Compassionate Conversations with Esther Kane, MSW

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Are you a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) wondering why some jobs drain you while others make you come alive?  In this deep dive, psychotherapist Esther Kane, MSW, RSW shares the best careers for highly sensitive people—plus practical tools to help you build a work life that supports your sensitivity instead of overwhelming it. 

You’ll learn:

✨ What it really means to be an HSP in the workplace
✨ The top careers where HSPs thrive—creative, healing, research, and nature-based roles
✨ Which careers may cause burnout for sensitive people
✨ Real client stories and inspiring examples
✨ How to create a sensory-friendly workspace, set boundaries, and trust your intuition

If you’ve ever been told you’re “too sensitive,” this episode will help you understand that your sensitivity isn’t a weakness—it’s your superpower. 

🕊️ Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) at Work
09:46 Career Categories for HSPs
11:07 Careers HSPs May Want to Avoid
13:04 Practical Tips for Career Success as an HSP
20:34 Guided Meditation for Career Alignment

👉 Learn more at https://www.estherkane.com

Support the show

Links

To watch episodes on Esther's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@compassionateconversations441

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

If you want to do therapy with me (only residents of British Columbia, Canada):

www.estherkane.com

Send us Fan Mail

In this enlightening interview, Dr. Judith Orloff—psychiatrist, New York Times bestselling author, and leading expert on empathy—shares powerful insights on how to embrace your sensitivity as a strength rather than a weakness.

Dr. Orloff explains the key differences between empaths and highly sensitive people, how to recognize emotional overload, and what practical tools can help you stay balanced and empowered. She also discusses her new children’s book, The Highly Sensitive Rabbit, inspired by her own childhood experiences as an intuitive, empathic child.

✨ In this conversation, you’ll learn:

·       The difference between an empath and a highly sensitive person (HSP)

·       How to protect yourself from “energy vampires”

·       Why sensitive children need understanding, not “toughening up”

·       Tools for emotional boundaries and self-care

·       How to teach kids empathy, self-love, and confidence

·       Why sensitivity is a superpower in today’s world

Whether you identify as an empath, HSP, or simply want to understand sensitivity better, this interview offers gentle wisdom and practical strategies for thriving in an overwhelming world.

🎧 About Dr. Judith Orloff:

Dr. Orloff is the author of The Empath’s Survival Guide, Thriving as an Empath, The Genius of Empathy, and The Highly Sensitive Rabbit. Her work bridges traditional psychiatry with intuitive understanding, helping empaths and sensitive people live more peaceful, empowered lives.

📚 Learn more at: https://drjudithorloff.com

📘 Books mentioned:

·       The Highly Sensitive Rabbit

·       The Empath’s Survival Guide

·       Thriving as an Empath

·       The Genius of Empathy

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews about psychology, emotional health, and thriving as a highly sensitive person.

Support the show

Links

To watch episodes on Esther's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@compassionateconversations441

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

If you want to do therapy with me (only residents of British Columbia, Canada):

www.estherkane.com

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever been told you’re “too emotional” or “too sensitive” when you felt angry? In this video, psychotherapist Esther Kane, MSW, RSW explores why women’s anger is not something to be ashamed of — it’s something to listen to.

You’ll learn how anger can be a powerful messenger, helping you recognize when your boundaries have been crossed and guiding you toward greater self-respect, healing, and empowerment. Esther explains what really happens when women suppress anger, how that energy can turn inward as depression or anxiety, and how somatic therapy can help you safely release and transform stored anger in the body.

Stay until the end for practical tools you can use right away — including journaling prompts, breathwork techniques, and body-based exercises to express anger in healthy, healing ways.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Women's Anger
01:52 The Consequences of Suppressing Anger
04:16 Somatic Therapy: A Healing Approach
06:21 Healthy Expressions of Anger

To watch this episode on Esther's YouTube Channel which if full of powerful visuals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdDwfkJIPds

🎧 Coming soon: Part 2 — a lively and honest conversation about how women can navigate anger through different life stages.

