I’m Patricia Young. I live in California with my husband and Gracie, the handi-capable wonderdog. My twin boys are in college.
Wounded Healer
You probably want to know if I know what I’m doing. I’m what they call a wounded healer. This means I’ve had my share of trauma, and I’ve worked really hard to do my own work (and it’s ongoing). The benefit to you, is that I know what it’s like to struggle. It makes me really empathic, and I get it. Because I’ve done my own work, I KNOW what has been effective. My own healing work has guided how I help other HSPs manage big feels; learn to embrace their traits, improve self-care, set clear boundaries, reduce anxiety, increase mindfulness and tools to calm our overactive nervous systems, and so much more.
What I know
What I’ve learned about Sensitives, Creatives, Deep Thinkers and Deep Feelers is that we’ve felt different from everyone else for most of our lives! This is why I started a podcast. I want you to know that you are not alone! In spite of having struggles, we have so many gifts to offer the world. When we do our own work, we begin to thrive as HSPs!
What I love
I love laughing, playing games, being creative, spending time with Gracie, the one-eyed wonderdog, and spending time with family and friends. I love kayaking and yoga. Sometimes I struggle to get out and get exercise regularly. I try and use the buddy system to help me. HSPs tend to LOVE animals, and I’m no exception!
Why Coaching and Not Therapy
I am only speaking for myself here—let’s be really clear
Therapy is about diagnosis, pathology, illness, problems, and satisfying treatment goals for insurance.
Coaching is about working with the whole person. I want the freedom to work within an HSP framework, and I see clients in terms of wholeness and wellness.
Many Highly Sensitive Persons have been misdiagnosed with depression, anxiety and a host of other disorders. I have always believed in looking at the things the client struggles with and I have tried to understand how these struggles impact the client’s life and what they are wanting to have in their life.
To me, therapy is allowing the client to be exactly where they’re at and holding space for them. This means allowing the client to move at the pace they need. There is nothing wrong with this at all!
With coaching, and the work I’ve done with many HSPs, I find I do my best (and most effective) work when the client wants to make changes; the client wants to understand about their traits, and they want to learn tools so they experience less suffering.
With coaching, I like to get in there and roll up my sleeves, and actively create change with my clients. There is plenty of room for feelings and processing (because that’s what we do as HSPs), but I feel I have more freedom to help guide clients through experiences, and to provide tools and feedback so we’re working together to create change.
How Coaching Works
Coaching is a dynamic process. I actively engage and work with you to achieve your goals.
I switched to a coaching model because I found it to be more effective when working with my HS clients. I provide education, and we look at what’s keeping you from living the life you want.
My coaching style is gentle, compassionate, and very accepting; however, this doesn’t mean that I will just sit and nod during your coaching sessions. I actively participate, and I will be honest with you, and I will encourage you to push and challenge yourself. I provide a lot of information about HSPs since many people don’t realize that much of what they struggle with is related to being a Highly Sensitive Person.
GRACIE, THE HANDI-CAPABLE WONDERDOG
Gracie has been trained as a service dog, and she came to work with me when I worked at a hospital. She is a calm, gentle spirit, and is almost always sitting on my lap during online sessions and when I record the podcast.
EDUCATION/LICENSE
California Licensed Clinical Social Worker #23459 since 2006
MSW, Graduate School of Social Work, San Diego State University 1998
B.A. Social Work, San Diego State University
A.A. Interpreting for the Deaf-honors, San Diego Mesa College
A.S. Selected Studies-honors, San Diego Mesa College
TRAINING
Host of the podcast Unapologetically Sensitive
HSP Competent Therapist (listed on Dr. Elaine Aron’s Website)
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR)
The Art & Science of Mindful Self-Compassion
8 Day Mindful Self-Compassion Silent Retreat–There is Nothing Wrong With You
The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach
Marianne Williamson-Mid-Life Awakening
The Body Keeps the Score Trauma Healing
Ages and Stages of Learning and ADHD
Clinical Supervisor
Brain Warrior’s Way
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
Extensive work with 12-step programs