The Codependent Perfectionist

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The Codependent Perfectionist is a series on the dynamics of codependency and perfectionism. Alana self identifies as the Codependent Perfectionist, giving you a mix of psychoeducation and anecdotes from her own work as a therapist to understand how these

Alana Carvalho


    • Apr 14, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 20m AVG DURATION
    • 58 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Codependent Perfectionist podcast has been a transformative and invaluable resource for healing from codependency. In fact, it has provided more help in my journey than a year of therapy. Alana, the host, has a remarkable ability to make learning about codependency and perfectionism accessible through her interviews and solo sessions. She shares numerous examples of how codependency manifests in our lives, allowing listeners to gain a deeper understanding of themselves. This podcast serves as a valuable first step towards healing codependency.

    The best aspect of this podcast is the way Alana explains patterns without making listeners feel broken. She creates an environment that is supportive and non-judgmental, which is crucial when addressing such deeply ingrained behaviors. The insights shared in each episode have opened my eyes to how I can actually start healing from codependency. Even after just a few episodes, I already feel a renewed sense of hope that I haven't experienced in a long time. If I lived closer to Alana, she would undoubtedly be the perfect therapist for me.

    While the content of the podcast is incredibly helpful, there are some aspects that could be improved upon. For example, the podcast lacks an introduction and the audio quality sometimes leaves much to be desired. However, these minor issues seem inconsequential when compared to the wealth of information and guidance provided. The content truly takes center stage, making up for any shortcomings in production quality.

    In conclusion, The Codependent Perfectionist podcast is an essential resource for anyone struggling with codependency or perfectionism within their relationships or personal lives. It offers profound insights into complex behaviors and provides practical steps towards healing and self-growth. The content may be rough around the edges at times, but its value lies in the transformative impact it has on listeners' lives. This podcast has undoubtedly played a significant role in saving many individuals from the grip of codependency and is a testament to the vital work Alana is doing.



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    Latest episodes from The Codependent Perfectionist

    Chronic Pain & Codependency with Dr. Tawny Kross

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 18:12


    In this episode, we're exploring the connection between chronic pain, people pleasing, and perfectionism.

    Principles of Recovery with Kim Gross

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 24:33


    In this episode, we explore some key principles of recovery that Kim Gross talks about in her new book - Free to Be: A Pathway to Inner Liberation. Specifically, we touch on the importance of healing the inner child and also taking responsibility in recovery.

    Body Image, Perfectionism and Joy with Alana VanDerSluys

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 25:25


    In this episode, we have special guest, Alana VanDerSluys, talking about body image, eating disorder recovery and the connection with perfectionism. Alana shares about her own recovery journey and talks about her book Freedom with Food and Fitness.

    Understanding Narcissistic Abuse with Sheri Heller LCSW, RSW

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 24:10


    In this episode, Alana and Sheri are exploring narcissistic abuse and how to support someone who may be in a narcissistic relationship.

    Supporting a Loved One with Mental Illness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 10:30


    In this episode, we discuss the difference between support and enabling when it comes to a loved one struggling with a mental health issue.

    Adult Children of Narcissistic Parents & Coping with Mother's/Father's Day

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 22:10


    In this episode, we have special guest Taylor Damiani. We're talking about how to cope with the holidays if you're an adult child of a narcissistic parents.

    Working on Anxiety and Making Changes with Sabrina Zohar

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 17:24


    In today's episode, we have dating coach Sabrina Zohar from Do The Work Podcast discussing her own journey working through anxiety, learning how to depersonalize and make changes to support herself.

    Repeated Patterns in Codependency Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 10:13


    In this episode, we're talking all about how we tend to get repeated people and situations in our life and there's an important reason why!

    Thoughtful Communication in Codependency Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024 11:11


    In today's episode, we're talking about the importance of being thoughtful in how we communicate. Alana also shares on the difference of thinking through what we want to share versus walking on eggshells in relationships.

    Talking About Relationships, Recovery, and Intimacy with Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2023 28:36


    In this episode, Alana and Dr. Liz chat about codependency recovery and how early child dynamics impact our adult relationships.

    Understanding How Childhood with a Narcissistic Parent Impacts Codependency

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2023 9:36


    In this solo episode, Alana speaks to how improper mirroring in childhood can impact our identity formation in our adulthood.

