March 6, 2025

Burnout-Proof Your Healing Practice: Self-Care Strategies with Laura McVeigh

Burnout-Proof Your Healing Practice: Self-Care Strategies with Laura McVeigh

In this episode, I’m joined by holistic counselor and intuitive Reiki master, Laura McVeigh, to talk about the essential self-care strategies every healer, intuitive guide, and spiritual practitioner needs. We dive into recognizing the signs of burnout versus stress, why self-compassion is key, and practical steps for setting strong boundaries. 

Laura shares her powerful insights on transforming stress into rejuvenation through energy alignment and self-care practices. Plus, I channel a special trance message from my guide, Anya, offering wisdom on balancing emotions and maintaining authentic connections.

If you’re a healer or in a caring profession, this episode will offer you the tools to honor your energy and find balance.

Learn more about Laura McVeigh: lauramcveigh.com.au

Use code POD10 for 10% off your first individual session with Laura.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 – Introduction: Self-Care for Healers
 01:09 – Meet Our Guest: Laura McVeigh
 02:47 – Understanding Burnout
 04:27 – Recognizing Burnout Symptoms
 06:58 – The Importance of Self-Care
 08:08 – Personal Stories of Burnout
 12:37 – Advice for Healers
 13:50 – The Role of Compassion and Love
 25:04 – Boundaries and Balance
 36:44 – Final Thoughts and Conclusion


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WEBVTT

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Hello everyone.

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And welcome to today's episode.

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I'm Lisa Brandis, your host, and I'm so excited to dive into a topic that is deeply important to me, self care for healers.

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As healers, intuitive guides and spiritual practitioners, we dedicate so much of our time and energy to others.

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But how do we ensure that we don't burn out In the process to help us explore this, I'm thrilled to introduce our guest today, Laura McVeigh.

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Laura is a holistic counselor and intuitive Reiki master and a passionate advocate for empowering others through self care and energy alignment.

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She creates a supportive space for her clients to transform stress and overwhelm into a sense of rejuvenation and balance.

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And with her extensive knowledge, she helps people around the world make meaningful changes in their lives.

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So welcome, Laura.

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I'm very excited.

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Well, as one of my Reiki masters, it has been such a joy to witness your evolution over the last five years.

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It's been since you became a Reiki master.

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And I'm so proud of, witnessing your Remarkable journey.

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And also bridging counseling and Reiki and energy healing to create, yeah, really life changing experiences for your clients.

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And today we were having a bit of a chat before we met about what kind of topic would be really relevant for people today.

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We talked about the experience of burnout and it's a common thing with healers, especially, and quite often it would be one of the biggest questions is how do I not take on other people's stress and when we're, you know, empathic, it can be very easy to Really tune into what's going on with others and then, and then burnout.

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And so I wanted to talk to you specifically about, what exactly is burnout?

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Mm-hmm

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Burnout is the idea that, well, let's start with stress, because everyone experiences stress.

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It's a daily thing.

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We all live with it.

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But there is a difference between being stressed or being under pressure and burnout.

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So stress can be useful.

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It can be aggravating when we're talking about burnout specifically, there's kind of three hallmarks that would separate burnout from being stressed.

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So the first one is emotional exhaustion.

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So that's the fatigue that we experienced because we care too much for too long without that idea of refilling the cup, so to speak.

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big signal, and I think this is the one that people tend to notice first, is the depersonalization.

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So we're talking about depletion of empathy, depletion of compassion.

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It's like, Again, we've just cared for so long.

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It's not that we don't care, but we cannot connect with that feeling anymore.

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It's just, oh great, another thing we have to do, another session we have to run instead of feeling the joy and the honor of being able to be in this healer position.

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And the third one is decreased sense of accomplishment.

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And I think this is where people get really down and really start to notice the burnout is feeling of, it doesn't matter what I do, it's not making a difference.

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Not necessarily, I'm going to stop because why should I bother, but what is this for?

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It's not helping anyone.

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So those are the three big signs I would say that someone is experiencing burnout rather than stress.

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Yeah, interesting.

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Yes.

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How do we recognize it?

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Because I would imagine and probably looking at my own experience, these things creep up slowly.

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And, you know, you can have one really good day where you feel amazing.

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And then you have a couple of really low days.

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And then after a while, the low days become more than the great days.

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So, you know, I would imagine, and from my own experience as well, it can be quite challenging to recognize and identify that you might be experiencing burnout.