#womensempowerment #healthyboundaries #healthyrelationships

Support the show

Links

To watch episodes on Esther's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@compassionateconversations441

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

If you want to do therapy with me (only residents of British Columbia, Canada):

www.estherkane.com

Send us Fan Mail

Are weight loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro really the answer — or are they another quick fix that keeps you disconnected from your body?

In this episode, psychotherapist Esther Kane, MSW, who specializes in food addiction, emotional eating, and trauma recovery, shares why relying on weight loss medication can actually keep you stuck in the same painful cycle — and what to do instead for real, lasting healing.

You’ll learn:

🌿 Why emotional eating isn’t about willpower
💔 The hidden emotional cost of appetite-suppressing drugs
🧠 How trauma and early coping patterns influence your relationship with food

💫 What real healing looks like — and how to find freedom without medication

If you’ve ever felt broken because diets or medications didn’t “work,” this episode will help you understand that your body has always been trying to protect you.

✨ Subscribe for more episodes on emotional eating recovery, trauma healing, and body acceptance.

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

Instagram: @estherkanemsw
Facebook: Esther Kane, MSW, RCC

Support the show

Links

To watch episodes on Esther's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@compassionateconversations441

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

If you want to do therapy with me (only residents of British Columbia, Canada):

www.estherkane.com

Send us Fan Mail

Are you a highly sensitive person in love? Do you ever wonder if your sensitivity is “too much” for relationships—or if it could actually be your greatest strength? 💜

In this interview, I sit down with Lisa Chen, LMFT, a psychotherapist and highly sensitive person herself, to explore the unique gifts and struggles HSPs bring to love. Together we discuss:

✨ What it really means to be a highly sensitive person in relationships
✨ The hidden strengths HSPs bring to intimacy and connection
✨ Common struggles HSPs face in love (and how to overcome them)
✨ What happens when one partner is highly sensitive and the other is not
✨ Practical tools for conflict, communication, and boundaries
✨ How HSPs can express needs without guilt or fear of being “too much”

Discover how to nurture stronger interpersonal relationships and build emotional intelligence as an HSP. Learn how understanding hsp traits can deepen empathy and improve communication in your relationships. Enhance your connection with these valuable relationship tips.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: Sensitivity in Relationships
01:21 – Meet Lisa Chen, Psychotherapist & HSP
01:32 – Is Sensitivity a Weakness or a Strength?
02:18 – The Highs & Lows of HSP Relationships
03:26 – What Does It Mean to Be a Highly Sensitive Person?
05:51 – Unique Strengths HSPs Bring to Love
07:41 – Common Struggles: Boundaries & Overwhelm
08:25 – The Saviour Complex & Codependency
10:39 – Dysregulation & Shutdown in HSP Couples
12:22 – When One Partner is HSP and the Other Isn’t
13:02 – Regulating the Nervous System & Taking Breaks
14:58 – Window of Tolerance: Staying Grounded
17:16 – HSPs and Attachment Styles in Conflict
18:03 – Signs of “Going Offline” & Relationship Lessons
20:05 – Strategies for Handling Conflict as an HSP
22:26 – Tools for Regulation: Nature, Pets, & Rituals
23:39 – Staying Connected as a Couple After Conflict
24:53 – Daily Rituals & Joy Practices for HSPs
26:26 – Bookending the Day: Joy & Gratitude Practices
27:27 – Balancing Joys & Sorrows in Life & Love
27:54 – Closing Thoughts & Reflections

📌 More episodes on Highly Sensitive People in Love:

▶️ Listen to my conversation with my husband Nathaniel about two HSPs in a long-term relationship

https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2022477/episodes/11403778-the-pros-cons-of-two-highly-sensitive-people-in-a-relationship

▶️ The Secret to Relationships for Highly Sensitive People

https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2022477/episodes/17746299-how-can-highly-sensitive-people-thrive-in-relationships


To receive Esther's FREE report designed to help HSPs create better boundaries called, "10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy":

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

Instagram: @estherkanemsw
Facebook: Esther Kane, MSW, RCC

Support the show

Links

To watch episodes on Esther's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@compassionateconversations441

