Sensitive Stories

32: Embracing Depth and Connection as a Highly Sensitive Person Oct 22, 2024

Are you leaning into the positive experiences of being highly sensitive? In this episode, I talk with Tom Falkenstein about the beauty of connecting deeply as an HSP and:
• The correlation between sensitivity and mental health
• Unique struggles and opportunities of being a highly sensitive man
• Understanding that sensitivity is not a burden or a deficit, but a neutral trait that you’re born with
• How highly sensitive people benefit more from therapy and other positive supports due to differential susceptibility
Tom is a psychologist (M.A.), cognitive behavioural psychotherapist, and author of the book "The Highly Sensitive Man" (Kensington Books, 2019), which has been translated into several languages. He has been working as a psychotherapist since 2006, both in Germany and the UK, and developed an interest in sensitivity during his psychotherapeutic work in London in the early 2010s. He was trained and supervised by Dr Elaine Aron for several years. His work has been featured in numerous podcasts, on television and in international publications, including The Telegraph, Psychology Today and Men's Health. He has also appeared in the documentary "Sensitive Men Rising" (2024) by Will Harper. Singer-songwriter-activist Alanis Morissette described Tom's book "The Highly Sensitive Man" as "a breath of fresh air in the midst of a cultural determination to reduce toxic masculinity. This book is a balm, a movement, and a revelation." Tom runs a private practice in London and is completing a PhD on sensitivity and mental health at Queen Mary University of London with Prof Michael Pluess.
Keep in touch with Tom:
• Website: http://www.tomfalkenstein.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tom.falkenstein
Resources Mentioned:
• The Highly Sensitive Man by Tom Falkenstein: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780806539331

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

31: Surrendering into Softness + Less Anxiety Through Music Oct 15, 2024

Are you pushing yourself beyond your limits? In this episode, I talk with Maya Benattar, LCAT about ways to soften into rest and connection with yourself and:
• Using music and other sensory experiences to understand your emotions more clearly
• Leaning into softness and being gentle with yourself more often • Unhooking from the pressure to always overextend yourself
• Finding the balance between doing and being, action and rest
• The importance of having your emotions and experiences be seen and held by another
Maya is a licensed music psychotherapist in private practice in NYC, helping highly sensitive women live with less anxiety, access true confidence and finally detach from "I'm not good enough". She relishes explorations around sensitivity, big feelings, family baggage, and creativity. In addition to her private practice, Maya provides wellness workshops and professional development trainings.
Keep in touch with Maya:
• Website: https://www.mayabenattar.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayabenattar
Resources Mentioned:
• Exhale + Soften Guided Humming Exercise: https://insighttimer.com/mayabenattar/guided-meditations/exhale-and-soften-guided-humming

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

30: Express Your Big Emotions Out Loud Oct 08, 2024

Did you learn to repress your emotions as a kid or are you figuring out how to support the big emotions of your HSP kiddo? In this episode, I talk with Sarita Fichtner about the importance of expressing your emotions from an early age and:
• Long-term effects of being labeled “too sensitive” or “lazy” as a young HSP
• The profound impact of discovering your sensitivity on your mental health
• What’s possible when you set boundaries and support your sensitivity
• Dancing between bliss and survival mode as an HSP parent
Sarita is the children's book author of "Pop Out Loud". She struggled deeply with poor mental health from a young age, until her late twenties when she discovered the term "highly sensitive person". Sarita was then able to shift her circumstances from feeling defeated to feeling empowered, and build a life that thrives on a highly sensitive nervous system. "Pop Out Loud, First Day of School" is her debut book of the series which embraces emotions and honors sensitivity.
Keep in touch with Sarita:
• Website: http://www.saritaimagined.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saritaimagined
Resources Mentioned:
• Pop Out Loud children’s book: http://www.saritaimagined.com
• The Highly Sensitive Person by Dr. Elaine Aron: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780553062182
• Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781401938093
• The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781401946555

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

29: Gently Building a Relationship with Yourself as an HSP Oct 01, 2024

Do you feel disconnected from yourself and your needs? In this episode, I talk with Elizabeth Cush, LCPC about being more gentle with yourself and:
• Finding your way to acceptance of your sensitivity through self-compassion
• Practicing simple acts of mindfulness to understand what you need moment to moment
• Slowing down to nurture all parts of yourself and your life
• Living a balanced life with less overwhelm
Elizabeth is a life coach for highly sensitive women, a licensed clinical professional counselor, and business owner. She’s also the host of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast. She incorporates the body, mind, and spirit into her work. As a life coach, she helps sensitive women who feel stressed and overwhelmed find balance, flow, and ease to fully enjoy the beautiful life they’ve created. When she’s not working she’s traveling, and hanging outdoors with her husband and dachshund Elvis.
Keep in touch with Elizabeth:
• Website: https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakenyourwisewoman
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethcushlcpc3220
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethcushlcpc
• Podcast: https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast
Resources Mentioned:
• Sacred Support Circles for Sensitive Women: https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com/hsp-group-coaching-for-women
• A Guide to navigating friendships in Midlife: https://freeguide.elizabethcush.com
• The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781462526789

