20. Trusting Your Highly Sensitive Self with Elizabeth Venart

_ "I know I'm right about myself, but every message I get is that I'm wrong." _ Many of us highly sensitive moms struggle with making decisions, feeling shame and guilt when we feel like we've made the wrong one, overthinking everything, and feeling like something is wrong with us.  The good news is that there are new ways to trust your highly sensitive instincts so you can connect more fully with yourself and stop doubting your feelings. In this episode, we welcome Elizabeth Venart, a licensed professional counselor and author of "Trusting Your Highly Sensitive Self". Elizabeth has dedicated her career to helping highly sensitive people embrace their gifts and build lasting resilience.  She highlights how many sensitive individuals process and cope with life events differently, while some can move on quickly, others need more time to explore their feelings and integrate experiences. Elizabeth’s journey began when she started the Resiliency Center and was introduced to Elaine Aaron's research on high sensitivity. This experience shifted her focus towards working with highly sensitive clients, helping them appreciate their sensitivity as a guide in creating a fulfilling life. One of the central themes of Elizabeth's work is Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which she believes offers a profound understanding of self-trust for sensitive individuals. IFS helps clients recognize their internal parts — the various feelings, opinions, and strategies that navigate their lives. This internal conflict can lead to feelings of self-doubt, especially among highly sensitive people who are naturally insightful yet often struggle to trust themselves due to societal judgments. Elizabeth emphasizes that many messages received throughout life can invalidate one’s feelings, leading to a lack of self-trust. As a highly sensitive person you feel deeply, yet are constantly battling external perceptions that tell you to suppress those feelings.  Elizabeth points out that the roots of self-doubt often stem from childhood experiences where sensitive perceptions were dismissed or criticized, reinforcing the belief that something is wrong with us. Elizabeth believes that understanding your inner workings through IFS can illuminate the path toward self-acceptance and empowerment.  For more insights, listen to the full episode with Elizabeth Venart and discover how to trust your highly sensitive self on a deeper level. Find Elizabeth and her book club at her https://elizabethvenart.com/?_ _s=xxxxxxxand grab her book _ Trusting Your Highly Sensitive Self _ on Amazon or wherever books are sold. Contact Elizabeth via her website at https://elizabethvenart.com/ Contact Leah at her website at https://www.risingsuntherapy.com/ Contact Adrienne at her website at https://www.adriennebishopcoaching.com/