Nervous System Care & Healing

How to Build a Nervous System Care Plan: The 8 Senses

If you struggle to regulate your nervous system, often experiencing burnout, meltdowns, & sensory overload… this episode is for you. I’ll share practical info on how to care for your nervous system, focusing on the 5 senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, & taste) and beyond (proprioception & intuition). We’ll reflect on these questions: What brings you joy? What makes you happy to be alive? And one day, when you’re no longer in this body, what experiences will you miss most about being human?  By the end of this heartfelt, soothing, & educational episode, you’ll have a few more ideas to add to your nervous system care kit.  01:27 The science of the nervous system 03:45 How our experiences of senses spans from pre-birth to death 05:55 How to build a sensory care plan for the nervous system 11:02 Interoception: a sense of internal bodily awareness (aka: how to tell when you’re overstimulated or understimulated) 13:54 Resourcing through the 5 senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, & taste 23:37 Beyond the 5 senses: proprioception & intuition 29:45 There’s no one-size-fits-all care plan 31:29 Let’s imagine a world that cares for sensory needs across all phases of life – and then build it, together Quote: “When we’re dysregulated in the nervous system, we don’t always have access to all parts of the brain. It’s certainly much harder to access the rational, logical, thinking parts when we’re in the middle of a shutdown or burnout or emotional meltdown. And that’s when we do need to speak to the nervous system in the first language that it understands, which is sensory input.” 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, & Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). Liz’s services are available online in CO & worldwide. RESOURCES >> Enjoy a guided meditation for grounding (6 min) [https://youtu.be/RVW9slDt9Vw?si=h2AzD2hYEGywcnxg] >> See all research citations for this episode [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A_VVVeZvot1sKsJL845X17avmZGAYj0l/view?usp=share_link] 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my weekly newsletter, where I share insights on how to understand your brain & take care of your nervous system: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters [http://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/newsletter] >> Follow on IG: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist [http://www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist] >> To work 1:1 with Liz: learn about Nervous System Healing Intensives here [https://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/brainspotting-ifs-nervous-system-intensive] (focused sessions to help you heal deeply & connect with your authentic self) 🌻

Caring for the Perinatal Nervous System: A Transpersonal Lens, w/ Paige DiChiara

Let’s talk about the perinatal nervous system – what it is, how it differs from a non-perinatal nervous system, and how caring for mothers creates a ripple effect of healing across generations. In this conversation, Paige DiChiara & I explore the perinatal nervous system from a scientific, spiritual, & systemic lens.  We discuss: * how to honor the perinatal transition as a rite of passage – instead of pathologizing the experience, as is often the case in Western medical models * why the health of mothers is directly linked to the health of society & the planet  * the somatic intelligence of the nervous system, and why the biological shifts that occur during the perinatal portal make sense from an evolutionary point of view * the process of matrescence: a multi-layered metamorphosis into motherhood, impacting everything from identity to neurobiology to finances * how lack of systemic support for mothers creates more opportunity for rupture in the child-caregiver relationship, increasing the risk of adverse childhood experiences * where systems fall short (like lack of paid maternity/paternity leave in the US), and what needs to change at the systemic level in order for humanity & the planet to have a chance to thrive * the benefits of matriarchy, and why matriarchy is not what most people think – it’s not about domination & control, like patriarchy; it’s about care & protection in community 🌿 About the Guest Paige DiChiara is trained as a therapist, doula, and advanced yoga teacher with a specialization in perinatal mental health & transpersonal experiences. She guides pregnant women through a physical & emotional transformation that eases anxiety & discomfort while activating an unshakable trust within themselves. Paige believes that the health of mothers is directly related to the health of society & the health of the planet. 🌿 Connect with Paige >> Join free 3-day journey for pregnancy peace: Calm Within Reach [https://calm.seasonsofshakti.co/] >> Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/chicorycounselingwww.instagram.com/seasonsofshakti_ [http://www.instagram.com/seasonsofshakti_]  >> Website: www.seasonsofshakti.co [http://www.seasonsofshakti.co]  🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, and Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Subscribe to Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters [http://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/newsletter] >> Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist/www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist [http://www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist] >> Website: http://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com [http://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com]