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

28: Caring For Your Needs as a Highly Sensitive Parent Sep 24, 2024

Are you overwhelmed and exhausted trying to be the perfect parent? In this episode, I talk with Amy Lajiness, LCSW, PMH-C about highly sensitive parenthood and:
• What to do when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and touched out
• How pregnancy and parenting multiple children can increase overstimulation, leading to panic attacks, rage, or somatic symptoms
• Creating a sensory toolkit and finding micro pockets of time to take the edge off the anxiety and reconnect with yourself as a human
• Ways to get support when you’re the sole parent or don’t have others to help
• The importance of disconnecting from the parenting advice noise to reconnect with your own values as a parent
• Modeling and reinforcing your needs to kids who are not developmentally able to understand boundaries or self-care
• Remembering that you don’t have to be perfect to be good enough as a parent
Amy is a Licensed Therapist and Coach who has spent countless hours supporting Highly Sensitive (HSP) parents in reclaiming their peace and confidence. Amy is a Highly Sensitive Person herself as well as a mother of two highly energetic young children. Amy holds certifications in Perinatal Mental Health and HSP, and is passionate about providing resources for HSP parents, teaching them how to harness their strengths and manage challenges with grace and confidence, in order to thrive in parenthood.
Keep in touch with Amy:
• Website: https://www.highlysensitiveparenthood.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highlysensitiveparenthood
Resources Mentioned:
• Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net/get-help
• Highly Sensitive Parenthood + Supporting Your Highly Sensitive Child Courses: https://www.highlysensitiveparenthood.com/courses - use the coupon code SENSITIVESTORIES at checkout for 25% off!
• Coaching with Amy: https://highlysensitiveparenthood.mykajabi.com/coaching - use the coupon code SENSITIVESTORIES at checkout for 25% off!
Thank you to Cozy Earth for sponsoring this episode.
Cozy Earth offers super soft and sustainably sourced bedding and loungewear. Use discount code SENSITIVE at checkout for up to 40% off. https://cozyearth.com

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

27: Soothing Anxiety + Getting Unstuck with Tapping Sep 17, 2024

Do you often get stuck in anxiety and overthinking? In this episode, I talk with Kate Hennessey about using tapping to self-soothe your sensitive nervous system and:
• The importance of setting up routines and of carving out time for self-care throughout every day
• Learning EFT tapping, breathwork, and other somatic resources for calming anxiety, fear, and grief
• Meeting yourself where you are and accepting your sensitivity
Kate is a highly sensitive person on a mission to help other HSP cultivate more self-love and strengthen their strong self-worth using EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) tapping and other somatic modalities. She's been a licensed massage therapist since 2017 and an EFT practitioner since 2021. Kate uses a somatic framework and takes a trauma-informed approach to guide others to transform shame, anxiety, and grief into power, freedom, and compassion.
Keep in touch with Kate:
• Website: https://katehennhealing.podia.com/efttapping
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katehenn.healing
Resources Mentioned:
To learn more about tapping and other somatic techniques to combat anxiety, anger, grief, download Kate’s free somatic sensitivity guide: https://katehennhealing.ck.page/332eb1f38c
Thank you to Cozy Earth for sponsoring this episode.
Cozy Earth offers super soft and sustainably sourced bedding and loungewear. Use discount code SENSITIVE at checkout for up to 40% off. https://cozyearth.com

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

26: Embracing Your Sensitivity + Socializing On Your Own Terms Sep 10, 2024

Have you gotten stuck in the belief that HSPs are fragile? In this episode, I talk with Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali, LMFT about celebrating your sensitivity and:
• Teaching people how to treat you and communicating that your needs are different
• Setting firm, but kind boundaries and how to manage pushback
• Finding fulfilling ways to socialize without the overwhelm or social pressure to show up like everyone else
• Rewriting the messages that say HSPs are weird, too sensitive, shy, or weak
• It’s possible for highly sensitive people to be ambitious, resilient, and strong
Ibinye is a licensed marriage and family therapist for couples and women with anxiety and insomnia. As a coach, she helps highly sensitive women set clear, kind boundaries, so they can put their needs at the forefront of their lives, stand up for themselves and rock social situations. When she's not working with HSPs she loves trying out new foods and taking naps.
Keep in touch with Ibinye:
• Website: http://www.thezinniapractice.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezinniapractice
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thezinniapractice
Resources Mentioned:
• Individual Coaching for Highly Sensitive Women: https://calendly.com/ibi-k7ob/consult
• HSP Self-Test: https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test
Thank you to Cozy Earth for sponsoring this episode.
Cozy Earth offers super soft and sustainably sourced bedding and loungewear. Use discount code SENSITIVE at checkout for up to 40% off. https://cozyearth.com

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

25: Using Nature to Recharge and Reconnect with Your Sensitive Self Sep 03, 2024

Is it difficult to find quiet spaces to think and reflect? In this episode, I talk with Jenna Mitchell, BSW, MSW, RSW about using nature as a resource to recharge and:
• How highly sensitive people are more connected and positively impacted by nature
• Taking your problems to nature when you’re stuck in overthinking or overwhelm
• Reconnecting with your creativity and intuition through nature
• The many ways to connect with nature inside and outside, using your five senses
• Intentionally engaging with nature to restore your mind and emotions
• Why it’s important to advocate for more accessible outdoor spaces
Jenna is a Registered Social Worker and Therapist in Ontario, and works in her private practice- Therapy for Sensitive Souls. She is also a highly sensitive person herself who feels this world deeply. Jenna works to help other highly sensitive humans rewrite their stories about sensitivity to shift from sensitivity as shame to sensitivity as strength. Jenna helps clients move towards building a loving and self-compassionate relationship to all parts of themselves.
Keep in touch with Jenna:
• Website: http://therapyforsensitivesouls.ca
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapyforsensitivesouls
Resources Mentioned:
• Jenna works virtually with highly sensitive adults who are Ontario residents. Set up a consult: http://therapyforsensitivesouls.ca
Thank you to Cozy Earth for sponsoring this episode.
Cozy Earth offers super soft and sustainably sourced bedding and loungewear. Use discount code SENSITIVE at checkout for up to 40% off. https://cozyearth.com

