Sensitive Stories

Do you feel pressured to do more than you can handle? In this episode, I talk with Amber Bateman, LPC about the cultural pressures to be perfect and: 

• How to soften these pressures to take better care of yourself every day 

• The importance of creating a lifestyle and rhythm that embraces self-care  

• Welcoming in curiosity, connection, and slow living to support your sensitive nervous system 

Amber is a licensed professional couns...

How often do you take care of yourself? In this episode, I talk with Angelique Foye-Fletcher, LMFT, RPT about breaking the cycle of self-sacrifice and:  

• How your cultural upbringing shapes your identity as an HSP 

• Learning to take care of yourself when you grew up in an environment or culture that didn’t have room for your sensitivity 

• Why simple acts of mindfulness are deeply healing and can change the way you parent 

Angelique...

What is your connection to spirituality? In this episode, I talk with Tiffany Green, LCPC, SEP, MBA, MDiv about the benefits of feeling connected to something beyond yourself and: 

• How spiritual practices help you embrace your sensitivity, care for your nervous system, enhance your natural intuitive ability, and create a sense of belonging 

• Three keys to developing a spiritual practice 

• The many ways to incorporate spirituality...

Do you get overly attached to fictional characters, musicians, or other people who live in the public eye? In this episode, I talk with Lana Holmes, Psy.D., LCP about the pros and cons of parasocial relationships as well as:  

• Why HSPs are more impacted by parasocial connections  

• The purpose of parasocial relationships that serve as role models, provide a sense of belonging, or build self-esteem 

• The downsides of forming attach...

Do you feel constantly disconnected from yourself? In this episode, I talk with Lynn Salmon-Easter about energetically clearing away the stress and: 

• The benefits of energy healing and therapeutic touch for highly sensitive people 

• Daily practices to feel more energized and calm 

• Differentiating your emotions from others to reconnect with your intuition

• Finding your authentic self through embodied presence      

Lynn is a highl...

Do you constantly feel exhausted? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Karen Lamb about the connection between sensitivity and burnout as well as: 

• The emotional and physical signs of burnout 

• What nutrients are essential for deep processing  

• Why sleep, hydration, and digestion are essential areas of physiological self-care  

Karen is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor and Licensed Counselor specializing in helping highly sensitive and ...

Have you ignored your needs for too long? In this episode, I talk with Jess Beagan about going at your own pace and:  

• The benefits of making a career change and weaving more flexibility into your schedule 

• Asking for help especially when you’re supporting others in some capacity 

• The transition to working from home for an HSP 

• Prepping for time off without getting overwhelmed  

Jess is a former Recreation Therapist turned Virtu...

Do you hide your sensitivity and push yourself beyond your limits? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Huong Diep about breaking old patterns of masking and: 

• The process of unmasking and making room for your sensitivity 

• Navigating the push-pull of simultaneously craving rest and stimulation as a High Sensation Seeker (HSS) 

• The challenges of being a BIPOC HSP growing up in an immigrant family 

Huong is a board-certified psycholog...

Do you have mysterious fatigue or physical symptoms? In this episode, I talk with Audrey Burke, LMBT, SEP about the somatic impact of stress and trauma as well as:  

• Connections between early life trauma, emotional dysregulation, and high sensitivity 

• The different types of trauma present from birth through adulthood 

• The long-term impact of adverse babyhood and childhood experiences  

• How to increase resilience and begin heali...

Are you holding up everyone else at your own expense? In this episode, I talk with Noni Vaughn-Pollard, NDTR, MHC-LP about unlearning perfectionism and: 

• Finding those safe spaces to receive support  

• The unique challenges of sensitive black girls  

• Giving yourself permission to be soft and sensitive when you need to  

• The impact of superwoman syndrome 

• Navigating internal and external messages that block your intuition and t...

Do you struggle with big emotions? In this episode, I talk with Tori Deal about what to keep in your emotional regulation toolkit and:  

• Building emotional resilience through poetry, meditation, and movement  

• The importance of creating safe spaces for yourself when facing challenges 

• Three types of meditation and their benefits  

• Balancing your needs to be creative and introspective while being in the spotlight 

On the surface,...

Does sex feel uncomfortable or overstimulating? In this episode, I talk with Caitlin Weber, LMFT, CST about the barriers to enjoyable sex as a highly sensitive person and:  

• How to carve out the time and mental space for sex as an HSP 

• Managing the physical discomfort, boredom, and emotional overwhelm that may happen during sex  

• What to do when you have a low sex drive  

• How to break free from linear models of sex

Caitlin Weber...

Are you getting enough time for what you love? In this episode, I talk with Brian Zirngible, LMFT about balancing your career and creative passions as an HSP and:  

• Regulating overwhelm and burnout with music, breathwork, and movement  

• Finding time for what nourishes you through boundaries and communication 

• How improv can support HSPs in being more flexible and resilient  

Brian is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist wit...

Are you overwhelmed by clutter? In this episode, I talk with Rebecca Jo-Rushdy about the impacts of tidying up and:  

• How clutter and tidying up impacts our emotional, mental, and physical health  

• The importance of digital boundaries and creating a sanctuary in your home

• Letting go of what doesn’t bring you joy and finding gratitude for your belongings  

• Intentionally going through the six stages of the KonMari method of tidyi...

Are you struggling with infertility? In this episode, I talk with Liz Gray, LCSW, RPT about her IVF journey through an HSP lens and:  

• The physical, emotional, and mental impact of infertility treatment 

• Why you should ask questions and trust your instincts when interviewing providers  

• Transitioning into parenthood and navigating postpartum as a highly sensitive person  

Liz is a Highly Sensitive Person, certified EMDR therapist...

Have you been misunderstood and put into a box? In this episode, I talk with Lana Holmes, Psy.D., LCP about the complexities of being highly sensitive and black as well as:  

• Honoring your thresholds even if others misinterpret resting as laziness  

• Embracing all parts of who you are and loving your sensitivity  

• Untangling stereotypes to recognize other people for who they truly are 

• How to uplift and include all members of ou...

Are you constantly putting your needs last? In this episode, I talk with Dorothy Meyer about finding the courage to care for yourself and:

• Breaking free from perfectionism with small snippets of self-care  

• Resetting from burnout by leaning on your support system and resources  

• Closing the gap between your passions and your career to find more meaningful work 

• Carving out time for your favorite forms of self-care like reading...

Are you burning out trying to make change and fight injustice? In this episode, I talk with Dorcas Cheng-Tozun about sustainable social advocacy and:  

• The six roles of social justice work 

• Why the extroverted activist ideal isn’t accurate or sustainable  

• Pacing yourself and taking time for rest to make more impact in your volunteer or nonprofit work 

• Benefits of having diverse personalities and interdependent communities   

Do...

Are you carving out space to grieve? In this episode, I talk with Nichola Day about grieving through the seasons: 

• Intentionally practicing rituals and finding community to honor grief throughout the year

• Prioritizing self-care and rest during times of grief 

• Finding your personal and seasonal rhythms to reconnect with your values

• Unfolding the complexities of grief, from the acute lo...