
The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast with Julie Bjelland
Welcome to the Sensitive and Neurodivergent podcast (formerly The HSP Podcast) with Julie Bjelland, LMFT, a space for sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to explore emotional well-being, self-compassion, and empowerment. Join Julie and her guests as they discuss topics like managing sensitivity, overcoming shame, coping with a world not set up for us, and finding joy. The podcast offers insights and tools to help you navigate the world as your authentic self, build resilience, and connect with a supportive, global community. Perfect for those seeking validation, growth, and connection.
Latest episodes

May 31, 2020 • 16min
Meditation for Deep Feelers
Being a deep feeler in the world can sometimes be difficult when we have intensely strong emotions. I hope this meditation supports you and calms you. For more meditations visit www.HSPpodcast.com and for tips and tools to thrive as a highly sensitive person, a free Sensitivity Quiz and to join my Sensitive Empowerment community visit www.juliebjelland.com

May 28, 2020 • 45min
Validation: The power of personal validation as an ongoing practice: with Julie & Willow
Following a previous episode about self-compassion, the powerful technique for managing our feelings, we turn our attention to the power of validation. As high sensory people, we can often get overly affected by other people's opinions and expectations of us. So much so we can even lose track of a sense of meaning in our lives and the very reason nature has given us this powerful trait. We’ll discuss tools and techniques to stay connected to our own sense of self, our purpose, and ultimately our own happiness and fulfillment. Join us as we will dive into key areas such as:
What does validation really mean from a personal development point of view
What are the signs to look out for when we have lost our sense of self
The adverse effects of ‘people-pleasing’ on the relationship with ourselves and how to manage this
The importance of differentiating personal validation from being self centered and how it ultimately leads to being of better service to others
Understanding why self-validation is the path to bringing our high sensory gifts into the world
Reflecting on the importance of self-validation in leadership
How to bring self-validation into our lives as a daily practice
More information at www.hsppodcast.com

May 21, 2020 • 47min
Self-Compassion: This One Skill Can Transform Your Life with Julie and Willow
HSPs are some of the kindest, most compassionate people in the world, toward others, and yet It’s common for HSPs to have a lot of negative self-talk and lack healthy self-compassion. This can be particularly damaging during times of high stress when we need to be a compassionate, caring friend to support ourselves through intense emotions. We will talk about how this brain-training skill development of self-compassion can improve every aspect of our life and even help us through a global crisis. We need this skill now more than ever.
Self-Compassion decreases cortisol (stress hormone) and increases the release of oxytocin (creating a calming effect). Self-criticism, common in HSPs triggers the amygdala’s fight/flight response sending out an alarm bell system: releasing the stress hormone cortisol, adrenaline (racing heart) and increased blood pressure fight/flight response designed to protect us from physically threatening situations response also gets activated with emotional attacks (even from when we are emotionally hard or unkind to ourselves
We already have more activation in our fight/flight so have a stronger need to counter this alarm bell response. Research shows us self-compassion actually decreases our cortisol levels and can deactivate the stress response and activate a calming response We can even change our body chemistry, recover more quickly from emotional wounding, improve health both short term and long term.
Warm, loving physical touch can release the feel-good hormones (oxytocin), reduces cortisol (stress), and blood pressure. (Self-hug, loving gestures (lotion lovingly applied to your body), hand on chest sending loving energy to your heart)
Learn about research from Kristin Neff showing that self-compassion is one of the key features of improving mental health and what life looks like without self-compassion and what improves when we have it.
Julie and Willow share our journey of developing self-compassion and how it transformed our life.
Practice the self-compassion technique with us!
Please share this episode and review our podcast which helps more HSPs find our episodes.
Check out Julie's HSP blog showing the video of her teaching the 3-step self-compassion technique: https://www.juliebjelland.com/hsp-blog/a-self-compassion-technique-for-hsps
Explore all our podcast episodes and learn about Julie and Willow at HSPpodcast.com
For information about Julie's Sensitivity Quiz, books and courses visit: juliebjelland.com

May 16, 2020 • 12min
Meditation for Emotional Wounding
Emotional wounding needs care just as much as physical wounding does, especially for highly sensitive people who can feel things so deeply. This emotional healing meditation will help you to become more relaxed and at peace.