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

24: Honoring Your Energetic + Emotional Ebbs and Flows Aug 27, 2024

Do you worry you’re moving too slowly or not keeping up? In this solo episode I answer two listener questions:
• Any suggestions on how to cope when my deep processing translates to working much slower than everyone else?
• How do we find balance and a sustainable routine when feeling deeply and overwhelmed by the daily hustle?
April Snow, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist and author in California. She specializes in working with highly sensitive people to help calm the storm of overwhelm, anxiety, and self-doubt to allow their innate sensitive strengths to shine through. Deeply committed to changing the narrative of what it means to be highly sensitive, April has created and led HSP workshops all over the country as well as online through her Sensitive School. In addition to Find Your Strength: A Workbook for the Highly Sensitive Person, she has written Mindfulness Workbook for Stress Relief and The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person's Self-Care Journal.
Submit a Question: https://www.sensitivestories.com/ask
Additional Resources:
• High Sensation Seeking Self-Test: https://hsperson.com/test/high-sensation-seeking-test
• Watch the Sensitive Session on Softening Perfectionism: https://www.sensitivesessions.com
• The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism by Dr. Sharon Martin: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781684031535
• Find Your Strength: A Workbook for the Highly Sensitive Person by April Snow: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781577153009

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

23: The Grief + Hope in Being a Late Bloomer as an HSP Aug 20, 2024

Have you taken longer in life to meet certain milestones or discover yourself? In this episode, I talk with Melissa Giberson about being a late bloomer and:
• The healing power of language and being able to connect with others around your sensitivity
• How difficult, yet essential it is to have enough solitude and quiet for yourself
• Discovering your sensitivity, sexuality, and other parts of yourself at midlife
• Moving through the grief and finding hope when you need to follow a different path than what you originally set out on
• What’s possible when you listen to your inner voice and move through the mess of making a big life change
Melissa is an author, occupational therapist, and a proud mama bear to two children. Her essays have appeared in multiple online and in-print publications and her first book is Late Bloomer: Finding My Authentic Self At Midlife. A native New Yorker, she, her partner, and their two cats split their time between New Jersey and Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Keep in touch with Melissa:
• Website: https://www.melissagiberson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissagiberson031
Resources Mentioned:
• Late Bloomer: Finding My Authentic Self at Midlife by Melissa Giberson: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781647425197
• Kripalu Retreat Center: https://kripalu.org/

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

22: Coming Home to Your True Self with Somatic Healing Work Aug 13, 2024

Are you feeling disconnected with your body and constantly pushing yourself to do more? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Danica Harris about coming home to yourself and:
• Carving out space and time to reconnect with your true self as an HSP
• Finding ways to resource and care for your sensitive nervous system
• The importance of somatic work for healing chronic overwhelm and trauma
• Listening to your body’s basic needs as the first step to healing
• Leaning into what’s available and making small changes to resource yourself
• Slowing down to focus on what’s important and essential for your healing
Danica is a trained Psychologist turned Somatic Coach who co-owns a group therapy practice in Dallas, TX. Danica is a highly sensitive person and specializes in working with HSPs with a complex trauma history. Danica loves sharing free trauma-informed resources on her popular Instagram page @theempoweredtherapist and she has turned this resource into a company that supports folx who want to dive deeper into their healing work through courses, retreats, virtual somatic groups, and trainings for therapists.
Keep in touch with Danica:
• Website: www.theempoweredtherapist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredtherapist
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweredhealingdallas
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@empoweredhealingdallas
Resources Mentioned:
• Somatic Movement + Meditation Virtual Group: https://theempoweredtherapist.com/group
• Therapy Services: www.empoweredhealingdallas.com
• Healing Focused Self-Care Strategies Course: https://the-empowered-therapist-s-learning-lounge.teachable.com/p/healing-focused-self-care-strategies
• Healing Your Way Home Retreat is an all-inclusive somatic-focused retreat, designed for those who want or need an immersive healing experience. Sign up for the waitlist here: https://theempoweredtherapist.com/offerings

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

21: Detaching from Obligation and Guilt as a Sensitive Person Aug 06, 2024

Are you overgiving in your relationships? In this episode, I talk with Melissa Guttman, MT-BC, LCAT about setting boundaries with emotionally immature people and:
• Why highly sensitive people often struggle with boundaries and codependency in their relationships
• Reframing guilt as a marker of taking better care of yourself instead of thinking that you’ve done something wrong
• Letting go of overfunctioning and over-empathizing to honor the other ways you bring value as a sensitive person
• Recognizing anger and intuition as signs it’s time to set a boundary
• The cost of enabling and rescuing the people in your life
• Knowing when to distance yourself from the emotionally immature people in your life
Melissa is a licensed IFS therapist in private practice based in New York City, helping highly sensitive adult children of narcissists recover from gaslighting and trust their intuition, to make decisions from a place of personal sovereignty and wisdom. Melissa also runs the Witches Protection Program, a self-defense training for highly sensitive people to learn how to protect themselves from narcissists.
Keep in touch with Melissa:
• Website: https://www.ifswitch.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifs_witch
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ifs_witch
Resources Mentioned:
• Melissa’s Witches Protection Program: https://www.ifswitch.com/witchesprotectionprogram
• Discovering the Inner Mother: A Guide to Healing the Mother Wound by Bethany Webster: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780062884442
• You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For by Richard Schwartz: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781683643623