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So is there any telltale signs?

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Yeah, absolutely.

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And it is one of those things where we start to think again about we chronically stressed or is this burnout?

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Because obviously chronic stress is something that lasts for a long period of time.

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There's the idea as well that not all stress is a bad thing.

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Some, some exciting things like buying a house or having a child are incredibly stressful, although they're very positive experiences.

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And I think a lot of the time people think, but this is such a good thing.

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Why am I burned out?

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I'm doing the, the job I've always wanted to do.

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Why do I, why am I not connecting with it anymore?

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So there's a whole range of symptoms, so to speak.

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So physical signs include things like issues, breathing, digestive issues, painful muscles, headaches, even issues like a heart rate and blood pressure.

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Being elevated, sleep disturbances, the things you'd kind of recognize, mental signs can be things like jumping to conclusions, tunnel vision, blaming others, catastrophizing, overgeneralizing is a big one.

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I recognize in a lot of my clients as well.

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And then probably really the biggest one that I notice is just that disconnect.

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So just knowing that you're supposed to be enjoying your time with your family and your friends and just not, just not being

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Yeah.

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that.

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Yeah.

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And could that be described as just kind of a numbing sensation where you just, yeah, that feeling of kind of floating through your experiences without feeling the ups and the downs or is it different to that?

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And this is where it tends to get very messy because all the things we've described also could be applied to if you're dealing with anxiety, if you're dealing with depression, if you're dealing with grief, believe it or not, a lot of those signs are

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Yeah.

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So it is really, I feel knowing yourself, what this is, and then knowing when to get help.

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maybe it is a break.

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Maybe you need to see a doctor.

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Yeah.

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balance

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Yeah.

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And you know, I think we find as healers that quite often people that.

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don't want to go and see a psychologist or don't necessarily want to go to the doctor.

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It's almost like a bit more of a gentle way of easing them into perhaps a recommendation or a transition to a therapist.

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It's like a safe kind of fun experience.

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It's a bit nurturing.

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They're, they're not necessarily being labeled with anything by us.

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We do not diagnose in our therapy.

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So, you know, obviously you and I come with other skills, you know, I am a clinical hypnotherapist, like you're, you know, you're a trained counselor.

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So we have these other modalities that sit alongside the Reiki healing that we offer people, but I have found, through the thousands of students I've taught that it is a safe place for people to come.

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And kind of first admit that they're having problems because a lot of us in society, we just squash, we suppress, we don't like those negative emotions.

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And so quite often people will go to all kinds of different ways of distracting ourselves.

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And in today's day and age, there's certainly no shortage of distractions is there to kind of take us out of.

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Oh

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gosh.

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absolutely.

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So it sounds to me from what you're saying, the first thing we need to do is identify that we're having a problem because we have to also move through, you know, that we might be in denial.

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I know it wasn't me that brought the awareness to the help that I needed when I experienced burnout.

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It was my husband and one of my best friends.

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And I was literally still arguing with them saying, no, I don't have a problem.

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I don't have a problem because it felt too big to recognize and identify.

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And I just didn't want to stop the busyness that I had.

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And exactly what you said, you know, I'm doing the work that I love.

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It's part of my calling.

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I was.

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Born to do this work.

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So it had nothing to do with the job, my purpose, my calling, because all those are the same and haven't changed.

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It was just the way in which I was working.

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That was slowly over time, depleting my energy to the point of being in dysfunction, in a state of dysfunction.

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And I did actually get psychology.

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You know, I went and saw a psychologist that was a big step for me as a healer and as someone who teaches and empowers people.

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And you know, is, is the, the standard I held for myself, and I'm sure there's other leaders and healers that would recognize and identify in this.

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It took a lot of courage for me to admit that I was actually having mental struggles.

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And even for a long time, I didn't talk about it with my students because again, I had to protect that vulnerable part of me that was in pain.

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And processing the healing I was going through, but I think it's important to acknowledge that we can still be an amazing healer and have, you know, mental health issues and we can still doing amazing work and still need to get help and support, you know?

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So I think that the human aspect and the spiritual aspect co exist, don't they?

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We're not one thing or the other.

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And even the way you were speaking about that, being a healer and being a leader and being a mentor and a teacher is obviously a massive part of who you identify as.

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Oh,

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swoop in and say, not that you're not doing it right, but there's something interfering with it.

