Does this sound like you?

• Your heightened sensitivity makes you acutely aware of emotions and subtleties in your team.

• You often feel overwhelmed by the intensity of you own emotions and those of others.

• The pressure to make tough decisions triggers anxiety and self-doubt.

• You find it challenging to set boundaries and prioritize your own well-being.

• Sometimes the level of impostor syndrome you’re experiencing catches you off guard; who are you to be in this management or leadership position?

• You tend to absorb the emotions and stress of your team, leading to burnout.

• You can get easily triggered at work, causing anger, shutdown, resentment or causing you to say things you later regret.

• Conflict resolution can be daunting as you are conflict-avoidant and struggle with people-pleasing.

• Even necessary feedback designed to improve your reports can be difficult for you to communicate, and often, you don’t directly communicate what you need your teammates to do, leading to you feeling resentment.

• You yearn for strategies to effectively communicate your ideas and expectations.

• Energy drain is real and by the end of the day and week you’re left with little for your family or personal life.

• You worry your team or managers are often mad at you or unhappy in their roles or with you.

• You struggle to authentically and confidently use your voice in leadership situations.

• The struggle to balance empathy and assertiveness leaves you feeling unsure.

• The workplace and your work often cause you a lot of anxiety, waking you in the middle of the night or taking over lots of your free time.

…and is this also you?

• You deeply believe it’s time for the world of corporate, non-profit and other fields of work and community to change from a patriarchal model of burnout, extraction and inhumanity to one of nourishment, sustainability, regeneration and value

• You’re intrigued by the principles of feminine leadership but are unsure how to embody them, or feel a bit silly about the concept

• You value authenticity and strive for genuine connections with your team members, fostering an environment of trust, respect, and open communication

• You’re ready to achieve more visibility but need help in how to do that authentically, without feeling like you’re bragging or being fake

• You’re ready to have a toolbox of tactics to maintain your energy, become resilient, and create better boundaries

• You’re tired of modeling yourself after other “Bro Leaders” — traditional male leadership examples — and are ready for a new way of leadership, but you can’t seem to find it modeled anywhere around you

• You know, deeply, that you are a leader, whether it’s a leadership in a company, in your own business, in your family, in your community or in your volunteer or religious community, and you are finally ready to claim that

This is me; I’m ready to enroll in HLA!

There are plenty of leadership trainings and programs out there. But they don’t serve you, because, as a highly sensitive person, the leadership population at large is missing the tactics, strategies and approaches that will truly help you step into your unique leadership potential.

Highly sensitive people, in order to lead, need training in the following…

Nervous system regulation: HSPs by definition have a more easily dysregulated nervous system. If you’re not learning how to break out of patterns of dysregulation, triggers and fear using nervous system approaches, you’ll stay stuck in patterns like impostor syndrome, timidity, people-pleasing, saying yes when you mean no, fear or control.

Emotional regulation: HSPs feel, so, so deeply. And you may have been conditioned to think of this as a liability. But to the contrary, it’s one of your sensitive superpowers. However, unless you learn to navigate, process and feel your emotions in a way where they don’t totally overtake and collapse you, you’ll be at the mercy of these overwhelming emotions, and unable to lead in a clear and articulated way.

Mindset work: Your thoughts and beliefs play a pivotal role in what you want and whether you achieve it. If you want to become a leader, you must start thinking the thoughts of a leader. The best way to do that is through what’s called mindset work, the conscious act of identifying your thoughts, seeing if they serve the results you want, and gently learning to shift them to thoughts that help you get the outcome you desire.

Somatic approaches: HSPs feel things extremely deeply in our bodies, which can lead us to being at the mercy of how emotions feel physically for us. We may hide or avoid situations in order not to have to feel these sensations in our bodies. However, when we learn somatic approaches (or more simply put, ways to tolerate and process sensations in our physical body), we can learn to not have to hide from the ways we feel in our body, and instead lead confidently and clearly.

Identity: Most HSPs struggle with impostor syndrome and feeling like a fraud. “Who are we to be a leader?” we may think. That’s why in HLA we walk you through proven processes and trainings not to FORCE your way through faking it like you don’t feel impostor syndrome, but instead take on the mantle confidently of the identity of a leader.

Energy: Have you ever felt like you can FEEL the energy of a room when you walk into it, or you just know how somebody is feeling, even if they say otherwise? HSPs and empaths can truly do this. If we don’t know how to set energetic boundaries and clear our own energy, we may then be overwhelmed, confused, and acting in ways that aren’t accordant with our true values.

Sign me up, I’m ready to enroll!

My name is Catherine, I’m a writer, a business owner, a life coach and online teacher, a highly sensitive person, and I’ve been exactly where you are.

After receiving degrees in English Literature from the University of Virginia, and a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University, I found myself drawn to and taking on leadership positions both in work and my personal life. In my personal life, I helped start the website DCist.com from scratch, and became a leading voice in the Washington, D.C. blog scene. In my work life, I had my first leadership position at age 27 at Washingtonian Magazine, where I was the online editorial director, quickly managing multiple people. Over time I went on to hold senior leadership positions at other firms and agencies, eventually managing teams of up to 10 and taking spots on executive leadership teams, crafting company visions. For nearly 15 years, I held leadership positions across fields in companies in Washington, D.C.