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

20: Finding Peace at Home, Even Amidst the Chaos Jul 30, 2024

Are you able to fully relax and decompress at home? In this solo episode I answer two listener questions:
• What can you do to make moving to a new space less stressful?
• How can I manage living with other people?
April Snow, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist and author in California. She specializes in working with highly sensitive people to help calm the storm of overwhelm, anxiety, and self-doubt to allow their innate sensitive strengths to shine through. Deeply committed to changing the narrative of what it means to be highly sensitive, April has created and led HSP workshops all over the country as well as online through her Sensitive School. In addition to Find Your Strength: A Workbook for the Highly Sensitive Person, she has written Mindfulness Workbook for Stress Relief and The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person's Self-Care Journal.
Submit a Question: https://www.sensitivestories.com/ask
Additional Resources:
• The Highs and Lows of Moving as an HSP: https://www.sensitivestrengths.com/blog/moving
• Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop series to slow down, reflect, and understand yourself as a highly sensitive person: https://www.sensitivesessions.com

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

19: Embracing the Soft Life as a Sensitive Perfectionist Jul 23, 2024

Have you hidden away your sensitivity because others said you needed to be strong? In this episode, I talk with Noni Vaughn-Pollard, about the cost of perfectionism and…
• Setting down the pressure to be like everyone else and embracing the soft, quiet life
• Stepping back from the pressure to be exceptional as a highly sensitive person of color
• Honoring family and cultural values without disregarding your sensitivity
• Seeing perfectionism as a form of self-betrayal and understanding the value of accepting yourself as you are instead
• Using tarot cards as a resource to connect back to yourself and access intuitive messages
• Unhooking from perfectionism through breathwork and vulnerability practices
Noni is a Mental Health Counselor & Registered Nutritionist in New York. She has experience working with adolescents and young adults of color who live with intense anxiety and struggle with releasing perfectionism. She practices with a person-centered, creative and spiritual approach to guide clients.
Keep in touch with Noni:
• Website: https://www.rootsarttherapy.nyc/noni
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afroandappetite
Resources Mentioned: Open Mindfulness App: https://o-p-e-n.com

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

18: Balancing Ambition and Rest as a Sensitive Person Jul 16, 2024

Do you want to accomplish more, but quickly burn out your energy?
In this solo episode I answer two listener questions:
• How can you be consistently productive as a highly sensitive person?
• Is it possible to be an ambitious, sensitive person?
April Snow, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist and author in California. She specializes in working with highly sensitive people to help calm the storm of overwhelm, anxiety, and self-doubt to allow their innate sensitive strengths to shine through. Deeply committed to changing the narrative of what it means to be highly sensitive, April has created and led HSP workshops all over the country as well as online through her Sensitive School. In addition to Find Your Strength: A Workbook for the Highly Sensitive Person, she has written Mindfulness Workbook for Stress Relief and The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person's Self-Care Journal.
Submit a Question: https://www.sensitivestories.com/ask
Additional Resources:
• Gentle Sleep Support Course to Feel More Rested: https://sensitiveschool.lpages.co/soothing-sleep
• Trust Yourself by Melody Wilding: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781797201962

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

17: Setting Better Boundaries to Honor Your Sensitive Needs Jul 09, 2024

Are you exhausted or resentful from constantly putting your needs aside? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Sharon Martin about setting boundaries and:
• Accepting your sensitivity and your basic human needs for rest as a precursor to setting boundaries more effectively
• Distinguishing between direct and indirect boundaries
• Benefits of communicating your needs, setting limits, and compromising in relationships
• Keeping boundaries straight-forward instead of overexplaining
• Empowering yourself to make changes when others aren’t able to honor your limits
• Overcoming boundary violations and strategies to get your needs met when you receive pushback
Dr. Sharon Martin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, and author specializing in helping adult children recover from difficult childhoods. She identifies as a Highly Sensitive Person and a recovering perfectionist. Sharon is the author of three books: The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism, The Better Boundaries Workbook, and The Better Boundaries Guided Journal.
Keep in touch with Sharon:
• Website: https://www.livewellwithsharonmartin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_sharon_martin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharonmartinlcsw
Resources Mentioned:
• The Better Boundaries Guided Journal by Dr. Sharon Martin: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781648482755
• The Better Boundaries Workbook by Dr. Sharon Martin: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781684037582

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

16: Trusting Yourself at Work as a Sensitive Striver Jun 25, 2024

Do you feel overwhelmed and underappreciated at work? In this episode, I talk with Melody Wilding, LMSW about trusting yourself at work and:
• Balancing the strengths and liabilities of being what Melody calls a “Sensitive Striver”
• Trusting your intuition as a valuable source of information
• The key to speaking up in meetings starts by building relationships and taking care of your nervous system before the meeting
• Living with an honor roll hangover from your school days and how that could be contributing to burnout as an adult in the workplace
• Why overperforming and perfectionism often harm your chances of advancement at work
• Strategies for setting boundaries at work and what to say when you’ve overcommitted
• Creating a “me manual” to help you communicate how you work best while establishing reciprocal relationships with your supervisors
Melody is the best-selling author of Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work. Named one of Business Insider’s Most Innovative Coaches for her groundbreaking work on “Sensitive Strivers,” her clients include CEOs, C-level executives, and managers at top Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Amazon, and JP Morgan, among others. Melody has been featured in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal and is a contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Psychology Today, and Forbes. Melody is a licensed social worker with a masters from Columbia University and a professor of Human Behavior at Hunter College.
Keep in touch with Melody:
• Website: https://melodywilding.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodywilding/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodywilding/
• Facebook Community: https://melodywilding.com/community
Resources Mentioned:
• Get a free chapter from Melody's book, Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work, here: https://melodywilding.com/chapter
• Trust Yourself Book by Melody Wilding: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781797201962