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That's a huge issue then with self identity.

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So

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and it was a massive.

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kind of

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Yeah, massive identity

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top.

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crisis,

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Yeah.

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and of course my big turning point story was that I used to have anxiety and Becoming a Reiki master changed all that for me.

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So my big story of transformation and And I'd never experienced burnout, burnout came later in my life, but my big transformation story was that you know Reiki healed My mental illness back then, so to then identify that, Oh, it's not doing it's, it hasn't, it hasn't remained that way for my entire life, you know, that, that,

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Yeah.

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was the part that I found, you know, it was almost like I'm, I'm running retreats and I'm teaching people.

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So that's why it took me so long to identify that I had the issue because of exactly what you said.

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It was that it was a crisis of identity.

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Who am I then, you know, if not, yeah.

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And the bigger the following, the worse it felt, right?

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And I had a big following.

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I still do, but it was, yeah, huge pressure.

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imposter syndrome

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Oh my God.

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there is going to say, well, if you're such an amazing healer, why haven't you fixed yourself?

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Yeah, exactly.

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But you know what the big breakthrough came?

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It came when my mum, I rocked up on mum's door, sobbing my heart out.

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And she said to me, Lisa, you're not a robot.

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And it was like, Is someone giving someone that loves me dearly, my mother giving me permission to be human, like to, and it was the pressure, not anyone else put on myself.

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It was all the pressure that came from me to live up to this unrealistic standard of happiness and recognizing that the minute I took the pressure off myself and when I don't have to be, you know, I don't have to be anyone's guru or anyone's spiritual teacher.

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I just have to be me.

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And then.

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It allowed me to continue working, but from a place of new authenticity.

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Yeah.

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because

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So we don't, how dare you

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be a human with feelings, like, what were you thinking?

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and you know, what I found is that the students related to me, they're like, Oh God, you too.

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Right.

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Cause it actually made me more relatable because people all have struggles and I never judged anyone else.

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Just judged my own, which was part of my, you know.

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Part of, yeah, my makeup and, and how I'm wired.

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So what advice would you give to healers that struggle with a similar kind of experience, Laura?

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Either fear of being judged or even fear of taking care of themselves and getting the help that they need.

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I think one of the interesting exercises that I've done with clients is to, and we've all done it, imagine you were talking to your best friend.

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Would you

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Yeah.

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friend, be a robot, stop feeling, keep working, you've got to do this, nobody's going to take you seriously, if you're not doing, doing, doing, you would never say that to your best friend, or to your mum, or to your child, no way on earth would you do that.

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I think the first step would be, speak to yourself with more compassion.

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More kindly.

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If you are not in a place where you are ready to hear it, that's okay too.

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But trust the people who are telling you.

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if you're seeing your healer and they're saying, look, I'm a bit worried.

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You seemed like you seem like you're heading down the road to burnout.

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Or your mom says to you, your husband or your best friend says to you, Hey, something feels a little bit off.

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you trust

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Mm.

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Do you trust the

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Mm.

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they're giving you Because it's coming from a place of love.

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Yeah.

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Listen to the people that love you and treat yourself with some compassion because this is a human experience.

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It is completely normal to be going through these sorts of very human experiences.

00:14:04.816 --> 00:14:06.115
Yeah, so perfect.

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And that's exactly what I ended up doing as part of my recovery from burnout was learning how to be kinder with myself.

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And what I found, Laura, which is interesting, is that kindness is one of my top values, as is compassion.

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And over time, the burnout slowly eroded my self love and my self compassion.

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That's why it was a surprise that I was no longer being kind to myself.

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Because, you know, learning to love myself was something I did 20 years ago.

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That was the early days of learning Reiki.

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And I've been practicing now for 22 years.

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So I really wanted to, point that out to people.

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Self love is an ongoing practice.

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And it's something that, you know, we, we constantly have to work at.

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And sometimes we don't recognize when we've gone off track.

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I didn't recognize I was being hard on myself.

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Others were seeing it, but I didn't believe I was.

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And I think that's part of the distortion.

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We don't see ourself clearly when we're in a bit of a dysfunctional state.

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And funny enough, I was catastrophizing and it was my accountant that said to me, cause I was in some panic over some financial thing.

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She actually pointed out to me that I was catastrophizing.

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And how did she know it?

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Because she had had anxiety.

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She had had someone pointed out to her a therapist, and then she was able to identify it within me.