But by the time I reached my late 30s, I was burned out, unfulfilled, and, I’m not gonna lie, deeply cynical about the corporate world and the models of leadership in the 9-5. I was seeing a lot of good people and a lot of good intentions, but ultimately lip service to ideas like true diversity, work/life balance, and authentic growth. I yearned for a more inclusive, authentic model of leadership, one that included empathy, inclusivity, sustainability. I was also saddened that I had never, not once, had a woman-identifying leader in one of my full-time roles. (Though, I had amazing women leaders at two of my internships; thanks for modeling what you did, Kate and Lila!)

I’ll never forget when, in one of my most patriarchal companies, where no women were at the C-suite level of leadership, one of the firm’s two founders was looking at a proposal for a big-deal client (let’s just say her first name started with an H and her last with a C; this was back in the early 2010s). He realized that listed at the back of the proposal was everybody who worked on it, and it was all headshots of exclusively white men.

“Can’t we do something about this?” he waved dismissively at me as he shunted me out the door. (In case it isn’t super clear, he wanted me to doctor the proposal to look like more women and people of color leaders had worked on it, when, uh, they hadn’t. Because there were barely any at the company.)

At that point, something in me knew I needed to make a change.

I also knew I was not living up to my leadership potential. I would reflect and adapt behaviors I didn’t admire: complaining at work; not speaking up when I witnessed microaggressions against marginalized populations because I was fearful; participating in clique-y behaviors or gossip; having poor boundaries; and more. I sensed my immaturity and lack of inner work were affecting this, but I didn’t know where to start.

I wanted to be more of the leader I knew I had the potential to be, but I didn’t have the tools.

However, I also knew this: I deeply enjoyed being a leader, a manager and a mentor, and that was something I wanted to continue in my life. So I turned to the field of life coaching, and after being certified in an intense year-long program by New Ventures West, an International Coaching Federation accredited program, I made the leap to start my own business at age 40.

I’m now in my fourth year of running my own coaching and teaching business, and it is here where I now lead. I’ve taught thousands of students in my courses, worked with hundreds of women 1:1, and I reach tens of thousands of people through my popular newsletter and podcast, The Sunday Soother. My business makes multiple six figures a year and is also designed with compassion, well-being, authentic self-care, and a regenerative model in mind.

Here in my fourth year of business, I felt a new program was calling. The hundreds of women I worked with were ambitious, incredibly smart, ready to step into new levels of leadership in their careers, but also where I was: burned out, cynical, wondering if there was really a place for them at the leadership table, if they could really hack it as a sensitive person who also wanted to lead.

I believe there is, and they can. And that’s why I created the Highly Sensitive Person Leadership Academy.

The world desperately needs a new model of leadership, and the people to bring it forth. I believe those people are highly sensitive, women-identifying leaders, and that it is now our time.

Are you ready to join this vision with us? Sign up for HLA here.

Testimonials for Catherine’s courses and coaching:

"Catherine's coaching is both kind but firm, imaginative but realistic — she has a way of making you see something from a viewpoint that was absolutely staring you straight in the face but you were too afraid to acknowledge it; she has a way of inspiring courage in people." - S.

“My work with Catherine was truly transformative--not because Catherine is magical (although she might be), but because she guided me to truths I had within but couldn't articulate or fully embody. She is generous, empathetic, funny, and wise, and I always felt supported and cared for. She helped me leave a job I was clinging to, articulate my core values and put them into practice, and create a path forward that fills me with excitement and certainty. And she did all of this in the midst of a pandemic! I feel so lucky to have fallen into her orbit.” -M.

“As someone new to coaching, I was not entirely certain how it could help me, I just knew I wanted to feel better. I was uninspired at work, having panic attacks, and generally frustrated with where I was in my life. Working with Catherine one-on-one empowered me to envision the life I want for myself and helped me chart a path toward making that life a reality. With her guidance, I was able to gently examine my thought and behavior patterns, recover my intuition, and take action to change my circumstances. From finding my voice at work, to setting boundaries with coworkers and family members, to recovering my creativity, Catherine’s holistic and practical approach equipped me to better handle the present and more thoughtfully step into the future.” - S

“Never have I felt more seen and have received more compassionate and relevant information than I have with Catherine’s work. If you self-identify as a sensitive person and can't seem to break out of patterns, I can't recommend her enough. Catherine and her work is a gift." - L.

“Catherine has incredible presence, authenticity, and knowledge to facilitate growth. She is so relentlessly accepting and encouraging that there is no way to fail in her program. [In her groups] I have never felt so clearly seen and cared for by a group of people. Her work helped me to more fully integrate healthy ways of thinking and being into my daily life. I am able to show up for myself in a loving and caring way so much more consistently now and with the tools I gained from her program I know that my capacity to do so will only continue to grow over the coming months and years. I am so grateful to myself for choosing to trust my intuition and take the leap of faith to join her. Thanks to Catherine, her course, and all the wise and caring women I met, I have a new vision for my future, a newfound confidence in myself, and a deeper trust in life's wisdom to guide me on my path." - L.