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

15: Show Up in Your Relationships Without Resentment Jun 18, 2024

Are you constantly putting the needs of others before yourself and struggling to show up as your full self in relationships? In this solo episode I answer two listener questions:
• Why do I feel so much resentment in my relationships?
• How do you tell people you are an HSP?
April Snow, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist and author in California. She specializes in working with highly sensitive people to help calm the storm of overwhelm, anxiety, and self-doubt to allow their innate sensitive strengths to shine through. Deeply committed to changing the narrative of what it means to be highly sensitive, April has created and led HSP workshops all over the country as well as online through her Sensitive School. In addition to Find Your Strength: A Workbook for the Highly Sensitive Person, she has written Mindfulness Workbook for Stress Relief and The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person's Self-Care Journal.
Submit a Question: https://www.sensitivestories.com/ask
Additional Resources:
• The Better Boundaries Journal by Sharon Martin: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781648482755
• Sensitive Sessions Monthly Support: https://www.sensitivesessions.com
• The Highly Sensitive Person by Dr. Elaine Aron: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780553062182

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

14: Healing From One-Sided or Narcissistic Relationships as an HSP Jun 11, 2024

Are you in relationships where you feel lonely, exhausted, or used? In this episode, I talk with Julie Wrocklage, LPC about the emotional toll of being in one-sided relationships and:
• The differences between a supportive, reciprocal relationship and a one-sided relationship where there’s no or little reciprocity
• What makes highly sensitive people more vulnerable to being in relationships with emotionally immature or narcissistic people
• How you can advocate for your needs if a relationship is feeling one-sided
• Long-term impacts of gaslighting on the mental and physical health of HSPs • Starting the healing process whether you’re currently in a non-reciprocal relationship or have been in one in the past
• The importance of education, therapy, grief work, and self-compassion to make space for your experience and receive validation
Julie is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Columbia, Missouri. She takes a gentle and non-pathologizing approach to mental health, offering mindfulness-based therapy for sensitive, empathetic, and very-attuned-to-the-needs-of-others folks. As a therapist (and human), Julie is committed to inclusiveness, anti-racism, and LGBTQIA+ affirming care.
Keep in touch with Julie:
• Website: http://www.quietstrengthcounseling.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quietstrengthcounseling/
Resources Mentioned:
• Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson, PsyD: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781626251700
• It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People by Dr. Ramani Durvasula: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780593492628
• Self-Compassion Practices by Kristin Neff: https://self-compassion.org/self-compassion-practices/#guided-practices
• Let Go of the People Who Aren’t Ready to Love You: https://thoughtcatalog.com/brianna-wiest/2024/04/this-year-let-go-of-the-people-who-arent-ready-to-love-you/

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

13: Less Guilt and More Recharging as a Sensitive Person Jun 04, 2024

Are you constantly doing more than you have the bandwidth for as an HSP? In this solo episode I answer two listener questions:
• How do you NOT feel influenced by the pressure from the non-HSPs in your life to do more?
• How do you manage social pressure/guilt that comes up when you need to recharge but feel you can’t say no?
April Snow, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist and author in California. She specializes in working with highly sensitive people to help calm the storm of overwhelm, anxiety, and self-doubt to allow their innate sensitive strengths to shine through. Deeply committed to changing the narrative of what it means to be highly sensitive, April has created and led HSP workshops all over the country as well as online through her Sensitive School. In addition to Find Your Strength: A Workbook for the Highly Sensitive Person, she has written Mindfulness Workbook for Stress Relief and The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person's Self-Care Journal.
Submit a Question: https://www.sensitivestories.com/ask
Additional Resources:
• Free Sensitive Self-Care Workshop: https://sensitiveschool.lpages.co/sensitive-self-care
• Sensitive Sessions Monthly Support: https://www.sensitivesessions.com
• 5 Stages of HSP Grief and Acceptance: https://www.sensitivestrengths.com/blog/hsp-grief-stages
• 4 Steps to Prioritize Your Needs Without Guilt: https://www.sensitivestrengths.com/blog/guilt-free
• The Highly Sensitive Person by Dr. Elaine Aron: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780553062182

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

12: Finding Your Way Through Grief May 28, 2024

Have you felt overwhelmed by grief or been pressured to get over it quickly? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Elizabeth Butler about finding your way through grief as a sensitive person and:
• The unexpected ways grief can show up such as irritability, anxiety, and anger
• How community support and rituals can support you in your processing of grief
• Grief shows up when you lose someone, but also when you go through other types of loss or life changes
• Remembering to come back to yourself as you take care of others in shared grief experiences
• Listening to your emotions and carving out time to be with your sadness via nature, movement, crying, or other practices
Dr. Butler (they/them) is a psychologist and therapist who loves deep conversation, hiking, and crocheting tiny animals. They hold intense professional interests in breaking generational trauma, healing from eating disorders while learning to nourish oneself along the way, and fighting the stigma so many of us face in a society that often doesn't understand anyone who diverges from "the norm." After experiencing many sudden losses beginning at a young age, Dr. Butler is passionate about meeting the need for holding space for and validating grief - at work and far beyond. They are currently enrolled in IPI's intensive psychedelic-assisted therapy certification program, which fits perfectly with their practical yet spiritual approach to recovery.
Keep in touch with Elizabeth:
• Website: https://prismapsychology.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prismapsychology
Resources Mentioned:
• Elizabeth offers psychedelic integration services virtually for California residents. Find more details at: https://prismapsychology.com
• Beth Buelow’s Podcast: https://bethbuelow.com/how-can-i-say-this-podcast/
• Dear Grief Guide Podcast by Shelby Forsythia: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/dear-grief-guide-podcast
• The Mindfulness & Grief Podcast by Heather Stang: https://heatherstang.com/grief-podcast/
• Terrible, Thanks for Asking Podcast: https://ttfa.org/
• It’s Okay You’re Not Okay by Megan Devine: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781622039074
• Bearing the Unbearable by Joanne Cacciatore PhD:

