transformative initiatives to improve the well-being of residents, fellows, and faculty across the country.

His pioneering work in redesigning medical education to reduce student depression and anxiety—while maintaining academic excellence—has gained national recognition. Dr. Slavin’s research focuses on maladaptive perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and the toxic thought patterns that undermine mental health in high-achieving environments.

He was prominently featured in the award-winning documentary Do No Harm and continues to advocate for reshaping the culture of medicine to prioritize psychological safety and sustainable success for the next generation of physicians.

🎙 About the Host:

Dr. Amna Shabbir is a Dual Board-certified Geriatrics and Internal Medicine Physician, Master Certified Coach, Professional Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, and Super Mom. She is the Founder of Amna Shabbir Wellness Coaching and the Early Career Physicians Institute®, where she empowers high achievers to redefine success and create sustainable well-being.

This episode is part of her special book writing project on unmasking perfectionism.

🔹 Connect with Dr. Shabbir:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❗ Important Notes:

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health challenges. Please take care while listening. For support, call or text 988 for free, confidential help.

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast!
Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.