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And she was the one that told me to go to my mum's.

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She said, just take yourself to your mum's.

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You need to get some help, right?

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Love comes in all different places and from all different people, right?

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The time we need it.

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So,

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Absolutely.

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So,

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that idea that you mentioned of guilt,

00:15:50.952 --> 00:15:52.552
yes, yeah, yeah.

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Guilt plays a big part in it, self care and guilt.

00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.190
absolutely.

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And taking the time you need to look after yourself is, I think, one of the biggest hurdles because we are very conditioned to keep going, keep working, keep doing the things.

00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:11.139
You've got a to do list you have to take care of.

00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:25.100
And like we spoke about yesterday, the thing that probably makes me madder than just about anything in the world One of the top things, um, is when people say you have to fill your cup so you can give to others.

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It's like, no,

00:16:26.552 --> 00:16:27.043
Yeah.

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Just, you should fill your cup because you're a human being.

00:16:30.384 --> 00:16:32.434
I'm getting so aggravated just thinking about it.

00:16:32.804 --> 00:16:38.465
You should fill your cup because you're a human being and you are deserving of looking after yourself.

00:16:39.384 --> 00:16:42.475
And a lot of people struggle with that idea because again, it's

00:16:42.533 --> 00:16:42.722
Yeah,

00:16:42.722 --> 00:16:44.743
I'm a mom, I'm a carer, I'm a healer.

00:16:44.743 --> 00:16:47.722
I have to do all these things for all these other people.

00:16:48.133 --> 00:16:48.842
It's like, no.

00:16:49.212 --> 00:16:51.023
You should just look after yourself.

00:16:52.123 --> 00:16:54.982
And people find that really, really uncomfortable.

00:16:55.971 --> 00:16:56.551
Yeah.

00:16:56.780 --> 00:17:02.660
I noticed like even your energy changed when you spoke about it and you said yourself it makes you angry.

00:17:02.990 --> 00:17:05.441
What about that makes you angry?

00:17:06.121 --> 00:17:13.361
What is it exactly about that, that popular notion that, that kind of,

00:17:13.923 --> 00:17:15.333
piece of conditioning, isn't it?

00:17:16.603 --> 00:17:20.803
You have to be nice, you have to be caring, you have to be good, you have to look after other people.

00:17:21.363 --> 00:17:26.982
You can, you can just go die in a hole, nobody cares about you, but you have to die looking after all these other people.

00:17:27.653 --> 00:17:28.053
Yeah,

00:17:28.103 --> 00:17:28.492
chronic.

00:17:30.080 --> 00:17:33.915
So to totally reframe that, and I love it because the, the.

00:17:34.006 --> 00:17:40.736
You know, quite often there is real wisdom in the things that irritate us in society.

00:17:40.766 --> 00:17:48.695
And, and it's because then profound change comes from the people like you, Laura, that speak up about a notion and challenge it.

00:17:48.705 --> 00:17:51.885
Cause sometimes we just accept these things as a given.

00:17:52.316 --> 00:17:54.506
It's almost like women are nurturing, right?

00:17:54.726 --> 00:17:58.526
All these kind of ideas that healers care for others.

00:17:58.526 --> 00:18:12.915
We're caring, nurturing people as part of our identity, part of our natural predisposition as well that, you know, empathic people, especially those that are attracted to healing modalities or counseling, we're naturally caring, empathic people.

00:18:12.935 --> 00:18:17.185
So it's easy for us to fit into that mold of wanting to take care of others.

00:18:17.665 --> 00:18:17.965
So.

00:18:18.516 --> 00:18:24.465
What would be the ideal situation for you if we were to flip that on its head and not be about self care for others?

00:18:25.326 --> 00:18:27.796
What is the opposite of that look like for you?

00:18:27.895 --> 00:18:36.226
What's the ideal state that women, you know, being that that's our, mostly our audience, what would women

00:18:37.155 --> 00:18:38.715
You are deserving of boundaries.

00:18:39.425 --> 00:18:40.746
You are deserving of care.

00:18:41.415 --> 00:18:44.635
You're deserving of looking after yourself, just because you are you.

00:18:45.336 --> 00:18:48.425
You don't have to do more, be more, give more.

00:18:49.086 --> 00:18:52.336
You're worthy of care, just because you're you.

00:18:52.336 --> 00:18:56.588
You're deserving of everything.