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

11: Emerging Into Your True Self as a Sensitive Person May 21, 2024

Have you put yourself aside for years? In this episode, I talk with Jen Berlingo, LPC, ATR about tuning back into your inner calling and…
• Emerging in midlife and unmasking to be your full self again
• Looking inward to identify what needs to change
• Navigating big life changes and taking one small step forward at a time
• Turning your ear back inward to listen to your inner yearnings and reclaiming your true nature
• Assessing whether your lifestyle supports your sensitive nervous system
• Learning to assert your preferences in a world that’s not built for HSPs
• Stop abandoning yourself and people pleasing to make others comfortable
Jen (she/her) is a midlife coach, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Nationally Registered Art Therapist, and a master-level Reiki practitioner. After two decades of midwifing hundreds of women through life’s major transitions and experiencing her own passage through a fiery midlife portal where she more fully stepped into her queer identity, she was inspired to write Midlife Emergence to accompany other women in traversing their midlife journeys. Upon its publication, Midlife Emergence reached #1 in several Amazon categories, including midlife management, divorce, LGBTQ+ memoirs, LGBTQ+ parenting and families, adulthood and aging, and self-help. Jen is also a visual artist who not only created the painting on the cover of her book, but also makes custom pieces for collectors worldwide and exhibits her fluid, abstract art locally in her beloved town of Boulder, Colorado.
Keep in touch with Jen:
• Website: https://jenberlingo.com
• Substack: https://jenberlingo.substack.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenberlingo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenberlingotherapy
• Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/artsorceress
Additional Resources:
• Get support when undergoing profound transitions like midlife, divorce, or coming out later in life. Learn more + sign up for a free discovery call with Jen at https://jenberlingo.com/coaching
• Midlife Emergence Book: https://jenberlingo.com/book
• 100 Day Project: https://www.the100dayproject.org/
• Weighted Blankets: https

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

10: Unhooking from Overgiving and Overfunctioning as an HSP May 14, 2024

Are you burning out trying to do all the things you’re supposed to? In this episode, I talked with Maegan Megginson, LMFT, LPC about unhooking from expectations and finding new ways to be of service to yourself. We also explored:
• Grieving the life you imagined you would have before discovering that you’re highly sensitive
• Experimenting with changes to feel more comfortable with yourself, in your relationships, and at work
• Setting boundaries around giving and receiving empathy
• Tending to yourself first by asking the questions, “have I been invited?” and “do I have the energy to offer support?”
• Finding new ways of being of service to yourself and unhooking from overgiving and overfunctioning
• Shifting the rules of how you work at the first sign of burnout
• Integrating the personal and professional parts of yourself to find more balance and healing
Maegan Megginson is a Licensed Therapist and Business Mentor on a mission to help business owners recover from burnout and reignite their vision for their work and their lives by blending the emotional, psychological, and spiritual elements we need to become deeply rested and wildly successful.
Keep in touch with Maegan:
• Website: https://maeganmegginson.com
Resources Mentioned: Recover From Burnout is a free 10-day email series that will help you feel better without adding tasks to your to-do list or buying another helpful tool you'll never use. Sign up here: https://maeganmegginson.com/recover-from-burnout

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

09: Finding Balance as a Sensitive Empath May 07, 2024

Do you feel others emotions as deeply as your own? In this episode, I talk with Mishka Clavijo Kimball, LMFT about how to care for yourself as an empath and:
• Growing up sensitive as the eldest in a latino family and how family roles impact your experience as an HSP
• Learning to provide support in a balanced way and not automatically jumping in to rescue others
• How to care for yourself more and not love others too much at your own expense
• Differences, myths, and strengths of HSPs and empaths
• Self-care practices that allow you to reconnect to yourself and soothe overwhelm
• Practices for setting physical and energetic boundaries, restoring energy through connection with nature and water, ancestral healing, salsa dancing, mindfulness, yoga, and journaling
Mishka is a Latina Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Transformational Coach with over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health. She specializes in helping Empaths and HSPs live a life of balance and peace. Mishka is the author of The Empath’s Self-Care Journal and has worked with hundreds of clients helping them heal and transform their lives. Mishka has a private practice based in Los Angeles, where she offers virtual therapy services for clients on a 1:1 basis.
Keep in touch with Mishka:
• Website: https://www.sensibilidadcounseling.com
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensibilidadcounseling
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensibilidadcounseling
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mishka-clavijo-kimball-m-s-lmft-45601649
Resources Mentioned:
• Finding Peace and Balance: A 6-week course for Empaths who want to heal from emotional overwhelm and learn to protect their energy. https://www.sensibilidadcounseling.com/online-course-for-sensitives
• The Empath’s Self-Care Journal: https://www.sensibilidadcounseling.com/empathselfcareshop/p/style-01-ej5na-7klle
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780143127741
• Highly Sensitive Therapist List: https://hsperson

