Do you constantly push your needs or ideas aside? In this episode, I talk with Tara Jackson about caring for yourself as a form of sensitive leadership and:

• How prioritizing self-care and your own sensitive rhythm is helpful for everyone

• Trusting your intuition to rest or to follow a creative idea in your work 

• Why HSPs make excellent leaders and the various ways you can take a leadership role in your personal or professional life 

• Allowing spiritual and somatic practices to guide you in creative ideas 

Tara is an embodied leadership and creativity coach. She supports her clients to create in alignment with the seasons and rhythms of nature. She supports them to step into and embody their true authentic power so they show up from a place of wholeness and alignment. She invites her clients into deeper connection with their bodies, trusting themselves, as a basis for everything they do. She is also the author of four books, and creator of an oracle card deck.

Keep in touch with Tara:
• Website: https://empathpreneurs.org 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empathpreneurs 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisatarajackson 

Resources Mentioned:
• Tara’s Books and Oracle Cards: https://empathpreneurs.org/books
• 1:1 Consulting with Tara: https://empathpreneurs.org/offerings/embodied-power  

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

And for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off.

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.

Do you have a difficult relationship with a parent? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Sharon Martin about cutting family ties and: 

• The most common reasons most people cut ties with parents or close family members
 
• The difference between going low and no contact
 
• How common it is to second guess your decision to cut ties and what to do if that happens
 
• What to say to people who attempt to guilt you into making amends with a dysfunctional family member
 
• Navigating special occasions and finding healing after estrangement   

Sharon 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 four books: The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism, The Better Boundaries Workbook, The Better Boundaries Guided Journal, and Cutting Ties with Your Parents.

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:
• Cutting Ties with Your Parents by Dr. Sharon Martin: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781648483905 
• 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  

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

And for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off.

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.

Do you struggle to care for yourself when overwhelmed? In this episode, I talk with Arianna Smith, LPC about allowing card pulls to guide your self-care practice and: 

• The importance of starting with slow mornings and introspective practices as an HSP

• Using tarot either inside or outside of a spiritual/religious practice

• Understanding the different types of card decks and how to choose the right one 

Arianna is a licensed therapist, professional copywriter, and a queer, witchy soul who dances daily between the clinical and creative. She empowers heart-centered individuals to tap into their intuition and reclaim their power through a trauma-informed, expansive approach that combines EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and intuitive practices like tarot, human design, and astrology. As a writer, Arianna merges clinical insight with feel-good content strategy to help therapists elevate their practices through authentic copy and email marketing. As a seasoned tarot reader, she blends deep reflection, spiritual exploration, and a dash of playfulness to guide clients through life’s complex questions and milestones.

Keep in touch with Arianna:
• Website: https://tarotwitharianna.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writewitharianna 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arianna-j-smith 

Resources Mentioned:
• Intuitive Tarot Reading & Mentorship: https://tarotwitharianna.com
• How To Pick Your Tarot Deck: A Beginner’s Guide (includes recommended decks): https://www.ariannasmith.com/blog/how-to-pick-your-first-tarot-deck 

Questions for Single Card Pulls:

Morning
• Where can I focus my energy? 
• What HSP strength can I lean upon today?

Evening
• What did I learn about myself today?
• What energy from today should I release? 

Mindful Break
• What is overwhelming me right now?
• What can support me right now?   

Thank you to Cozy Earth for sponsoring this episode. 
Find super soft and sustainable bedding and loungewear at https://cozyearth.com. Use code SENSITIVE for up to 40% off.  

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

And for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off.

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.

Have you used food to cope with your sensitivity? In this episode, I talk with Josie Munroe, LMFT about the connection between sensitivity and eating disorders and: 

• What factors predispose highly sensitive people to developing an eating disorder

• Alternative ways to cope and find companionship other than food

• The difference between feeling calm and feeling numb as we try to soothe feelings of overwhelm and anxiety 

• What changes are needed to make recovery resources more sensory friendly for HSPs

• Finding hope in the possibility of full recovery from eating disorders   

Josie Munroe is an LMFT specializing in eating disorders and trauma recovery for Highly Sensitive People. She serves adults in California and Vermont through individual therapy and also has self-paced, online recovery courses available for anyone, anywhere. Josie is, herself, an HSP and an eating disorder survivor and is passionate about sharing the knowledge and tools that have transformed her work and her life.

Keep in touch with Josie:
• Website: https://www.yoursensitiverecovery.com • Website: https://www.josiemunroe.com   
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoursensitiverecovery   

Resources Mentioned:
• Unlocking Recovery: The SensitiviKEY (How Sensitivity Shapes Eating Disorders and Guides Healing):https://www.yoursensitiverecovery.com/courses/unlocking-recovery
• Highly Sensitive Person book 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

And for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off.

