Learning to Embrace Feeling Deeply and Finding the Joy of the Real You with Julie Bjelland, LMFT, and Willow McIntosh

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Welcome to this episode of the HSP and Neurodivergent Podcast with Julie Bjelland, LMFT, and guest Willow McIntosh. This episode celebrates the 5th anniversary of the Sensitive Empowerment Community. We discuss milestones, including reaching listeners in 183 countries and ranking in the top 1.5% of podcasts globally.

Please share this podcast with friends and colleagues and on social media, and leave a review to help others find support.

Topics Covered:

• Season Two Kickoff: Julie shares exciting news about starting Season Two after completing 200 episodes in Season One.

• Global Reach: The podcast now reaches 183 countries, highlighting the wide impact on sensitive and neurodivergent individuals worldwide.

• Grief and Growth: Julie opens up about her personal experience with grief after the loss of her mother and discusses the emotional growth that follows deep emotional pain.

• Diet and Health: Willow shares his journey of improving his health by cutting out processed foods and how mindful eating has helped balance his energy and digestion.

• Joy and Mindfulness: Both hosts discuss the importance of finding small moments of joy during difficult times, as part of the healing process.

• Photography as a New Joy: Julie is excited about a new hobby—photography—capturing nature and bird photos as a way to bring joy into her life.

• Community Growth: Updates on new groups within the Sensitive Empowerment Community, providing diverse and safe spaces for connection and support.

Community Groups Highlighted:

• Spiral Up Group: Focuses on overcoming depression, healing, and belonging. Hosted by Gracie King.

• Sensitive Sages (60+): A group for HSPs aged 60 and over, hosted by Christine Magnussen.

• Autistic Women’s Group: A supportive space for late-discovered autistic women, hosted by Julie Bjelland

• Soul Sanctuary for HSPs of Color: A safe space for HSPs of color, hosted by Robin Morton.

• Rainbow Room (LGBTQIA+): A dedicated group for LGBTQIA+ HSPs to feel supported and understood, hosted by Julie Bjelland.

• HSPs in Heart-Centered Business: A group providing support for sensitive entrepreneurs, hosted by Andrea Weber.

• Self-Discovery Journey: A group for exploring personal growth and authenticity.

• Course Discussions: If you are talking one of Julie’s courses, a space to connect with others and ask Julie questions.

Key Takeaways:

• Mindful Eating and Health: Processed foods can deeply affect sensitive systems. Discover how Willow transformed his energy by making conscious food choices.

• Managing Grief: Embrace the natural waves of grief, find resilience, and use moments of joy to move forward in tough times.

• Finding Joy: The importance of mindfulness and finding small pockets of joy, like birdwatching and photography, to uplift spirits during hard times.

• Community Support: Explore the variety of groups within the Sensitive Empowerment Community, providing a safe and nurturing space for sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to connect and grow.

Julie’s Resources & Links

• Join the Sensitive Empowerment Community for live events, meet and greets, and niche support groups.: https://www.juliebjelland.com/sensitive-empowerment-community

• One-on-one with Julie: Coaching, Consultations for the sensitive and neurodivergent and Autism Assessments: https://www.juliebjelland.com/consultations-with-julie

• Explore Julie’s Courses for the Sensitive and Neurodivergent: https://www.juliebjelland.com/hsp-online-courses

• Explore Julie’s Resources for the Sensitive and Neurodivergent at https://www.juliebjelland.com/

Willow’s Resources & Links

• Book a free discovery call with Willow: https://training.inluminance.com/20-minute-session

• Interested in training to become an HSP Specialist? Visit: https://inluminance.com/the-coaching-program/

• Find out more at https://inluminance.com

Bios

Julie Bjelland is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. She specializes in supporting high sensitivity, neurodivergence, and adult-discovered autism. Julie has developed tools to help balance the sensitive nervous system, reduce challenges, and help individuals reach their fullest potential. Through her global support hub, she offers online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community, a top-ranked podcast, articles, webinars, and more. As a proud neurodivergent and queer therapist, Julie’s mission is to create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. Learn more at https://www.juliebjelland.com/

Willow McIntosh is the founder of Inluminance and has been working in purpose alignment and lightworker facilitation for 17 years. He specialises in initiating people with High Sensory Intelligence to experience their reality as a gift that can be implemented into valuable products and services. https://inluminance.com/

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