The Brain on Psychedelic Medicines: Myths & Facts

We’ve all heard the claim that psychedelic drugs will “fry your brain.” We’ve also heard the opposite story: that psychedelics (like psilocybin, MDMA, & ketamine) are a “magic pill” that’ll cure depression, anxiety, & PTSD — overnight! With such polarizing narratives, it can be hard to discern what’s myth & what’s truth.  Whether you’re curious about psychedelic therapy, or skeptical about all the hype, this episode is here to inform you. As a therapist specializing in psychedelic integration, I’ll discuss: * the definition of psychedelic medicine (& why I’m intentionally using this term, instead of “drug”) * why psychedelics are not a passive experience that we just consume; they’re a relationship that we actively participate in * the balance between enjoying the neuroplastic effects of psychedelic medicines vs. expecting the medicine to do all the healing work for us * the importance of thoughtful preparation & integration, and why the real work happens after the journey * studies that compare the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy vs. psychotherapy with a placebo * why concerns about safety are valid, and why it’s important to consider medical contraindications, as well as the social, emotional, & sensory context in which the experience unfolds * how War on Drugs propaganda impacts our public understanding of psychedelic medicines, and misrepresents the relative danger of “drugs” like cannabis & psilocybin (which are shown to be physiologically less dangerous & less addictive than alcohol)  * why any conversation on psychedelics must also acknowledge the War on Drugs as a vehicle of structural racism & oppression * the different contexts of psychedelic healing, from ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to plant medicine ceremonies to microdosing * the nuanced truth: psychedelics can be helpful for some & unhelpful for others * the importance of centering the voices of Indigenous communities that have stewarded these medicines for generations RESOURCES >> Download free guide: How to Prepare & Integrate Your Psychedelic Experience 🪷 [https://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/psychedelic-guide] >> See all research citations [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xJJsU37qBEuiCfdjPWdn0cqHyrN7AeLo/view?usp=sharing] 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, & Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). Liz’s services are available online in CO & worldwide. 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my weekly newsletter: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters [http://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/newsletter] >> Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist/www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist [http://www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist] >> To work 1:1 with Liz: learn about psychedelic integration support here [https://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/psychedelic-integration-therapy-colorado].

Decolonial & Ancestral Healing through Psychedelic Medicines, w/ Mariya Javed-Payne

Though psychedelic medicines are often presented as a “quick fix” or “magic pill” in mainstream Western culture, the truth is far more complex than that.  In this episode, Mariya Javed-Payne & I explore a decolonial approach to psychedelic medicines — an approach that divests from capitalism, honors Indigenous wisdom, and centers relationship & reciprocity. We explore why psychedelic medicines are not for everyone, but there ARE many different ways to heal, including through ancestral & spiritual practices that we can weave into the everyday. We talk about: 03:40 Mari’s journey from addiction recovery to becoming a psychedelic-assisted therapist 5:30 Honest thoughts on the psychedelic medicine field 12:57 Decolonizing psychedelic medicines & centering Indigenous wisdom 16:55 Why all trauma healing IS ancestral healing, & what ancestral & spiritual work can look like (even if you don’t know your ancestors) 23:54 Navigating psychedelic experiences w/ discernment & intention: ketamine, cannabis, psilocybin, ayahuasca, & plant allies 31:13 Envisioning our future as empire falls: community, care networks, & connection w/ land 🌿 About the Guest Mariya Javed-Payne (she/her) is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor, and International Brainspotting Trainer & Consultant. She is a somatic psychotherapist & the owner of Awaken Consulting Services, a private practice & consultancy where she utilizes Brainspotting therapy and offers training & consultation on treating trauma, somatic psychotherapies, psychedelic assisted therapy, and ancestral healing. The foundation of her work is decolonial and liberation-based. She is also the co-founder of Awakened Roots, a sanctuary & healing space where she offers breathwork, shamanic healing, & earth-based wisdom offerings. 🌿 Connect with Mari >> Brainspotting trainings: www.awakenconsultingservices.com [http://www.awakenconsultingservices.com]  >> Breathwork workshops: www.awakened-roots.com [http://www.awakened-roots.com] >> Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/chicorycounselingwww.instagram.com/awakenconsultingservices [http://www.instagram.com/awakenconsultingservices]  🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, and Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). Liz’s services are available online in Colorado & worldwide. 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Subscribe to Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters [http://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/newsletter] >> Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist/www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist [http://www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist] >> Website: www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com [http://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com]

3 Loving Reminders for When the World is Overwhelming

When the world feels like it’s on fire, it’s natural to become overwhelmed, dysregulated, and overstimulated. (In fact, that’s a sign that our nervous systems are working as designed, alerting us to threats to safety).  But no one wants to feel STUCK in overwhelm.  In this short & sweet episode, I share 3 reminders to help you tend to your nervous system and navigate the state of the world with agency & awareness – without bypassing painful emotions or pretending that everything is okay (when it’s not).  We’ll cover these topics: 00:23 Acknowledging a world in polycrisis 02:14 Be compassionate with yourself 04:04 Allow space to feel & process 07:46 Explore aligned action, in community Quote: “Your nervous system reaction makes sense in the context of your whole life, in the context of the experiences that you’ve had, conscious and subconscious memories, as well as ancestral and intergenerational experiences that are held and remembered in the nervous system. Instead of blaming, shaming, criticizing, or judging ourselves for feeling flooded or frozen or for experiencing shutdowns or burnout or meltdowns, we can instead offer that grace, understanding, and kindness toward ourselves. And it can be as simple as saying: my experience makes sense.” If this episode resonates with you & you want to explore related topics, check out these episodes: >> Episode 1 | Nervous System Regulation: Why Self-Care & Collective Care Matter >> Episode 4 | Building Community: How We Disrupt Systems of Oppression >> Click here for episode transcripts & citations. [https://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/nervous-system-podcast] 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, and Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). Liz’s services are available online in Colorado & worldwide. 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Subscribe to Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters [http://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/newsletter]. >> Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist/www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist [http://www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist] >> Visit my website: http://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com [http://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com] 🌿 Options to Work Together >> To work 1:1 with Liz (adults & couples): book an intro call here [https://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/contact]. >> To hire Liz for speaking & workshops: submit an inquiry form here [https://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com/speaking-liz-zhou].