Perfectionism with Professor Tracy Wade

On this week’s episode I am delighted to be introducing you to our next special guest Professor and Dean of the School of Psychology at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, Dr. Tracey Wade. Tracy is the Director of the Flinders Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, of the Blackbird Research Initiative and of Flinders University Services for Eating Disorders (FUSED). Tracy is Editor- in- Chief of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) journal Clinical Psychologist and is a member of the Steering Committee of National Eating Disorder Collaboration in Australia. She is a recipient of the Ian M. Campbell Memorial Prize and the Early Career Award for her outstanding contribution to the scientific or professional status of clinical Psychology in 2000 and 2003.  

Tracy has worked in the clinical area of eating disorders for almost 30 years and has co- written 3 therapy books one including ‘Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment of Perfectionism’ as well as has over 200 publications in peer reviewed journals. Where In 2016 Tracy was made an Inaugural Honorary Fellow of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy. In 2015 Tracy was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Science in Australia, and she was the president of the Eating Disorder Research Society in 2017-2018. Tracy is on the Management Committee responsible for the oversight and development of the new State-wide Eating Disorders Service in South Australia and is a member of the federally funded Steering Committee of the National Eating Disorder Collaboration. In 2017-18 Tracy was President of the Eating Disorder Research Society, and in 2018-20 she was a member of the Million Minds Expert Advisory Panel. Where in 2019 she was appointed Fellow of the APS and is currently an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Eating Disorders. Tracy is also a member of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration steering committee commissioned by the Federal Government which informs policy development in the area of eating disorder prevention and treatment. Where in 2019 to 2022 she was a member of the Eating Disorders Technical Advisory Committee, advising the Federal Department of Health on matters related to eating disorders.

So, as you can see, Professor Tracy Wade is a renowned Academic and Lecturer at Flinders University, contributing immensely to the knowledge on Eating Disorders, CBT, Perfectionism, and body image. That is why I am so happy to be able to speak to her here on the BodyMatters Podcast as she is really passionate about unpacking all things 'perfect'. So please enjoy enjoy!

Podcast summary:

1. Being fixated on rigid goals

2. Placing self- worth on external achievements

3. Obtaining the goal is never satisfying

4. Perfectionism vs striving for excellence

5. Starting to notice the positive or worthwhile things

6. Going beyond perfectionism

Links from the episode:

BodyMatters Australasia Website: https://bodymatters.com.au/

BodyMatters Instagram: bodymattersau

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