Therapy for
intellectualizers & People-Pleasers
Many of my clients are used to carrying the weight of everyone else’s needs, or explaining their emotions in a way that feels “logical” but never quite touches the heart. Over time, this can leave you disconnected from your body, unsure of what you really feel, and exhausted from holding it all together.
In therapy, I help people-pleasers and intellectualizers slow down and notice what’s happening beneath the surface: where tension shows up in your body, how old protective roles shape your reactions, and what it’s like to actually stay with a feeling instead of managing it away. The goal isn’t to abandon the strengths of your intellect or your care for others—it’s to add more depth, clarity, and authenticity so you can show up more fully for yourself and your relationships.
You may often sit in the role of peacekeeper or thinker, but you’re also tender, capable, and longing for something more real. I help people unmask the parts of themselves they’ve kept hidden—sometimes even from themselves—and move toward a life that feels more connected, more intimate, and more true. Together, we’ll create space for you to step out of old roles and into a way of being that feels authentic and alive.
my approach
In my work with intellectualizers and people-pleasers, I help clients reconnect with their body and emotions as an essential pathway to healing. Many protective parts work overtime to avoid conflict, keep the peace, or explain away pain—but that often leaves deeper feeling unseen, lonely, or like feelings are always overwhelming. By learning to notice and care for these parts, we can begin to move from survival roles into more grounded, authentic living.
I draw on Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients meet the different parts of themselves—the thinker, the peacemaker, the critic, the hurt child—with curiosity and compassion. When each part is acknowledged, space opens up for you to discover who you are beyond these roles. By allowing all of the parts of you to exist together, you gain access to a life with greater intimacy, authenticity, and presence.
What this looks like in session is:
Learning to recognize and soothe the part of you that needs to “make sense” of everything.
Exploring body-based awareness so you can identify where feelings live and what they’re asking for.
Naming the part that avoids conflict or over-functions for others, and giving it space to rest.
Exploring the discomfort that arises when you begin to break old patterns.
Practicing staying with your own emotions, even when they feel messy or uncomfortable.
Curiously uncovering new ways of regulating.
Developing the courage to share your needs clearly and honestly—without over-explaining or apologizing.
My goal isn’t to erase the parts of you that care deeply or think critically—it’s to help you integrate them in a way that feels balanced and whole. Together, we’ll create space for the parts of you that long to play, to rest, to be imperfect, and to finally be seen.