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

08: Creating Community and Honoring the Many Faces of Sensitivity Apr 23, 2024

What has been your experience finding connection and community as a highly sensitive person? In this episode, I talk with Brian Torres, LMFT about the stigma of high sensitivity, the essential need for more inclusive HSP community spaces, and:
• The vulnerability of sharing your sensitivity and opening up to criticism and misperceptions about the trait
• The stigma of high sensitivity and the essential need for more inclusive HSP community spaces
• Feeling different as a sensitive kid and learning why as an adult
• What it means to be highly sensitive and LGBTQIA+ plus the parallels between the two
• Sensitivity doesn’t always look the same for HSPs from marginalized groups and why representation is important to represent the many ways sensitivity shows up
• The role privilege plays in honoring your sensitive needs
• Recognizing the resilience in sensitivity and the essential nature in HSPs using their gifts for equality and inclusiveness
Brian is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from Los Angeles, California. He has previously served as a mental health and crisis counselor with the Los Angeles LGBT Center and The Trevor Project. In his clinical practice, Brian specializes in working with BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as highly sensitive persons. With a passion for research on high sensitivity, he has presented at conferences and offers insightful training on high sensitivity within the LGBTQ+ community.
Keep in touch with Brian:
Website: http://www.briantorrestherapy.com
Resources Mentioned:
• Alanis Morissette's Podcast: https://alanis.com/podcasts
• The Highly Sensitive Person by Dr. Elaine Aron: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780553062182

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

07: Slowly Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone to Feel More Fulfilled as a Highly Sensitive Person Apr 16, 2024

Do you struggle with feeling good enough as a highly sensitive person? In this episode, I talk with Lori Cangilla, PhD about imposter syndrome and taking tiny steps out of your comfort zone to feel more fulfilled as well as:
• Overcoming the ambivalence of being highly sensitive to find more meaning
• Balancing commitments to others to get the right amount of quiet time for your sensitive nervous system
• The importance of solitude to calm overstimulation
• Needing variety to feel fully fulfilled as a more high sensation seeking HSP
• The difference between performance anxiety and imposter syndrome
• Difficulties of not feeling good enough
• Importance of taking tiny steps out of your comfort zone
Lori is a licensed psychologist specializing in helping creative, gifted, and highly sensitive people. Her Singularly Sensitive approach combines journaling, mindfulness, and behavioral experiments to help people create lives of meaning and purpose. Lori is the author of the guided journal Wander and Delve.
Keep in touch with Lori:
• Website: http://www.singularlysensitive.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SingularlySensitive
Resources Mentioned:
• Lori's Self-Study Course for Performance Anxiety + Imposter Syndrome designed to get you taking small, sustainable actions toward your creative and performance dreams. It includes a 40+ page workbook, videos, and 30+ multi-part journal prompts to help you reach your goals. https://www.singularlysensitive.com/performance-anxiety-imposter-syndrome-course
• Lori's Wander and Delve Journal: https://www.singularlysensitive.com/wander-and-delve

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

06: Connecting Deeply and Feeling Seen in Relationships as a Highly Sensitive Person Apr 09, 2024

When you’re overwhelmed, are you able to tell others what you need? In this episode, I talk with Lauren Selfridge, LMFT about creating emotionally safe, deep connections and navigating conflict and:
• Translating and communicating our sensitive needs to others
• Creating emotionally safe, deep connections with HSPs and non-HSPs alike
• The value of taking breaks during conflicts to soothe your nervous system and create stronger connections in the process
• Reclaiming sensitivity as resiliency, not a sign of fragility
Lauren is an extroverted HSP and a licensed psychotherapist living with multiple sclerosis. Through her video therapy practice, she supports clients with chronic illness as well as individuals and couples wanting to build extraordinary relationships - using Imago Dialogue Developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt. Lauren also hosts This Is Not What I Ordered: a podcast on finding our way with chronic illness, loss, and change. She loves helping people create meaningful, deep, and joyful connections with themselves and the people they care about.
Keep in touch with Lauren:
• Website: https://laurenselfridge.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helloselfridge
Resources Mentioned:
• Lauren's Free Guide: 3 Practices for Full Hearted Living with Chronic Illness: https://laurenselfridge.com/listen
• Lauren's This Is Not What I Ordered Podcast: https://laurenselfridge.com/listen
• Imago Relationship Therapy: https://imagorelationships.org

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

05: Softening Social Anxiety and Embracing Your Sensitivity Apr 02, 2024

When is it best to stay home to honor your social anxiety and when do you get slightly uncomfortable to show up for what’s important to you? In this episode, Louisa Lombard, LCPC opens up about her own experiences as an HSP with anxiety and:
• Taking a gentle approach when navigating social anxiety
• The continuum of feeling nervous to socially anxious and how to tell the difference
• Throwing away unsupportive feedback and what to do with critical comments
• Raising sensitive children and discovering your own sensitive needs along the way
• Being more impacted by less nurturing childhood experiences compared to your siblings
• Being labeled the bad or difficult child for being more sensitive and intuitive
• Sensitive people are strong and unexpectedly resilient because they feel so much and do it anyway!
Louisa is a therapist who specializes in supporting HSPs and HSP parents with anxiety, social anxiety, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, depression and overwhelm. Louisa sees clients virtually across California and Maryland. She helps people to feel more confident, calm, and self-compassionate, so that they can live life more in alignment with their goals and dreams.
Keep in touch with Louisa:
• Website: http://www.strongandsensitive.com
Additional Resources:
• Attachment Style Quiz: https://traumasolutions.com/attachment-styles-quiz
• HSP Self-Test by Dr. Elaine Aron: https://hsperson.com/test
• Facing Codependence by Pia Melody: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780062505897
• Mindfulness Exercises: https://insighttimer.com
• Self-Compassion Practices: https://self-compassion.org

