COVID-19 | All sessions will be conducted virtually

 

“Close your eyes and imagine the best vision of you possible.
That’s who you really are, let go of any part of you that doesn’t believe it.”

– C Assaad

My Story

 

When I’m not working with introverted Highly Sensitive People (aka HSP’s), you can find me sailing, biking, walking along the ocean or on my spin bike at 5:30 am moving my energy through my body. Yin Yoga is a favourite and helps to center me in the mornings so I can start my day feeling grounded and connected to myself.
 
I’ve been known to squeal with delight at nature’s beauty, the trees, bumblebees, wild flowers, and I never tire of gazing at the big blue sea. I love to swear, quote movies, and enjoy dark humour. I hate social gatherings with more than 5 people and avoid small talk whenever I can.
 
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, a Coach, and an Educator. Since 2016 I have had the privilege of working with Highly Sensitive Women and LGBTQIA+ folx to step out of shame/critical mindsets in order to fall in love with themselves. I have also had the privilege of working with many beautiful souls that want to learn more about their HSP partners, children, and loved ones.
 
I am an empath, an introvert, and a highly sensitive person (HSP). I have a very luxurious inner world and can be happily in my own head for days at a time. I am a trauma survivor and a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ family. Like most HSPs, I am always learning something new.  My biggest love is studying the human condition and how we tick. Since becoming a therapist in 2016, I have completed many additional trainings in trauma, shame, rejection, EMDR, somatic experiencing in addition to a year long coaching program.
 
I am currently enrolled in Bringing the Body into Practice, a 2 Year Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy Training, in addition to exploring attachment based EMDR. Some recent books that I enjoyed were Greedy: Notes from a Bisexual Who Wants Too Much by Jen Winston, This Here Flesh by Cole Arthur Riley, The Myth of Normal by Dr. Gabor Mate, and Hunger by Roxanne Gay (I’ve read this one a few times and each time a new learning emerges), these are all stories of the human experience.
 
I spent many years trying to keep up with those that are not highly sensitive, participating in hustle culture, working 7 days a week and feeling like there was something very wrong with me because I was exhausted and overwhelmed all the damn time.  I spent a lot of time collecting back up options for careers, so I would always have something steady to fall back on.  I did a Business Degree, Teaching Degree, even a hairdressing diploma all so I would have something safe as far as work went. While I enjoyed certain aspects of these jobs, they were completely wrong for my particular HSP iteration, and I was ignoring my body which was telling me this through constant back pain. I learned that my definition of safety was keeping me trapped in misery.
 
I worked in environments and surrounded myself with people that did not align with my values.  It took a work crisis to shake up my world and force a major shift in how I was living. Now I see that crisis as the best thing that could have happened to me because it taught me to slow down and honour my needs. I moved cities and started over. I now know that everything I learned along the way has brought me to this point of doing exactly what I love, in a way that feels nourishing and meaningful.  I love combining my experience as an educator, therapist, and coach to work with introverted HSPs to collaboratively design the life they’ve been dreaming of. A life filled with ease, beauty, and joy.
 
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated with the inner worlds of people. How they think, the stories they tell themselves, and the inner resources that have allowed them to overcome hardship.  I’m passionate about every aspect and lived experience of Highly Sensitive People, and have been studying this trait for over 13 years. My favourite aspect of working with HSPs is watching them transition from overwhelm to feeling like something really beautiful is on the horizon. I had one client who said that being a HSP is like “living in 3D when everyone else is stuck in 2D” which I loved because we have so many extra sensory/intuitive abilities.

 

Jackie Dowling
Coach, Educator and Registered Clinical Counsellor