Therapy for Highly Sensitive People & People Pleasers
If you’re a highly sensitive person or a longtime people pleaser, you probably notice everything — emotions, moods, tension — and put others’ needs ahead of your own. That can leave you exhausted, disconnected, or constantly worried about disappointing people.
I offer therapy for highly sensitive people and people pleasers in Cleveland, Ohio, and online therapy across Ohio and Missouri. My approach is supportive, practical, and grounded in the belief that sensitivity isn’t a flaw — it’s a strength to understand, protect, and work with.
Through therapy, you can learn tools to manage overwhelm, reclaim your energy, and start living in alignment with your values.
Does This Sound Like You?
You might recognize yourself if you:
Feel emotionally drained after social interactions
Pick up on other people’s moods immediately and deeply
Struggle to say no without guilt
Worry about being “too much” or overstepping
Constantly put others’ needs first, even when it costs you
Replay conversations in your head, wishing you’d said something differently
Many highly sensitive people develop people-pleasing patterns to stay safe, connected, or accepted. Therapy can help you untangle those patterns and reclaim your boundaries.
Understanding Sensitivity & How Therapy Can Help
Many highly sensitive people and chronic people pleasers feel overwhelmed, drained, or disconnected from their own needs. Therapy can help you understand your patterns, build practical skills, and reclaim your energy. Below are some key areas we focus on:
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Highly sensitive people (HSPs) process information deeply. You may feel emotions more intensely, notice subtleties others miss, or get overstimulated in busy environments. Sensitivity itself isn’t a problem — the challenge comes when the world’s pace or expectations push you to ignore your own needs.
Therapy gives you tools to work with your sensitivity rather than against it, helping you reduce overwhelm and approach life with more ease and confidence.
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In therapy, we focus on actionable tools you can use in everyday life:
Boundary-setting skills: learn to say no and protect your energy without guilt
Values clarification: identify what truly matters to you
Mindfulness and grounding practices: calm overwhelm and stay present
Cognitive defusion and thought flexibility exercises: notice unhelpful thoughts without getting stuck
Behavioral experiments: practice new ways of showing up in relationships or challenging situations
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress, self-understanding, and sustainable change — helping you feel more confident, grounded, and empowered.
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I combine Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Feminist Empowerment Therapy to create a therapy experience that honors both your inner world and the societal pressures that shape your life.
Our work together might include:
Mindfulness and self-compassion to reduce stress and emotional overload
Exploring family, cultural, or relational dynamics that reinforce people-pleasing
Identifying and testing new behaviors to reclaim autonomy and assert your needs
Strategies to manage burnout and overwhelm without shutting down
My approach is collaborative, paced to honor your nervous system, and focused on helping you use your sensitivity as a strength rather than a burden.
Therapy in Cleveland, Ohio & Online
I provide:
In-person therapy in Cleveland, Ohio
Online therapy for clients across Ohio and Missouri
Whether you’re searching for therapy for highly sensitive people in Cleveland or people pleaser therapy in Ohio, we can explore whether working together feels like a good fit.
Related Reading & Free Tools
If you’re someone who tends to think things through deeply or put others first, learning at your own pace can feel safer than jumping straight into therapy. These posts and free resources offer practical tools, reflection prompts, and validation for highly sensitive people and people pleasers who want to reduce overwhelm and start honoring their own needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes! The goal is to help you understand your sensitivity and people-pleasing patterns, set healthy boundaries, and reclaim your energy.
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Sessions are practical and collaborative. We’ll work on exercises like mindfulness, values clarification, boundary practice, and behavioral experiments. You’ll leave with strategies to apply in real life.
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I deeply understand what it’s like to carry others’ expectations while trying to stay kind, empathetic, and connected. I love supporting people in honoring their sensitivity, releasing guilt, and living a life aligned with their true values.
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Yes. Therapy gives you tools to notice early signs of overwhelm, set realistic limits, and practice grounding techniques. We also explore habits or people-pleasing patterns that may be contributing to burnout so you can protect your energy more effectively.
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Absolutely. Online therapy allows you to engage from a comfortable, familiar space, which can reduce stress and make it easier to process emotions. I provide online sessions for clients throughout Ohio and Missouri, using the same practical strategies and exercises as in-person therapy.
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Therapy helps you understand why you people-please and gives you concrete skills to act differently. We practice setting boundaries, noticing automatic patterns, and experimenting with new ways of responding in relationships — all while respecting your sensitivity and values.
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Not at all. Many clients start unsure, overwhelmed, or disconnected. Therapy is about exploring, understanding, and taking small, meaningful steps forward.
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Every person is different. Some notice relief from overwhelm and better boundaries in just a few sessions. Others take longer. We focus on progress, not perfection, and you’ll leave with tools you can actually use.
A First Step — No Pressure
Starting therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re used to putting everyone else first. You don’t need to have it all figured out.
If you’re curious about therapy for highly sensitive people or people pleasers in Cleveland, Ohio, reach out to see if it feels like a fit.