00:18:56.624 --> 00:18:59.963
to sit with that for a minute because that's powerful.

00:19:00.594 --> 00:19:01.523
That's powerful.

00:19:01.554 --> 00:19:19.534
And do you know, I think back to one of, I asked an amazing mentor and therapist, a tip when I was first starting out in this career, I said, Oh, give me, I was like, I was expecting some profound, it was profound, but it was not what I was expecting her to say.

00:19:19.544 --> 00:19:26.713
And she looked me in the eye and she said to me, the way that you can be the best therapist you can be Lisa, is to love people.

00:19:28.683 --> 00:19:36.023
Because what we're all craving is more love and what you do so naturally and effortlessly and easily is love others.

00:19:36.443 --> 00:19:54.973
And from that basis of openhearted connection and true authentic love people feel that and in the resonance of that people heal people like, and exactly what you just described is just the state of love, not because you deserve it, not because you've, you know.

00:19:55.618 --> 00:20:01.628
done backflips or, you know, achieved an award or had lots of people at a workshop, right?

00:20:01.628 --> 00:20:05.048
You, you're loved because it's a basic human need.

00:20:05.068 --> 00:20:06.088
We all deserve it.

00:20:06.689 --> 00:20:08.118
And we shouldn't have to ask for it.

00:20:08.138 --> 00:20:11.098
A bit like the sun shines on us all every day.

00:20:11.808 --> 00:20:36.358
So, love is there for us to receive and feel and express wouldn't it be nice, if we could take it one step further, wouldn't it be nice if we started there rather than waiting until we've burnt out before we get the help, what if we just Get help because it's fun to do get help because it's so nice to have someone just run energy on you.

00:20:36.729 --> 00:20:40.919
What if we don't have to go to a healer because we feel like something's wrong in our life?

00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:49.223
What if we go to a healer just to maintain a sense of, balance and, to kind of catch things before they get.

00:20:49.463 --> 00:20:53.564
Out of balance, just to increase a sense of wellbeing.

00:20:53.973 --> 00:20:57.874
Not necessarily happiness, but what about just to bring us back to ourself,

00:20:59.586 --> 00:21:02.395
I have a theory that I love and I'd like to do more with it.

00:21:02.465 --> 00:21:11.165
I call it unglamorous or boring self care because we all love a bubble bath and a massage and a facial, but sometimes self care is.

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.101
you need to go to the doctor?

00:21:13.221 --> 00:21:14.340
Have you made your appointment?

00:21:14.611 --> 00:21:16.070
When did you see the dentist last?

00:21:16.080 --> 00:21:17.300
Have you drunk enough water?

00:21:17.651 --> 00:21:20.980
Are you taking your medication like you're supposed to?

00:21:21.060 --> 00:21:24.681
Were you supposed to have that blood test that your doctor requested and you haven't done it yet?

00:21:25.540 --> 00:21:31.010
So all of these, these routine, boring things that really do contribute to our health and wellbeing.

00:21:31.580 --> 00:21:33.560
So why not have Reiki?

00:21:33.651 --> 00:21:35.030
Why not have a massage?

00:21:35.050 --> 00:21:36.590
Why not see a therapist?

00:21:36.621 --> 00:21:41.701
Just as a routine part of, I'm a human being, I'm trying to look after myself.

00:21:42.943 --> 00:21:43.453
Yeah.

00:21:43.550 --> 00:21:44.871
I will do these things.

00:21:46.074 --> 00:22:00.874
To me it makes perfect sense and I know from all of my experiences, I see my hypnotherapist once a month, we do a share with each other because we're both therapists and we realize the benefit of, you know, sitting down and having someone else kind of help us.

00:22:01.314 --> 00:22:02.844
with the challenges that we're facing.

00:22:02.844 --> 00:22:07.003
And let's be honest, if you're human, there's challenges just around the corner.

00:22:07.003 --> 00:22:15.284
And to be honest, if you know, for those of you that are interested in growth, growth happens from that place of discomfort, which means we're being challenged.

00:22:15.284 --> 00:22:21.074
We're either creating the challenge to grow and stretch, because we want to thrive in life.

00:22:21.483 --> 00:22:28.773
And I just can't think of any reason why it shouldn't be part of our normal, natural, self care.

00:22:28.943 --> 00:22:31.683
And I love that it doesn't have to be glamorous, right?