    Talking All About "The Work" with Jacqueline Hurst

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2023 25:24


    In today's episode, we're talking all about doing "the work" with Jacqueline Hurst and the willingness needed to go through the ups and downs of the therapeutic process. We chat about the difficulty of taking risks, putting up boundaries, and the benefits of getting to a place of peace.

    Codependency Recovery, Self Love and the Importance of Presence with Candy Washington

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 32:38


    In this episode, we're chatting with Candy Washington on all things codependency recovery. Candy shares how she moved from a place of codependency to self love, presence and peace.

    Perfectionism & Mental Health with Young Adults & Teens with Megan Gallagher

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2023 31:31


    In today's episode we're talking about mental health issues with young adults & teens. Megan shares her journey from discovering her own mental health issues to working on her recovery.

    Understanding the Shadow

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 13:58


    In this episode, we're exploring the Jungian concept of the Shadow and how to relate it to recovery.

    Parenting Spicy Children with Heidi Rogers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2022 41:33


    In this episode, we're talking with Heidi Rogers about parenting “spicy” children and how this differs from parenting neurotypical kids. We talk about what it's like to be a codependent perfectionist parents of these kids and offer parenting strategies to help you navigate it more effectively.

    Talking all about the True Self & Our Inner Voices with a Podcast Listener

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 29:36


    In today's discussion, we are talking all about inner voices. Specifically, we're explaining the difference between negative self talk and the inner self, how we distinguish between the 2 and how to show love to ourselves in recovery. *Please excuse the technical issues*

    A Candid Chat on Parenting with a Podcast Listener

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 29:13


    In today's episode, I chat with a listener named Susan all about parenting. We discuss topics including making space for ourselves as mothers, how to navigate issues around codependency and perfectionism and much more!

    Understanding Love Addiction with Sherry Gaba, LCSW

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2022 24:48


    In today's episode, we're talking all about love addiction and codependency with Sherry Gaba, author of Love Smacked! We explore what love addiction looks like, trauma bonding, boundaries and more. You can find out more about Sherry and her online e-book & quiz here: https://sherrygaba.com/npquiz.

    Clearing Up Misconceptions in Codependency

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 15:25


    Today we're talking about some common questions people have when they're working on recovering from codependency. We'll clear up what codependency is not and consider where the line is between caring and codependency.

    Truth, Stories, & Oracle Cards!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 13:32


    In this episode, we explore the use or Oracle Cards and how to use them in the healing process. We also discuss the concept of Truth and the different ways this relates to the recovery process.

    The Mindset of Victim in Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2021 11:56


    In this episode, we explore how the mindset of victim can impact our recovery and ability to heal. We discuss what victim mindset means and how to go from disempowered to empowered!

    Trauma Bonding & Recreating Relationship Patterns

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 15:43


    In today's episode, we discuss trauma bonding and why it's important for us to recreate relationship patterns in order to heal.

    Parenting & Self-Care with Heather Chauvin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 34:37


    In today's episode, we chat with Heather Chauvin, author of Dying to Be A Good Mother. We discuss issues around balance as a parent, codependency, perfectionism and Heather's journey through cancer recovery that helped her learn to take care of herself.

    The Importance of Language in Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2021 10:55


    In this episode we'll explore how language is an essential piece to improving relationships in the recovery process.

    Spirituality in the Healing Process

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 11:57


    In this episode we discuss how spirituality can play an important role in recovery from codependency and perfectionism.

    Gaslighting with Children

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2021 12:08


    In today's episode we explore what the concept of gaslighting looks like in our interactions with children. We'll identify terminology that could lead children to feel less trust in themselves and how to change it.

    Depersonalizing Other's Behavior

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 10:23


    In this episode, we're talking depersonalizing and learning how to separate out what's about us vs. what's about someone else.

    Using Oracle Cards for Healing

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2021 10:20


    In this episode, I explain what oracle cards are, how they came about and how they can be used to strengthen one's healing journey and relationship to Spirit!

    Codependency & Coping with Food with Dani Bryant

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2021 20:49


    In this episode, Dani Bryant and I take a look at the connection between food as a coping mechanism and codependency. We tackle the Karpman's drama triangle, what it really means to binge eat, and having compassion for ourselves in how we deal with our emotional struggles.

    Prevention Parenting Strategies for Young Children with Polina Shkadron

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2021 37:41


    In today's episode, Polina Shkadron and I explore the importance of prevention with children and what it looks like. Polina gives some practical tools that parents can implement to help their children learn coping skills.