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

If you want to do therapy with me (only residents of British Columbia, Canada):

www.estherkane.com

Send us Fan Mail

Are you a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) who feels like you love too deeply, care too much, or notice things in your relationship that others don’t? You’re not “too sensitive” — you’re wired for deep, soulful love. 💜

In this video, psychotherapist Esther Kane, MSW explores:

✔️ The gifts HSPs bring to love (empathy, intuition, loyalty, creativity)
✔️ The challenges HSPs face (criticism, overstimulation, emotional overwhelm)
✔️ Real-life stories of HSPs in relationships
✔️ Practical tools to set boundaries, communicate needs, and thrive in love
Whether you’re an HSP or love someone who is, this video will help you understand the unique world of highly sensitive people in relationships.

✨ Topics covered:

• Why HSPs feel love so intensely
• Common HSP relationship triggers
• How to explain your sensitivity to a partner
• Rituals and practices that help HSP couples stay connected

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) in Love
02:38 The Beautiful Gifts of HSPs in Relationships
05:22 Challenges Faced by HSPs in Love
06:15 Tools for Thriving as an HSP in Love

Support the show

Links

To watch episodes on Esther's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@compassionateconversations441

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

If you want to do therapy with me (only residents of British Columbia, Canada):

www.estherkane.com

Send us Fan Mail

Are you having a hard time navigating your social life as a young adult? Then you might be an introvert &/or a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Whether you feel drained after parties, crave deep conversations over small talk, or struggle with overstimulation in social settings, this video is for you.

Esther Kane, MSW shares her best HSP social life tips for building meaningful friendships, avoiding burnout, and embracing your highly sensitive traits—without sacrificing your well-being. You’ll learn:

✅ How to set boundaries as an HSP
✅ Why quality over quantity is key in friendships
✅ Recovery strategies after social events
✅ How to find like-minded friends who value depth and authenticity

If you’ve ever wrestled with FOMO, social anxiety, or wondered how to thrive as an introvert and highly sensitive person, this episode will give you the tools and confidence you need.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding High Sensitivity
02:10 Navigating Social Life as a Highly Sensitive Person
04:51 Strategies for Thriving in Social Situations

💬 Comment below with your experiences as an HSP—what social situations energize you, and which ones leave you drained? Let’s build a supportive HSP community together.

🔔 Follow this show for more episodes on thriving as an introvert and/or highly sensitive person, emotional self-care, and creating a social life that works for YOU.

Support the show

Links

To watch episodes on Esther's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@compassionateconversations441

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

If you want to do therapy with me (only residents of British Columbia, Canada):

www.estherkane.com

Send us Fan Mail

Do you find it challenging to live in this world as a highly sensitive man (HSM)? Do you want to learn how to connect with other HSMs, accept who you exactly as you are & learn how to thrive? Then you need to listen to this episode!

Esther Kane interviews William Allen who hosts the podcast for highly sensitive men and runs online groups for HSMs.

In this episode, Esther and Bill discuss the importance of community, the impact of Elaine Aron's work, and the dynamics of Allen's new podcast, 'Men with STYLE.' The conversation delves into the challenges faced by HSMs, the significance of creating safe spaces for emotional expression, and the future aspirations for outreach and support for sensitive men. Allen shares insights on the unique experiences of HSMs and the transformative power of connection and understanding within this community.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Highly Sensitive Men
02:51 The Birth of the Podcast
06:02 Understanding the STYLE Acronym
08:46 The Impact of Elaine Aron
12:09 Podcast Dynamics and Topic Selection
14:51 Future Topics and Growth
17:55 The Importance of Community for HSPs
21:03 Challenges in Creating Safe Spaces
23:47 Advice for Creating HSP Meetups
27:04 The Role of Virtual Groups
29:54 The Experience of HSM Virtual Meetups
32:56 The Uniqueness of HSPs
36:02 Future Projects and Aspirations

Resources mentioned in podcast:

First interview I did with Bill: 

Thriving as a Highly Sensitive Man with William Allenhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2022477/episodes/12401187

