Join me in a laughter-filled conversation with Allison Lefkowitz, author of “The Highly Sensitive Person’s Toolkit: Everyday Strategies for Thriving in an Overstimulating World,” and one of the best resources for highly sensitive individuals. Allison is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in New York City who specializes in working with highly sensitive people (HSPs).  Topics discussed in this episode:   What it means to be Highly Sensitive (8:18) Areas where Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) struggle (9:30)  How to differentiate an empath versus an HSP (10:16) Self-Advocacy and Self Parenting: the first of the nine Core Skills for HSPs (13:26) The Self-Advocacy and Self Parenting Skill Set (14:51) The *5 Different Sensitive Styles (23:19) What has surprised Allison the most in her work with HSPs (30:02)    Resources: Allison’s website: http://almft.com/  Allison’s email: AllisonLefkowitz@icloud.com  The Highly Sensitive Person’s Toolkit:  http://almft.com/highly-sensitive-persons-toolkit-book/  *Resource for the 5 different sensitive styles:   Living With Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Gifted Children, Adolescents, and Adults, edited by Susan Daniels and Michael Piechowski

132: Tools for the Highly Sensitive Person with Allison Lefkowitz, LMFT

Listen in as therapists, coaches, writers, and other experts explore the inner lives of women: their struggles, fears, hopes, & dreams.  This podcast is about cultivating a conversation around the uncomfortable, uncertain, and unknown aspects of a woman's experience.

Through interviews and stories, Lourdes Viado, PhD, MFT goes beneath the surface and takes a deeper look at relationships, motherhood, self-acceptance, authenticity, aging, healing, suffering, loss, and other areas connected to  the emotional and psychological well-being of women. We will be exploring conversation around the entire experience of being a woman, with all its different aspects.

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“The areas that we struggle with the most, where we feel maybe we’re the hardest on ourselves, or the most stuck… these are actually potentials for really building a strong foundation with your recovery.” [20:47]   In this episode of Women In-Depth, Lourdes speaks with Mari Grande about the Mother Wound and the impact of trauma on Daughters of Critical Mothers. By addressing this trauma clients can break the cycle and turn inward to heal and be soothed.   Mari speaks about the trauma that Daughters of Critical Mothers experience and the ways in which clients and therapists can recognize and begin to address the trauma of the Mother Wound. Listen as Lourdes and Mari discuss the various ways that this trauma can impact women; and how Mari and other therapists work to help their clients to heal.   In this episode you will learn:  Mari’s inspiration for working with Daughters of Critical Mothers and the Mother Wound [4:30] What makes clients who are Daughters of Critical Mothers unique from other clients with trauma [8:40] Indicators that a woman has had a disruptive relationship with her mother [14:10] Considerations for therapists who work with Daughters of Critical Mothers [21:35] Mari’s words of wisdom for Daughters of Critical Mothers [29:01] The numerous resources Mari offers [30:00]    Mari Grande is a New York-based Creative Arts Therapist, Clinical Social Worker, Thought Leader, Educator, and Coach. With over 20 years of experience, Mari works with clients to creatively heal their trauma, with particular attention to the Mother Wound. She uses a multi-modal approach incorporating art therapy, guided meditation, and somatic therapy in her practice. Mari has developed many resources, such as courses and modules, to help both men and women to heal from trauma.   Resources:   Mari’s therapy website: https://marigrande.com/; Mari is licensed in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California.   Mari’s website for courses, programs, modules, and many more resources: https://www.creativehealingintegration.com/   And coming soon, a support group for clinicians who work with Daughters of Critical Mothers.  Click here to learn more!   Related Women In-Depth Episodes:    Episode 21:  Healing the Mother Wound with Bethany Webster    Episode 128:  Healing the Mother Wound:  A Foundation for a Better World

143: Daughters of Critical Mothers

“[Dissociation] can happen with anything that is overwhelming or intense and I think it is important, especially to those who are highly sensitive, to be aware of because it’s not just perceived danger or a lot of anxiety or stress. It can be something very positive that you actually want.” [9:20]     In this episode of Women In-Depth, Lourdes Viado and Carmen Schmidt Benedetti continue their podcast series on Complex Trauma and Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs). Today’s episode explores the coping mechanism of dissociation, diving into what it is, what causes it, and potentially how to avoid and combat dissociation.         Dissociation is a common coping mechanism for many people, but can be harmful for people who are HSPs and have experienced complex trauma in their lives. Listen as Lourdes and Carmen shed light on the signs of dissociation and possible tools to help keep you present.         In this episode you will learn:      What is dissociation? [3:33]   Why do we experience dissociation? [4:30]   Biological responses that cause dissociation. [9:50]   The continuum of dissociation. [11:35]         How to distinguish between dissociation and anxiety, stress, or overwhelm. [17:15]   Ways to cope with and respond to dissociation. [28:22]         Dr. Lourdes Viado is a psychotherapist for anxious and overwhelmed highly sensitive women in Las Vegas, Nevada.  She is a Myers-Briggs Typology Indicator (MBTI) Certified Practitioner and integrates Jungian psychology, mindfulness, neuroscience, and astrology into her work with clients.  She is also the host of the Women In-Depth Podcast: Conversations about the Inner Lives of Women, which has been downloaded over 450,000x in 107 countries.         Carmen Schmidt Benedetti is a psychotherapist for highly sensitive womxn in Sonoma County, California. She helps them to heal layers of unrecognized childhood trauma and create calm, balance and stability in their life. As a Certified EMDR therapist, Carmen guides adults in reframing their past from an empowered perspective, coming to believe they are ‘good enough’ and their needs and feelings matter        Resources:        Lourdes’ website: https://lourdesviado.com/        Carmen’s website: https://carmenschmidtmft.com/         Pete Walker, Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving  

142: HSPs & Complex Trauma Series: What is Dissociation?