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.

Are you nurturing and advocating for yourself? In this episode, I talk with Nadine Pinede about dimming your inner critic to a whisper and: 

• Learning to advocate for yourself when you have an invisible illness and/or are a person of color 

• Soothing pain and discomfort through MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) and Self-Compassion practices 

• Seeing yourself and others for who they truly are, not the groups they belong to 

• Channeling grief and pain into creativity and writing 

• Slowing down to see how everything is connected 

Nadine is the daughter of Haitian exiles who were forced to leave their homeland because of a dictatorship. Her mother was no doubt sharing enthralling tales of Haitian history and family lore when Nadine was in the womb. Nadine is an author, poet, editor, educator, and translator who created her own interdisciplinary major at Harvard and then continued on to Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. She also has an MFA in fiction and poetry and holds a PhD from Indiana University. Nadine’s upcoming debut novel from Candlewick Press, When the Mapou Sings, is dedicated to her first storyteller, her mother, who encouraged her to write her own stories. 

Keep in touch with Nadine:
• Website: https://nadinepinede.com 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadinepinede 

Resources Mentioned:
• When the Mapou Sings by Nadine Pinede: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781536235661 
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Pain: https://www.ummhealth.org/umass-memorial-medical-center/mindfulness-managing-pain-introduction 
• Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff, Ph.D.: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780062991065
• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780060838676

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

And for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off.

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.

Do you feel selfish for slowing down? In this episode, I talk with Lisa-Marie Vecchio about making big life changes to find more peace and: 

• Trusting your gut when making decisions for your life and work

• Moving from corporate to freelance work as a creative person

• The importance of having schedule freedom as a highly sensitive person

• Creating moments of art and visual beauty in your home 

Lisa-Marie is a Brisbane-based graphic designer and muralist, illustrating art that encourages and uplifts. Her designs are recognised as colourfully eye-catching, created with the intention of communicating hope, joy and empowerment. After ten years working as a designer in the business and corporate sectors, Lisa-Marie started to explore the more creative side of design, seeing a shift in her art style. She then looked for opportunities to recreate her digital artwork as murals, refreshing public spaces with a burst of vibrance and colour.

Keep in touch with Lisa:
• Website: http://www.lisadotdesign.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lisadotdesign 

Resources Mentioned:
• Free digital downloads + recipes from Lisa: https://www.lisadotdesign.com/newsletter
• Work with Lisa: https://www.lisadotdesign.com/services 
• Lisa’s planners, prints, homewares, and more: https://www.lisadotdesign.com/store  

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

And for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off.

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.

What is possible when you feel deeply seen in your relationships? In this episode, I talk with Laura Deneen, LPC-MHSP and Lauren Jackson, LPC-MHSP about the benefits of supportive friendships and: 

• The different roles friendships play in your life as an adult and identifying who is safe to bring into your inner world 

• How to nurture friendships when you have limited bandwidth as an HSP

• Giving yourself permission to allow friendships, your needs, and your boundaries to change 

• Checking in with yourself before, during and after socializing to ensure your relationships are supportive 

Laura is the owner of Anchored Counseling Company in Brentwood, TN and Becoming Anchored Co. She loves being a therapist and supporting other therapists. Outside of the office, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and baby girl, gardening, and playing with her dog Louie.  Lauren is a licensed mental health therapist in Tennessee specializing in treating eating disorders at the outpatient level and the clinical director of Anchored Counseling Company supervising their staff and intern therapists. She loves working with life transitions, grief, developmental trauma and anxiety/OCD. When not working, Lauren loves spending time with her husband and almost 3 year old son, reading a good book and walking around Downtown Franklin on the weekends. 

Keep in touch with Laura + Lauren:
• Website: https://becominganchoredco.com 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becominganchoredco and https://www.instagram.com/anchoredcounselingco 

Resources Mentioned:
• Anchored Counseling in Tennessee: https://anchoredcounselingco.com
• Becoming Anchored Podcast: https://becominganchoredco.com/pages/podcast
• Free Safe + Connected Masterclass: https://becominganchoredco.com/pages/connected 
• Navigating Friendships Course: https://becominganchoredco.com/pages/friendship   
• Highly Sensitive Person book by Dr. Elaine Aron: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780553062182 HSP Self-Test:

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

And for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off.

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.