My interview with Randy Grasser and Annet van Duinen:

Adventurous Highly Sensitive People
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2022477/episodes/17250452

Men with STYLE episode Bill mentioned:

Elaine Aron on the Strength of Highly Sensitive Men: A New Vision of Masculinity
https://menwithstyle.buzzsprout.com/2460657/episodes/16806772-elaine-aron-on-the-strength-of-highly-sensitive-men-a-new-vision-of-masculinity?t=0

Another video you may enjoy on this topic: 

Esther interviews her HSM husband:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2022477/episodes/11307086
 
Where to find Bill and his work:

https://www.thesensitiveman.com

For Esther’s blog posts, videos and podcasts: 

https://www.estherkane.com/blog-and-podcasts/

To receive Esther's FREE report designed to help HSPs create better boundaries called, "10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy": 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter 

Please don’t forget to subscribe to this channel, give it a great review if you enjoyed it and pass episodes onto others who could also benefit from them.

Instagram: @estherkanemsw
Facebook: Esther Kane, MSW, RCC

#highlysensitivepeople #hsp #highlysensitive

Support the show

Links

To watch episodes on Esther's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@compassionateconversations441

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

If you want to do therapy with me (only residents of British Columbia, Canada):

www.estherkane.com

Send us Fan Mail

If you're a deeply feeling, intuitive, and empathetic person who often puts others first, this episode is for you. Esther Kane, MSW explores the real reasons why HSPs are more prone to self-abandoning behaviours—like people-pleasing, over-apologizing, or saying “yes” when you want to say “no.” This isn’t about weakness—it’s about your sensitive nervous system, emotional depth, and how you’ve learned to survive in a world that can feel too much.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:54 The reasons why HSPs are wired for self-abandonment
02:12 Why HSPs abandon themselves
03:46 Signs of HSP self-abandonment
04:11 Tools to help you stop abandoning yourself as an HSP
04:53 Gentle reminder for HSPs

FREE resources: 

For a primer on self-abandonment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMjH_JE8wpg&t=7s

To learn more about how to set and maintain healthy boundaries:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqmJmRLqNIM&t=1s

For Esther’s blog posts, videos and podcasts: 

https://www.estherkane.com/blog-and-podcasts/

To receive Esther's FREE report designed to help HSPs create better boundaries called, "10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy": 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter 

Please don’t forget to subscribe to this channel, give it a great review if you enjoyed it and pass episodes onto others who could also benefit from them.

#SelfAbandonment #HighlySensitivePerson #PeoplePleasingRecovery

Support the show

Links

To watch episodes on Esther's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@compassionateconversations441

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

If you want to do therapy with me (only residents of British Columbia, Canada):

www.estherkane.com

Send us Fan Mail

Do you find yourself putting everyone else first, even when it hurts you? Self-abandonment is when we ignore our needs to please others. ⁨Esther shares her top tips on how to recognize it and to heal.  

This podcast episode outlines the concept of self-abandonment, its signs, consequences, and how to heal from it. Practical exercises are provided to reconnect with oneself and practise self-compassion. 

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Self-Abandonment
01:48 Signs and Consequences of Self-Abandonment
05:27 Healing from Self-Abandonment
06:51 Embodiment Exercise for Self-Compassion

FREE resources: 

To learn more about how to set and maintain healthy boundaries:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqmJmRLqNIM

For Esther’s blog posts, videos and podcasts: 

https://www.estherkane.com/blog-and-podcasts/

To receive Esther's FREE report designed to help HSPs create better boundaries called, "10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy": 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter 

Please don’t forget to subscribe to this channel, give it a great review if you enjoyed it and pass episodes onto others who could also benefit from them.

Support the show

Links

To watch episodes on Esther's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@compassionateconversations441

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive either of these for FREE:10 Tips for Getting Rid of Relationships That Drain Your Energy or the 6-part audio program, Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies: 

https://www.estherkane.com/#newsletter

If you want to do therapy with me (only residents of British Columbia, Canada):

www.estherkane.com