Dr. Breese Annable

Clinical Psychologist | Speaker

Where achievement, ambition & midlife evolution align

I speak to high-achieving women about the Achievement Paradox—why the strategies that built their success become the barriers to their evolution in midlife.

The Challenge:

These accomplished women arrive successful but secretly stuck. They’ve built impressive careers and lives, yet feel increasingly disconnected from both. They sign up seeking “work-life balance” or “stress management,” but what they actually need is to understand why their proven success strategies no longer deliver the same satisfaction or meaning.

The Approach:

Drawing on nearly 20 years as a clinical psychologist and my Achievement Paradox framework, I provide practical, psychologically-grounded insights that go beyond surface-level motivation. My talks combine clinical depth with actionable strategies, helping accomplished women navigate the identity evolution that midlife demands while evolving—not abandoning—their ambition.

The Outcome:

Women leave understanding exactly why success feels empty, with tools for navigating midlife transitions, and a framework for evolving ambition without being bound to the version of success they built at 30.

Speaking Topics

The Achievement Paradox:

Why Success Strategies Fail in Midlife

The Perfectionism Trap:

Why Doing Everything Right Keeps You Stuck

From Performance to Process:

Navigating the Midlife Identity Shift

Learn More

Speaking & Retreat Inquiries

About Dr. Breese Annable

Dr. Breese Annable is a clinical psychologist and speaker working at the intersection of high achievement and midlife evolution. During her 20 years of practice, she saw a striking pattern: women who had achieved significant professional success were privately restless, resentful, or exhausted. They had done everything “right”—yet the very strategies that once fueled their success had become barriers to even imagining what could come next.

Her own midlife reckoning mirrored what she saw in her clients. That combination of clinical expertise and lived experience led her to develop the Achievement Paradox—a framework that explains why the very strategies that once fueled success become barriers in midlife, and how ambition can be redefined so it generates fulfillment, not just achievement.

Her message is clear: high-achieving women don’t need another productivity hack. They need to understand why the playbook that once worked now holds them back—and how to recalibrate ambition so work feels engaging, impactful, and energizing again.

Training & Credentials

Clinical psychologist extensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, Approved Consultant/Supervisor through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals

20-Year Yoga & Meditation Practitioner | 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Featured expert in Forbes, Business Insider, and Well+Good.

Available for keynotes, retreat sessions, and multi-day programs.

Contact to Book Speaking

Work With Me

Speaking

Keynotes and retreat sessions that show high achieving women why the very strategies that built their success become barriers in midlife—and how to evolve ambition without losing their edge.

Learn More

Therapy

Therapy for women like you—accomplished but exhausted from overperformance, whether it shows up in your career, your identity, or your relationship with food and body image.

Learn More

For Clinicians

Evidence-based trainings and consultation in eating disorders and DBT—grounded in both research and nearly 20 years of clinical practice.

Learn More