May 14, 2020 • 51min
How to Develop High Self Esteem Through the Recognition of Our Core Beliefs as a Highly Sensitive Person
Recognizing core beliefs can be pivotal to developing confidence and high self-esteem as a Highly Sensitive or “High Sensory intelligent” person. We often feel so strongly about the injustices in the world, it can upset us deeply when our core beliefs are challenged. Or if we witness someone causing harm in a context that we are particularly passionate about. It is very common for us to feel very strongly about the change we know we can make in a particular area. Understanding this at a deep level can bring enormous clarity into the importance of our place in the world, the deeper meaning of our lives, and personal empowerment.
Areas of focus:
The pain we can feel when we are not helping in the area that feels most important to us
Getting clarity about the deeper need or cause underneath our core beliefs
How the trait of being an HSP comes with a profound level of caring for the well being of people, animals, and the planet
How the great leaders of the past known to have had the trait changed the world with their core beliefs and values
The importance of recognizing that our innate skills are aligned to the cause we stand for
How we can learn to develop our own skills by creating the right circumstances around us
Why the alignment to what is most important to us can become the new reference point in all that we do.
Learn more about Julie and Willow at www.HSPpodcast.com

May 11, 2020 • 11min
HSP/HSS Boost Your Mood & Energy
After working with highly sensitive people as well as high sensation seeking HSPs I have learned important information that may help you feel better if you’re experiencing depression, low mode, or low energy.

May 7, 2020 • 54min
10 Steps to Creating Healthy Friendships & Relationships as an HSP with Julie & Willow
Highly sensitive people (HSPs) have a very caring and giving nature. However, sometimes we over-give to the point of being targets to people with toxic or narcissistic tendencies causing an imbalanced, unhealthy dynamic. We’ll talk about the ways that contribute to that dynamic. Almost every HSP I’ve ever spoken to has a story about an unhealthy friendship or relationship. We will talk about why this can be common and what we can do about it and how to create the healthy friendships and relationships that you deserve.
See you next week at the same time for more empowering discussions on what it means to thrive as an HSP. Join us live at https://www.sensitive-empowerment.com/
Willow's website: https://inluminance.com/
Julie's website: https://www.juliebjelland.com/

May 5, 2020 • 47min
How to Keep Your Boat Afloat in Uncertain Times: Commitment to and Trusting Change With Michael Smith, Ph.D.
Michael Smith, Ph.D., of Empath Connection helps you understand the big picture on the planet and connect with your Divine Essence. You'll understand the evolutionary advantages of your sensitivity trait, and how you can harness this trait to be used to help others. He shares a meditation and some vagus nerve hacks that calm the system. You'll come away with more trust in the changes that are happening around you, and learn to trust your intuition instead of doubting it. You will also learn several effective energy techniques that you can use in your own daily 'self-first' practice of rituals that allow you to stay centered, grounded, and fully empowered.
Dr. Michael Smith is a former mental health counselor who now helps you as an empath or sensitive person connect with your Divine Essence. He offers a quiz, free eCourse as well as paid classes at https://www.empathconnection.com
Julie Bjelland is a sensitivity expert, psychotherapist, and author. Her online resource, Sensitive Empowerment, has helped highly sensitive people (HSPs) around the world reduce their challenges, access their gifts, and discover significant value to truly thrive in the world. Known for her ability to give people a sense of true support, Julie is on a mission to empower sensitive people to live their best lives. For HSP resources and the Sensitivity Quiz, visit http://sensitiveconnection.com/

May 4, 2020 • 16min
Working From Home Tips
I share tips to support highly sensitive people (HSPs) working from home right now. Sharing ways to support yourself and your sensitive system as well as tips to create a workspace that works well for HSPs. You’ll add a few tools to your toolbox and information that can help you reduce stress and feel more focused and efficient for work. I teach how to find the balance between work and home life so that is best for you.

May 3, 2020 • 47min
How To Deal With Anxiety While Navigating Chaos And Uncertainty with Sukie Baxter
Learn simple, embodied tools that HSPs can use to calm their nervous
system while staying centered and connected to their core selves even
when the world is chaotic and uncertain. Discover how to discharge
stored stress so it doesn't build up in your body and cause physical,
mental, and emotional health issues down the road.
Sukie Baxter is a posture and movement specialist, founder of Whole Body Revolution and the author of Perfect Posture for Life. Sukie helps people to get effective, long-term relief for pain, stress and tension in their bodies so that they can continue to do the things they love in life. For access to her free Pain Free At Any Age video series, visit www.wholebodyrevolution.com/hsp
Julie Bjelland is a sensitivity expert, psychotherapist, and author. Her online resource, Sensitive Empowerment, has helped highly sensitive people (HSPs) around the world reduce their challenges, access their gifts, and discover significant value to truly thrive in the world. Known for her ability to give people a sense of true support, Julie is on a mission to empower sensitive people to live their best lives. For HSP resources and the Sensitivity Quiz, visit http://sensitiveconnection.com/