Psychotherapy to help high achieving adults move beyond perfectionism, trauma, and people-pleasing into more connected, fulfilling relationships.
Free 15 minute consultation
Carley Irwin (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
Therapy for Perfectionism and Relationship Issues
in Akron Ohio
Individual Therapy &
Couples Therapy
In Person and Virtual Sessions
Affirming care for the LGBTQ+ community and non-monogamous lifestyles
Masking Through Competence
High Achievers
You are the capable one and learned to be reliable early in life by holding things together
You are the main person managing households, emotions, and relationships
You’re great at problem solving (even if it’s not your problem)
You feel like you can’t rest or things will fall apart
You feel exhausted from managing everything
People-Pleasers
You sacrifice your own needs for everyone else’s
You struggle to understand or establish boundaries
It’s hard to make decisions on your own because you fear being judged
People call you their best friend but you feel like no one really knows you
You spend much of your time anticipating others’ needs
You feel hyper vigilant when around other people
Relational Challenges
Relationship Difficulty
Repeating the same patterns across relationships
Difficulty setting or maintaining boundaries
People-pleasing habits
Feeling responsible for
others’ emotionsConflict avoidance
Choosing unavailable or incompatible partners
Feeling like you’re “doing more” than the other person
Struggling to understand
and communicate needs clearly
Intimacy Difficulty
Struggling to open up or share what you really feel
Feeling safer being the “strong one” than being vulnerable
Overanalyzing interactions for fear of being too much/not enough
Finding yourself disconnected even in close relationships
Not trusting others to be able to hold space for your needs
Actively avoiding moments that might lead to emotional/physical intimacy
Treatment Specializations
Relationship Issues
Perfectionism
People Pleasing
Communication Skills
Low Self-Esteem
Life Transitions
Sexuality & Intimacy
Complex Trauma
LGBTQ+ Support
Carley Irwin
Licensed Professional Counselor
Working with Me
On the outside, you look composed. On the inside, you’re overwhelmed, disconnected, or quietly unraveling and no one seems to notice because you’re so good at performing stability.
I work especially well with people navigating perfectionism, difficulty in relationships, blocks in practicing intimacy, and sexuality exploration. Many of my clients are discovering who they are beyond expectations, untangling performance pressure, deepening relationships, or healing from complex trauma.
Therapy with me is a space to slow down and hear your own voice. Together, we’ll explore what authenticity actually means for you, not what you’ve been told it should look like. We’ll gently examine the roles you’ve learned to play, the parts of you that feel hidden, and the patterns that are no longer working for you.
My approach is rooted in trauma-informed care and attachment theory. Through this lens, we explore the experiences that lead you to today's struggles. We will reimagine what balance could look like in your life; closeness and autonomy, safety and healthy risk, transparency and boundaries. Not perfection.
Not performance.
Supervised by Julie Labanz
(Ohio / E.2102378-SUPV)
“It’s the RELATIONSHIP
that heals.”
- Irvin Yalom
My approach to therapy is relational. The challenges my clients often face stem from a broken sense of safety and connection with others. This suffering is healed relationally by feeling cared for and through experiencing a sense of safety in relationship to others. Psychotherapist Patricia Young describes it best…
“to survive, a self disconnects from the source of pain and learns how to live in emotional isolation. The pain of broken relationships morphs into a lifelong pattern of disconnection from self and others.”
I show up as a real person in my work. I feel genuinely interested in understanding your ideas, personality, humor, and I believe that you benefit from me revealing my own humanity in return. Let’s be real, it’s hard to let go and show up authentically. Being messy feels messy. But it’s absolutely welcome and valued here.
Welcome to the Office
Located in Akron, Ohio
Book a 15 Minute Consultation
Contact Form
For all other questions please use this form