    The Mother-Daughter Relationship Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 17:14


    In this episode, I explore how the daughter can go about healing a codependent relationship with their parent. We're talking taking risks and learning to stand in our power!

    The Mother-Daughter Relationship

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2021 16:10


    In todays episode I explore the mother-daughter dynamic. Specifically, I tackle how codependency and perfectionism can easily creep into the relationship and what we can do to begin to move out of the dysfunction.

    Codependency & Couples with Christie Kim

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 23:30


    In this episode, we're chatting with Christie Kim, LMHC on how healing can happen in a codependent relationship especially through the lens of Emotionally Focused Therapy.

    Moving from Enmeshment to Empathy through Nuance Thinking

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2021 11:24


    Today we're talking about how changing how we think can influence our ability to experience empathy rather than enmeshment.

    Codependency & Perfectionism in the Black Community with Ariel Emmanuel & Camille Lester

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2020 28:12


    In this episode, we explore the cultural context of codependency and perfectionism in the Black community with mental health therapists Ariel Emmanuel & Camille Lester.

    Codependency, Women & the Holidays with Johannah Bogart

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 21:13


    Today we're talking codependency and perfectionism in women, especially people pleasing with Johannah Bogart! We also dive into the holidays and gives some thoughts on how we can work on people pleasing over the holiday time.

    Codependency & Relationships with Robert Sullivan

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2020 26:37


    Today Robert and I are discussing relationships based on codependency, how we can make changes to support ourselves and our sense of self-worth.

    Perfectionism & Body Image with Dani Bryant

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2020 31:40


    Today we're talking all about body image with Dani Bryant! Especially it's connection with perfectionism, where this comes from and how we can work on healing it.

    Codependency & Alcohol with the Discerning Drinker

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2020 14:30


    In this episode, Alana chats with Lindsey Pratt, the Discerning Drinker, discussing out of balance alcohol usage and it's connection with codependency.

    Spirituality, Codependency, & Perfectionism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2020 11:40


    Today we're talking about spirituality and it's connection to codependency & perfectionism. Codependency can be thought of as a lack of faith and perfectionism as a lack of trust. Listen to find out more about how to work through these spiritual issues!

    Parenting Advice with Dr. Sarah Bren - Episode 17

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2020 19:12


    In this episode, Dr. Sarah Bren and I discuss attachment, the good enough parent, attending to your child's emotions, postpartum anxiety and more!

    Your Relationship with Your Codependent Parent - Episode 16

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2020 8:09


    In this episode, we're discussing the issues with your codependent parent. What it looks like, emotions that are often present, and why it's often dysfunctional.

    Codependency & Narcissism - Episode 15

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2020 21:53


    In this episode we have 2 special guests: Alana Barlia and Lindsey Pratt! Together, we talk about narcissism, personality disorders and codependency, especially common narcissistic traits, relationship patterns, and what to do if you're in one!

    Parenting & COVID-19 - Episode 14

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2020 13:51


    Today I'm talking about parenting during the COVID-19 epidemic. Giving some support and tips on how to manage!

    The Codependent Perfectionist Episode 13

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2020 22:29


    Today I interview 2 wonderful parents who have done some great work on their own codependency issues! Listen to them share their story of why they came into the support group and how they worked towards a new relationship with their children.

    The Codependent Perfectionist Episode 12

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2020 10:17


    It's all about Karpman's drama triangle today! We're discussing and identifying the different roles codependents take on in relationships.

    The Codependent Perfectionist Episode 11

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2020 10:00


    Today we're discussing codependency with siblings, adult and child! If you have this dynamic with any siblings or are concerned you're doing this as a parent, this episode is for you!

    The Codependent Perfectionist Episode 10

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2019 9:32


    Today we're talking friendship & codependency! In this episode, you will hear some of the ways codependency can show up in a friendship. From putting in more than the other person to not saying no, we cover some big relational issues.

    The Codependent Perfectionist Episode 9

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2019 10:07


    Today we're talking codependency in parenting with adult children. In this podcast, I explore what to do when you find yourself in an enabling dynamic with your adult child.

    The Codependent Perfectionist Episode 8

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2019 11:53


    We're talking stages of change in the recovery process today! Learn how it looks and where you may be at. As well as common issues that come up when we're working on our codependency and perfectionism!

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