00:22:31.743 --> 00:22:41.314
And it can be times when we go to the healer and open up and have a big cry, or we go to the healer and we share and express all the incredible things that are going on in our life as well.

00:22:41.804 --> 00:22:47.344
It's just nice to have that supportive partnership that is there 100 percent for you.

00:22:48.124 --> 00:22:50.413
And they're to guide you in what it is.

00:22:51.019 --> 00:23:11.848
That is important for you to explore and just to sometimes have, I know from my own experience, sometimes just a healer can hold space for us when we have lost that self kindness and that compassion and they can walk us through those negative, icky feelings and emotions that we don't really want to let out of our body.

00:23:12.219 --> 00:23:20.659
They can hold space to allow us to do it and it just seems to flow a lot more effortlessly then and doesn't feel as hard as if we tried to do it all on our own.

00:23:21.413 --> 00:23:30.953
The therapist relationship, they specifically that when they talk about psychologists and things, they often say that the relationship with your therapist is the most important thing.

00:23:30.963 --> 00:23:39.439
It doesn't matter if they're doing CBT or ACT or whatever the modality is, the connection with that person that's the most important part.

00:23:39.939 --> 00:23:55.028
And I feel like that's same with anything, same with any healing relationship, any friendship, knowing that you've got that person that you can connect with is so vital to, to self care, to boundaries, to everything.

00:23:56.781 --> 00:24:12.162
I absolutely agree and connection is needed now more than ever, because I think we feel we're connecting through social media, but it actually has been proven that it's not a real connection and zoom has its place, podcasts and things like this have.

00:24:12.436 --> 00:24:23.487
It's place in society, but there's just nothing truly like sitting opposite someone person to person, getting a hug, sharing a cup of tea and even sharing and expressing who you are.

00:24:23.886 --> 00:24:29.007
It's needed and, and from a biological state, we actually need it to thrive.

00:24:29.007 --> 00:24:30.186
We need human touch.

00:24:30.186 --> 00:24:31.586
We need human connection.

00:24:31.646 --> 00:24:39.606
And I think we have an epidemic right now of people that are missing that and craving it and probably don't even know that they are.

00:24:40.576 --> 00:24:41.336
I've loved it.

00:24:41.366 --> 00:24:42.826
We've talked about burnout.

00:24:42.826 --> 00:24:45.307
We've talked about the signs and how to identify it.

00:24:45.307 --> 00:25:03.662
We've looked at, how chronic stress shows up differently to natural stress in short term experiences, how it can have a physiological effect as well as, emotional, we've looked at, Ways we can get support both in self care, but also reaching out and getting help.

00:25:04.182 --> 00:25:10.342
You did mention boundaries and I know this is something that a lot of people do suffer with.

00:25:10.731 --> 00:25:15.112
Do you have anything you want to share around in particular having good healthy boundaries?

00:25:15.227 --> 00:25:21.666
But obviously the boundary that you have with a child is going to be different to a boundary that you have with your workmates, for example.

00:25:22.017 --> 00:25:24.376
So it's identifying the relationship.

00:25:24.416 --> 00:25:26.987
What is acceptable to you in that relationship?

00:25:28.997 --> 00:25:31.876
Controversially, I'm going to say sometimes that needs to be flexible.

00:25:32.176 --> 00:25:37.106
So if you're at work and there is an absolute urgent deadline, but your boundary is that you leave at 4.

00:25:37.106 --> 00:25:39.176
30 on the dot because your hours are done.

00:25:39.957 --> 00:25:43.846
it's a one off thing and somebody says to you, please, we need you to stay.

00:25:43.916 --> 00:25:45.386
Could you help us out with this thing?

00:25:46.196 --> 00:25:48.656
okay for you to bend your boundary that one time?

00:25:49.082 --> 00:25:49.961
Maybe it's okay.

00:25:49.961 --> 00:25:50.602
Maybe it's not.

00:25:50.602 --> 00:25:52.082
But that's for you to decide.

00:25:52.692 --> 00:25:58.362
And then, I guess, re rebound reeing the relationship is going to be important.

00:25:58.551 --> 00:26:00.342
So, can you live with?

00:26:00.382 --> 00:26:01.592
What is acceptable to you?

00:26:01.592 --> 00:26:03.251
What is not draining to you?

