Compassionate and Effective Therapy
for Perfectionists & People-Pleasers
Serving adults across Colorado with virtual sessions that fit your life.
Are you always trying to meet everyone else’s expectations, but never feeling like you’re truly meeting your own?
Many of my clients come to therapy feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, or people-pleasing—patterns that may have once helped them succeed or feel safe but now feel impossible to maintain.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, struggling with burnout, or losing yourself to perfectionism, you’re not alone. These feelings can show up in many ways, whether it’s the drive to overachieve, the need to please others, or the constant worry that you’re not enough. It’s exhausting, and it’s easy to feel like you’re stuck.
Julia Schafer, LCSW
Welcome! I’m Julia.
I know what it’s like to appear put-together on the outside while feeling anxious and drained on the inside from trying so hard. For years, I measured my worth by how well I could anticipate others’ needs, avoid mistakes, and stay in control. It took time and support to learn that peace doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from connection, flexibility, and self-trust. Now, as a therapist, I work with teens and adults who are tired of feeling “never enough,” helping them respond to themselves with more compassion, clarity, and calm.
My approach blends curiosity, evidence-based tools, and trauma-informed care. Together, we’ll explore the deeper roots of your stress and self-doubt, and how they might be keeping you in survival mode. I’ll help you challenge the inner critic, build emotional regulation skills, and reconnect with the parts of you that have been ignored or overprotected. This work isn’t about becoming a “better” version of yourself—it’s about becoming more you!
Let’s Connect
Let’s start with a free 15-30 minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit.
📞 Call or Text: (720) 255-1855
📩 Email: julia@middlepathcounselingco.com
Treatment Specialties
Do you often feel like things need to be “just right” before you can relax or move on?
OCD
Do you often feel restless, on edge, or unable to fully relax, even when nothing is technically wrong?
Anxiety
OCPD
Do rigid standards, perfectionism, or a need for control make it difficult to relax or let things go?
Do you have a hard time saying “no,” even when you’re overwhelmed or exhausted?
People-Pleasing
Do you set extremely high standards for yourself, and still feel like you’re falling short?
Perfectionism
Treatment Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Trauma-Focused Talk Therapy
Solution Focused Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Unified Protocol (UP)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Healing and balance are possible. and therapy can help guide you toward that.
Client Testimonials
“After my first session with Julia I knew we had an instant connection. Julia’s warmth, sense of humor and compassion made sessions feel like catching up with an old friend. Her approach was conversational yet tailored to my individual goals, which allowed me to explore patterns of thought and emotions in a non-judgmental environment. Gradually as sessions went by I felt myself gain confidence, deeper understanding of my emotions, and better management of day to day anxiety. I left every session feeling lighter, happier and more content with myself.”
— L.B.
"Julia is an incredible therapist and an even better human! I truly felt heard and cared for while in her office and online. Julia takes a very direct and scientific approach to her therapy, always rooting her approach with the most relevant literature available. The combination of the human-centered and science driven approach makes Julia one-of-a-kind."
— M.B.