“Catherine’s teaching is incredibly comprehensive, thoughtful, and well worth my time, money and energy. She gently guides you into investigating your past, learning about yourself now, and determining who you want to be. Only with these steps can you figure out best practices moving forward in your life and how to create space for the kind of life you deserve and desire. The group coaching also made this experience for me. I would recommend her for anyone with the willingness to change and be happy. Her work has definitely changed the trajectory of my life.” - M.

HLA FAQ

If you don’t see your question answered below, email me catherine @ catherinedandrews.com. We will open doors for enrollment to the waitlist the first two weeks of September with a discount; the public will get access the second half of September (so get on that waitlist above at the top of the page). We begin in October.

Sign me up, I’m ready to enroll!

You desire both to lead in any field, and you agree that the current field of leadership, particularly in the 9-5 workforce and corporations, is no longer sustainable, and you want to be part of that change. You do not have to be a current leader, or even in the workforce. HSP Leaders and aspiring leaders are needed at all levels of community and life — in volunteer organizations, religious and spiritual communities, neighborhoods, political spaces, entrepreneurship, in the family and at home, and charities and boards. You are all welcome, wherever you are in your leadership journey.

Yes. Leadership is needed in the home. Leadership is needed in online communities. Leadership is needed in neighborhoods. Leadership is needed in creative and scientific fields. Don’t let a traditional 9-5 or workplace define what a leader looks like. You can lead from anywhere in this world and it doesn’t have to be — and frankly, shouldn’t — be associated with work or professional fields.

Yup! My plan is to have one call a month at 8pmET (I’m on East Coast time in America) and one other call mid-day East Coast time (12pmET or 1pmET) which ideally will help my European folks attend. EFT and nervous system workshops will alternate time zones as well. Finally, we’ll have live office hours coaching every Friday at 10amET inside the online community and I’ll be there live answering your Qs!

We will have three tiers: $1000, $2000, $3000, each with payment plans available. We are offering a tiered payment system, allowing each participant to consider their financial access when joining, and making way for those who may need extra support. This is honor-system based. Consider that the options are about current financial access, rather than emotions around money. Please be mindful that if you opt into a lower price when you can truthfully afford a higher price, you are limiting access to those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. If buying this course means making short-term sacrifices, having to get creative, or asking others for financial support, but does not actually jeopardize your safety, we ask that you use those resources before using the sliding scale, which will limit opportunities for others. In particular, if you are using workplace/HR funds for this training program, we ask you pay the highest tier. Thank you: you being honest about your financial situation helps us to grow a healthy and sustainable community.

It’s also important to know where your money is going! Approximately 41% does not go to me, but rather to the IRS for federal & VA taxes. 4% covers merchant fees. 55% of it goes The Sunday Soother LLC and is used to: cover operational costs for running my business, like hosting for this website, hosting for the Sunday Soother podcast and newsletter and such; pay my operations assistant, contractors and guest experts healthy, robust and fair wages; pay my salary and income, and I do the best I can to use my income in thoughtful, regenerative ways in my community and to feed a web of healthy relations (local merchants; buying local farm’s food - check out the Moutoux Orchard CSA, from which I will be buying the bulk of my food next year!; the mortgage on and care for the nature witch cottage and its land; donations to progressive causes and politicians; and my own continuing education and learning, which I always hope to pour back into my community). Thank you for being a part of this web!

Since this will be lifetime access, you CAN take it on your own time. The coaching calls will be 60-90 minutes every other week, we will have a 60-90 minute EFT & nervous system workshop once a month, and the module workbooks will take 1-4 hours to complete.

And know this: HLA and its community offers a generous amount of insight, lessons, coaching time and support, with no pressure to complete it all, or to complete it all in a certain amount of time. Think instead of HLA as an abundant buffet where you’re encouraged to take what you need, when you desire it, at a pace that feels good to YOU and you alone. You don’t need to worry about cramming everything in within, say, 3 months, and then it will all disappear. With lifetime access, regular coaching, an online community where I am very involved and accessible, and lessons crafted to meet you where you are in your leadership journey, you can trust the timing and pace of HLA to fit YOUR needs, not the other way around.

Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP, is a term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron. According to Aron’s theory, HSPs are a subset of the population who are high in a personality trait known as sensory-processing sensitivity, or SPS. Those with high levels of SPS display increased emotional sensitivity, stronger reactivity to both external and internal stimuli—pain, hunger, light, and noise—and a complex inner life. There’s a good chance if you resonate with my content, HLA will be useful for you, even if you do not identify as HSP. You may instead consider yourself introverted, shy, socially anxious, neurodivergent or autistic. All are welcome, as long as you have felt resonance with my content and the language on this page. If you’d like to discover more about specifically being an HSP, head to Dr. Aron’s website for more info and a self-test.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss your question with me further at this link.