 “The body never lies and that is the truth.”          In this episode of Women In-Depth, Lourdes Viado speaks with Tara Galeano about the journey of women rediscovering and reconnecting with their bodies. By building a more solid relationship with themselves, women are able to improve the quality of their relationship with others.          Tara focuses not only on sex, but the universal reconnection of women to their bodies, who have so often experienced a disconnection in many ways. Listen as Lourdes and Tara discuss how true intimacy with oneself and, to a degree, selfishness allows women to have more agency over themselves and their bodies.        In this episode you will learn:      Tara’s inspiration for her book [4:42]         What is “true intimacy” [14]   The initial steps in the journey of discovering your body [24]   How trauma is addressed in rediscovering and reconnecting to the body [27:40]   Tara’s words of wisdom [33:05]          Tara Galeano is a sex therapist, sexual empowerment coach, and author of Rediscovering My Body. Tara has been working for over 20 years helping women get their sexy back. From her own experiences and years of professional knowledge, Tara aids women in reconnecting with their bodies and selves as well as reclaiming their own sexuality.        Resources:        Tara’s book Rediscovering My Body is available wherever books are sold.         Tara’s website: rediscoveringmybody.com         9 Week Masterclass, June 15th-August 17th, 2021: For women who want to reconnect to themselves sexually, intimately, and completely but want to space it out over a few weeks. https://rediscoveringmybody.mykajabi.com/rediscovering-my-body-a-9-week-virtual-masterclass        3 Day Virtual Retreat on June 18-20, 2021 A journey to reconnect with yourself and your partner intimately and completely. https://rediscoveringmybody.mykajabi.com/rediscovering-my-body-3%20Day-Virtual-Couples-Solstice-Retreat   

141: Rediscovering Your Body with Tara Galeano, LPC

 “A large part of the work of The Mind-Body Stress Reset is coming to understand how important those sensations that run through your body are - coming to value them. I think we are a culture that overvalues our thinking-self and undervalues our feeling-self.” [51:10]         In this episode, Dr. Lourdes Viado speaks with Rebekkah LaDyne about mind-body somatic approaches. Rebekkah discusses how and why exercising and teaching your body ways to respond to anxiety, stress, and trauma are effective tools for your mind-body well-being.           Listen as Rebekkah emphasizes the importance of the feeling-self and the body as tools for self-regulation for individuals who are not benefiting from practices solely focusing on the thinking-self and the mind.         In this episode you will learn:      Rebekkah LaDyne’s personal and professional inspiration for her book. [3:04]   How the amygdala, mid frontal cortex, and prefrontal cortex function in times of extreme stress, anxiety, and trauma. [11:30]   What a somatic approach is. [22:47]   Different approaches to self-regulation using both mind and body approaches. [27:40]   How to recognize when certain approaches to stress and trauma are unhelpful. [39:20]   What the window of tolerance is and how it can inform which type of therapeutic approach is best suited for you. [46:42]              Rebekkah LaDyne, MS, SEP, is a practicing Somatic Therapist and Researcher and author of The Mind-Body Stress Reset: Somatic Practices to Reduce Overwhelm and Increase Well-Being. Focusing on trauma and dysregulation, Rebecca’s work has centered on wellness of the mind-body in the face of anxiety, stress, as well as overwhelm and development trauma. She earned her Master’s degree from Saybrook University in Mind-Body Medicine and practices mind-body well-being and wellness with the integration of somatic approaches.         Resources:    Rebekkah’s website: www.rebekkahladyne.com or http://www.thismindfullife.info/        The Mind-Body Stress Reset: Somatic Practices to Reduce Overwhelm and Increase Well-Being by Rebekkah LaDyne is available anywhere books are sold.  

140: Somatic Approaches: Self-Regulation for Mind-Body Well-Being

This episode of Women In-Depth features Dr. Tracy Packiam Alloway, an award-winning psychologist who has conducted extensive research on memory and the brain. In this conversation Dr. Alloway discusses her recent book “Think Like a Girl:  10 Unique Strengths of a Woman’s Brain and How to Make Them Work for You.”     Dr. Alloway has authored 15 books and over 100 scientific articles and has been featured on BBC, Good Morning America, the Today Show, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, Newsweek, and many others. She’s also a consultant for documentaries, ABC/NBC and the CW affiliates,  AMC TV, and the World Bank.   Topics discussed in this episode:   Some myths about women’s brains (4:26) How women make decisions under stress (7:07) How sticking your hand in a bucket of ice can help you make a less emotional decision (8:38) The surprising research about the lies women tell (11:10) How the women’s way of thinking is a creative superpower (15:18)    Resources: Tracy’s website: https://www.tracyalloway.com/  Tracy’s book “Think Like a Girl”:  https://www.zondervan.com/p/think-like-a-girl/#purchasenow

132: Tools for the Highly Sensitive Person with Allison Lefkowitz, LMFT

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