Brave Spirit Counselling

05/08/2023

"But, I'm not doing enough."

"What will they do without me?"

"I'll be letting my clients and coworkers down."

I've heard these phrases again and again from helpers, healers, and health care workers, who are in states of utter exhaustion. They're drained, overwhelmed, and running on empty, and yet unable to allow themselves to slow down and take care of themselves.

Whether you're a nurse, a social worker, a therapist, a veterinarian, a doctor, a massage therapist, a university student studying one of these professions, or some other type of helper or healer, you're at risk of burning out if you don't know how to identify signs of stress in yourself or what to do about it.

The first step to preventing burnout is building your awareness about the stages and signs of burnout.

Read the full blog post to deepen your understanding of the 5 stages of burnout and learn coping strategies for each stage:

By the end of this blog post, you'll have a deeper understanding of the 5 stages of burnout, and burnout recovery and prevention coping strategies for each stage.

01/26/2023

This might surprise you, but there are just as many benefits to being Highly Sensitive as there are challenges!

✨HSPs' ability to pick up on subtleties in their environment means that they often notice things that others miss.

✨HSPs take all the stimuli they pick up from the world around them, process it deeply, and craft truly beautiful things.

✨They are creative problem solvers who often bring different ideas to the table than non-HSPs due to the fact that they experience in the world in a different way.

✨Having a deep capacity for empathy means that HSPs can often understand and relate to the feelings and needs of others.

This is likely why many HSPs are drawn toward helping professions and social justice initiatives.

✨When I say that HSPs feel emotions more intensely than others, I mean ALL emotions!

One of the most beautiful things about being a Highly Sensitive Person is feeling intense joy at small every day events.

HSPs can lean into the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of a flower in a truly deep way.

➡️ HSPs will find that they are more easily overstimulated than non-HSPs.

💕They will also find that they are intuitive, empathetic, creative, finely-tuned with the world around them, and able to establish deep connections with others.

🌻What are your sensitive strengths? Share in the comments!

To learn more about the HSP trait, head to the think in my bio.

01/12/2023

Like any temperament variation, there are some significant challenges that come with the Highly Sensitive Personality trait!

➡️ The most troubling for many HSPs is overstimulation. The way that HSP brains process information makes them more likely to become overwhelmed than non-HSPs.

This tendency to become overwhelmed is particularly challenging for HSPs working or living in environments where their sensitivity is not understood or accepted.

➡️ HSPs need to take time to fully process changes which can also mean that they take longer to make decisions and may be "late bloomers" in some areas of their lives.

➡️ Due to their high capacity for empathy, HSPs may find it difficult to set boundaries and take care of their own needs.

➡️ Part of the reason being Highly Sensitive is so challenging is that we live in a world that expects HSPs to be like the 80% majority.

When HSPs understand their unique challenges and embrace the strengths of their sensitivity, they are able to make choices for themselves that foster balance and wellness.

For HSPs to thrive, they need to:

✨ be aware of their tendency towards overstimulation

✨ learn how to regulate their nervous system

✨ set healthy boundaries

✨ practice self-compassion towards their sensitive nature

✨ embrace their sensitive strengths

If this feels like a lot tackle on your own, I can help!

Through my online Counselling Services for Highly Sensitive People, I help HSPs develop skills to protect their sensitive needs, reduce overwhelm, regulate intense emotions, and allow their sensitive strengths to shine through.

Head to www.bravespirit.ca to learn more!

01/10/2023

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term "Highly Sensitive"?

Here are some of the responses I've gotten to this question over the years:

✨ Emotional

✨ Intense

✨ Reactive

✨ Overstimulation

✨ Weak

✨ Empathy

✨ Feeler

✨ Cry Baby

While some of these reflect aspects of what it means to be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), others speak to common cultural beliefs and assumptions about sensitivity and emotional expression.

Chances are, you've adopted some of these misconceptions as well (I know I had!)

So, let's get really clear about what it means to be a Highly Sensitive Person!

I've shared some must-know facts about the High Sensitivity Personality trait in my most recent blog post!

Does anything in this post surprise you?

💬 Share your thoughts in the comments!

What is the Highly Sensitive Personality trait? I'm revealing what it means to be a Highly Sensitive Person in this blog post.

12/12/2022

This a reminder for anyone who works in a profession that involves helping, supporting, advocating and caring for others.

Whether you’re a doctor, nurse, teacher, social worker or some other kind of helper and healer, you may have been taught that your worth is based on how you support other people.

The work you do is magnificent and so needed!

AND you are so much more than what you give to others.

You have worth as a human being with emotions, hopes, and dreams of your own!

Don’t forget to take time to tend to those other parts of yourself 💕

12/09/2022

Brave Spirit Counselling has expanded!