Have you felt embarrassed by your sensitivity? In this episode, I talk with William Allen about the journey of learning to understand and embrace being an HSP as well as: 

• Moving from living inauthentically to accepting your sensitivity

• The challenges faced by HSP men such as lack of community and models of sensitive masculinity 

• Practicing portable self-care such as meditation, breathing, and connection with nature to recover from overwhelm more quickly 

• Finding more resilience as an HSP with the 3Es

William is an author with a writer’s heart and researcher’s mind. After getting a degree in Psychology with an eye on doing psychology research, he recalibrated for a career in Information Technology. He retired early from his corporate job to start his Hypno-coaching and neurofeedback brain training business, BrainPilots, in Bend, Oregon. In late 2016, he began his blog, The Sensitive Man, about his experiences, as a highly sensitive man. The blog became the genesis of his first book, Confessions of a Sensitive Man. His new book, On Being a Sensitive Man, is the follow up book, which focuses on how to live in the world as a sensitive man. 

Keep in touch with William:
• Website: http://www.thesensitiveman.com 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zallenw 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesensitiveman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wrallen 

Resources Mentioned:
• Online HSP Men’s Group: https://www.thesensitiveman.com/hsp-mens-group.html
• Confessions of a Sensitive Man by William Allen: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781098325169
• On Being a Sensitive Man: Success Strategies for Harnessing Your Highly Sensing Nature by William Allen: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781667817439   
• Sensitive: The Untold Story documentary: https://sensitivethemovie.com
• Sensitive Men Rising documentary: https://sensitivemenrising.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

And for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off.

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.

Do you feel overwhelmed by your emotions or struggle to communicate your experience as an HSP? In this episode, I talk with Lucy Sherman, LPC about expressing yourself through creativity and: 

• How to use card decks and creative prompts as part of your reflection and self-care practice 

• Understanding and nurturing your rich inner life through images and metaphor from nature, photographs, and cards

• Soothing your nervous system and finding safety by connecting inward 

Lucy is a Licensed Professional Counselor, EMDR Certified Therapist and a Highly Sensitive Person herself in Portland, OR. Lucy has always felt deeply with others and has brought creativity into every part of her life both as a tool to explore her experience and in connecting with others. Lucy feels honored to do this therapeutic work helping Highly Sensitive Folks reflect and process trauma while also tapping into their intuition, imagination, creativity, humor and hope. Through Therapy Intensives there is space to explore outside of talking and weave in creative expression, oracle cards with EMDR while getting to the root of what is stuck and finding relief, lightness and a new compassion for all versions of self. Outside of sessions, you can find Lucy in the forest with her Basset mix Penny, creating with loved ones or gushing over a favorite deck.

Keep in touch with Lucy:
• Website: https://www.perceptivecounselingpdx.com 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perceptive_counseling 

Resources Mentioned:
• Therapy Magic Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/therapy-magic/id1676794458
• Therapy Intensives: https://www.perceptivecounselingpdx.com/emdr-intensives 
• Creative Consultation for Therapists: https://www.perceptivecounselingpdx.com/method-page-1-1 
• Light Seer’s Tarot Deck: https://lightseerstarot.com 
• Amy Maricle Slow Drawing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM2KmGwTNhI
• Draw Yourself Calm by Amy Maricle: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9

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

And for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off.

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.

Are you feeling burned out by the dating process or struggling to show up in your relationships? In this episode, I talk with Rebecca Marcus, LCSW about going at your own pace and:

• Caring for yourself when starting new relationships just as you would in every other part of your life 

• Not comparing yourself to others when dating and choosing the right pace for you

• Slowing down to process and reflect throughout the dating process to understand how you feel about the other person 

• The importance of honoring and speaking your needs with the other people in your life, even if they’re also highly sensitive 

Rebecca is a social worker in NYC who helps Millennial women chill out, get confident, and trust themselves and their dating process, so they can find and keep the love they want. Growing up on Disney movies, rom coms, and fairy tales about Prince Charming that showed unrealistic expectations of relationships, dating, and love only led to chaos and confusion when she started dating. So for a decade, she’s helped millennial women navigate the confusing NYC dating scene, break toxic patterns, and create relationships and a life filled with meaning and joy.

Keep in touch with Rebecca:
• Website: https://rmpsychotherapy.com 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rm.psychotherapy 

Resources Mentioned:
• Free Meditation: https://rmpsychotherapy.com/subscribe 
• Dating Groups: https://rmpsychotherapy.com/group 
• Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781954118157   
• Highly Sensitive Person by Dr. Elaine Aron: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780553062182 
• The Empath’s Survival Guide by Dr. Judith Orloff: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781683642114  

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

And for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off.

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.