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

04: Using Boundaries to Heal From Burnout as a Highly Sensitive Person Mar 26, 2024

How do you know you’re burned out and what can you do to heal from burnout if you’re a highly sensitive person? In this episode, I talk with Amy Pinnell, RSW about her experience with burnout and:
• When prolonged stress and overstimulation turn into burnout and how to truly heal from it
• The signs of burnout and how to know when it’s time to take a break or even quit a stressful job
• Why boundaries are so crucial for preventing and overcoming burnout
• The push pull of being a highly sensitive extrovert and feeling energized by social interactions
• The effects of working in emotionally charged environments such as social work or healthcare
• Understanding that boundaries are the most compassionate choice for you and others
Amy is a Registered Social Worker & Clinical Therapist in Canada. In her private practice, she helps highly sensitive helpers and healers who are struggling with burnout and codependency AND is the founder of Sensitive Social Worker, a community of deep-feeling, tender-hearted Social Workers who want to excel in a mission-driven, purposeful career career without sacrificing their own mental health and well-being in the process. Through Sensitive Social Worker, she facilitates workshops, offers evergreen, self-directed online courses, such as her signature course, Boundaries for Burnout Prevention.
Keep in touch with Amy:
• Website: http://www.sensitivesocialworker.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivesocialworker/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sensitivesocialworker
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/342686427953981/
Resources Mentioned:
Boundaries for Burnout Prevention is a deep-dive program that will take you from feeling emotionally drained and overwhelmed in your career as a Social Worker/Therapist/Healthcare Professional to feeling confident in your ability to set the boundaries that you need to honor your sensitivity and feel healthy and well.
Course registration link and discount code: https://www.sensitivesocialworker.com/courses/boundaries-for-burnout-prevention
10% off Discount Code: SSTORIES24

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

03: Being Good Enough as a Highly Sensitive Person Mar 18, 2024

What’s possible when you value your sensitive gifts and come out of the margins of your own life? In this episode, I talk with HSP Mentor Alissa Boyer about finding your worth as an HSP and:
• Navigating big life changes as an HSP such as moving, changing careers, becoming a parent, and navigating relationships.
• Learning to quiet perfectionism to make more room for what’s calling you.
• How to have better boundaries at work and with yourself.
• Sitting with the short-term discomfort of setting boundaries and speaking your needs in service of creating a more fulfilling life, finding your purpose.
• Doing your best with what you have available, knowing that you’re good enough just as you are.
• Raising your self-worth and believing in yourself and your needs as a highly sensitive person.
Alissa is a Mentor for Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) with a passion for helping fellow HSPs learn how to unapologetically embrace their sensitivity and use it as a strength in their lives. She’s the creator of several online programs including The Sensitive & Soulful Vault and Sensitive & Soulful Self-Worth. Alissa also offers business mentorship to HSPs and hosts a podcast called The Sensitive & Soulful Show.
Keep in touch with Alissa:
• Website: https://www.sensitiveandsoulful.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifebyalissa/
Resources Mentioned:
• Alissa's Empath Archetype Quiz: https://lifebyalissa.myflodesk.com/42c77200-1be8-412a-bbe6-5aef1e00c7cb
• Alissa's Podcast: https://www.sensitiveandsoulful.com/podcast
• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781878424310
• The Highly Sensitive Person by Dr. Elaine Aron: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780553062182

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

02: Getting Comfortable to Soothe Overwhelm Mar 12, 2024

What can you do when it all feels like too much and need to calm your overstimulated nervous system? In this episode, I talk with Emily Adams, LMFT, CMT about giving yourself permission to be comfortable and what’s possible when you do as well as:

Giving yourself permission to be comfortable and what’s possible when you do.
Listening and tending to your body’s needs and not overriding your instincts to reduce overwhelm.
How to know what soothing practices are best for your overstimulated nervous system.

Emily is a Somatic Psychotherapist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She offers a mind-body approach to understanding the self, and loves helping people cultivate ways to feel safe in their own bodies, and in connection with others. She uses elements of spirituality, nature, anatomy, and the arts to support her therapeutic work, and finds these resources helpful in her personal life as well.

Keep in touch with Emily:

Website: http://www.emilyadamstherapy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyadamstherapy/

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

01: Introducing Sensitive Stories Feb 27, 2024

Welcome to Sensitive Stories, the podcast for the 20-30% of people who live with hearts and eyes wide open. Hosted by psychotherapist, author, and highly sensitive person, April Snow.
I invite you to grab your coziest blanket and join me as I deep dive into rich conversations with highly sensitive therapists, authors, experts as we explore the topics you care about most.

Each episode, you’ll hear inspiring and relatable stories from guests about how they discovered their own sensitivity, find balance in their own lives, and how you can move beyond overwhelm all the time, uncover your unique sensitive strengths that you were born with, and step into a more fulfilling and nurturing life as an HSP.
Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss these inspirational deep dives starting on March 12th!

Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at:
https://www.sensitivestories.com
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengths
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengths

If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.
Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.

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