Online counselling services are now available to residents of Nova Scotia, as well as British Columbia!

Counselling Services include:
✨Counselling for Highly Sensitive People
✨Helper & Healer Burnout Prevention & Recovery
✨Codependency Counselling
✨Anxiety Counselling

To learn more about any of these counselling services, visit my website: www.bravespirit.ca

12/06/2022

If you’re a Highly Sensitive Person…

You might have spent your life feeling like there is something wrong with you, and trying to hide or ignore your deep feeling and intuitive nature.

Perhaps you threw yourself into a career that you're passionate about, but that leaves you feeling drained and exhausted.

While you sense that you need something different than your colleagues, you try to keep up; as a result, your mental and emotional well-being suffers.
.. Or maybe you struggle to say "no" or ask for what you need because you can sense the emotions the other person will experience when you do.

You notice feelings of anxiety and resentment building when internally you want to say "no", but don't feel able to put boundaries into practice.

If this is you: you need a safe space to explore your sensitive needs and strengths without judgement.

I see your sensitivity, not as something to be changed or "healed", but something to be honoured and embraced.

✨ Rather than suggesting you "toughen up" or develop "thicker skin", I help you develop skills to protect your sensitive needs, reduce overwhelm and regulate intense emotions.

Head to the link in my bio to find out if my counselling services for Highly Sensitive People is right for you!

01/25/2022

Unsure what it means to be a highly sensitive person? Dr. Elaine Aron has clearly articulated these 4 characteristics in her research.
✨Depth of Processing
HSPs process things deeply. What this means, is that highly sensitive folks spend more time interpreting, and integrating what they observe and pick up from their environment and internal world. HSP brains are built to pause and reflect before making decisions. While the depth at which HSPs process input often means they have a great memory and make wise, calculated decisions.
✨Overstimulation
The fact that HSPs are constantly picking up on and processing small details in their environment, means that they are more likely to become overstimulated. Overstimulation can look like anxiety, stress, collapse, exhaustion, or shut down and is the most difficult part of being highly sensitive.
✨Emotional Responsiveness and Empathy
The emotional responsiveness of HSPs is one of the more widely known characteristics. Highly sensitive folks feel emotions with more intensity than others. This means that they can feel deep joy or gratitude about small, everyday things and that they also feel emotions like sadness more intensely as well.
HSPs have an amazing capacity for empathy due to having particularly active mirror neurons. HSP brains pick up on the emotional states of the people around them, which allows for deep understand and care for others. However, HSPs may often feel like they are absorbing the emotions of others which can lead to overstimulation.
✨Sensitivity to Subtleties
HSPs are highly aware of subtleties in their environment, and often notice small details that other people miss. For some, loud noises, strong smells, bright lights or colors, and certain textures may feel intense or overwhelming.
If this sounds like you, take the free HSP test! Head to the link in my bio to find it.

01/11/2022

Do you struggle with the winter blues?

January can begin as an exciting month. It may feel like a fresh start as you enter the new year, but it can also bring on complex emotions.

Transitioning from holiday mode back into work, school and everyday responsibilities can be challenging. The crash from the holiday buzz, the short days and limited sunlight, and the pressure of things being somehow different now that it is a new year may leave you feeling drained or anxious.

Many people experience the winter blues during the darker, colder days of the winter season.

Some may feel lethargic or less motivated, while others may experience more extreme or debilitating bouts of depression. 2-3% of Canadians experience severe Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in their lifetime, while many others experience milder forms of SAD.

This year, the colder temperatures and reduced sunlight come with the additional complications and stressors of a global pandemic. The winter blues may be amplified by the grief of being separated from loved ones, not being able to do your favourite activities or the uncertainty of what the rest of the year will bring.

For 7 tips to help you cope with the winter blues, head to this blog post: https://www.bravespirit.ca/post/7-tips-to-help-beat-the-winter-blues

11/01/2021

Have you ever been told to toughen up? Have you ever put that pressure on yourself?

When you do, what happens?

What if your sensitivity isn’t something to push through, overcome, or ignore?

What if it is actually a beautiful and important part of you that deserves protection?

When we “toughen up” instead of sitting with how we are feeling, we often miss important needs that we have and they go unmet.

What would happen for you if you created boundaries that honour your softness and sensitivity?

10/28/2021

As the days get shorter and darker, be sure to check in with yourself.

What do you need during this time of transition? Autumn is generally a time of slowing down, staying inside more, and of harvest.

This time of year it can be helpful to:
- give yourself permission to slow down
- offer yourself the activities that feel the most comforting
- increase your vitamin D intake
- find ways to move your body that suit the weather
- practice gratitude about all the things this season brings

What do you love most about Autumn?