00:26:03.291 --> 00:26:19.412
Because then if you're starting to feel resentful, or like you're always doing the giving, maybe that's the time where you need to look at that boundary and say, okay, maybe it's probably a bit too flexible now, or I'm not being clear enough about it, or the other person isn't respecting what I've asked for.

00:26:20.192 --> 00:26:26.692
kind of deciding how you're going to reel that back and determine how you're going to set that up again.

00:26:27.974 --> 00:26:28.335
Yeah.

00:26:28.365 --> 00:26:31.654
I think that's actually not such a controversial response.

00:26:31.654 --> 00:26:33.335
It makes total sense to me, Laura.

00:26:33.335 --> 00:26:38.684
So thank you for saying it because, and I see it the same as, you know, with balance.

00:26:38.724 --> 00:26:43.035
It's almost like find life, work balance and it's like, well, can we really have a balance?

00:26:43.065 --> 00:26:48.295
Like we spend more time at work than we do at home and we spend more time sleeping somewhat, you know?

00:26:48.335 --> 00:26:52.575
So, and again, balance falls into that same category of, as.

00:26:52.789 --> 00:26:54.049
Yeah, what's working for us.

00:26:54.049 --> 00:26:54.789
So I love that.

00:26:55.210 --> 00:27:04.460
And sometimes we again need someone to share that with, to be able to help us to work out what is, you know, what is meaningful for us in our relationships.

00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:08.529
And then how do we communicate effectively if we feel like someone's taking advantage.

00:27:08.529 --> 00:27:21.230
And that is where the difficult conversations come in and having some You know, wise guidance on how to best do that to maintain the strength and the love of the relationship is usually really valuable, Laura.

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:31.000
So again, you've got so many skills that you can offer to people, in terms of, both the counseling and I love that it's, fortified with Reiki as well.

00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:35.720
So people have that opportunity to experience both sides of your modalities.

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:38.420
So is there anything that you would like to share?

00:27:38.890 --> 00:27:41.309
In addition to what we've already spoken about today.

00:27:43.071 --> 00:27:47.551
I would just say, notice when something is making you uncomfortable.

00:27:48.902 --> 00:27:51.051
And that's, it's probably an odd thing.

00:27:51.051 --> 00:27:56.061
So whether it's a feeling or a person or a situation, and pay attention to it.

00:27:56.102 --> 00:28:07.501
I think particularly again, as women and healers, if something makes us uncomfortable where we tend to just push through because we need to see the client, we need to earn the money, we need to take care of the thing.

00:28:08.582 --> 00:28:15.227
But that feeling of anxiety or fear or apprehension it's there for a reason.

00:28:16.109 --> 00:28:16.529
Mm,

00:28:16.557 --> 00:28:16.707
that's

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.339
Mm,

00:28:17.416 --> 00:28:19.166
with a lot with my clients.

00:28:19.237 --> 00:28:23.057
Quite often it's like, Oh, I don't have any reason to feel this particular way.

00:28:23.807 --> 00:28:23.876
It's

00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.730
Mm,

00:28:25.636 --> 00:28:26.227
Yeah, you do.

00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:26.599
Mm.

00:28:26.656 --> 00:28:33.946
if it turns out that we explore that and, you know, do the therapy around it and do the Reiki around it, maybe it's legitimate feeling.

00:28:34.737 --> 00:28:41.477
I, I just, in general, would love it if people paid more attention to how they feel, About things.

00:28:42.315 --> 00:28:51.734
Yeah, and to me that ties into what I teach as well with your intuition, that gut, that gut feeling, that gut connection, that first thought.

00:28:51.974 --> 00:28:56.634
I wrote about it in my book, a whole situation where I had those feelings.

00:28:56.894 --> 00:29:07.815
We called them red flags in the end when we worked out, there was not just one red flag, but I kept making excuses for the way I felt because I wanted to be kind or wanted to help or felt that I should be.

00:29:08.025 --> 00:29:14.295
And we do it so much where we put others needs above our own and make their needs more important than what we're feeling.

00:29:14.295 --> 00:29:19.224
So that's a really valid point for people, especially empaths and

00:29:19.896 --> 00:29:20.366
Yeah.

00:29:20.575 --> 00:29:21.974
lightworkers to really.

00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:42.269
You know, validate their emotions, validate their feelings, and, I think there's nothing more important to be honest, and, and it is the gateway to our intuition, our, our emotions tell us when we're in alignment, you know, and when we're not, so speaking of that, I would love to bring Anya through because I like at the end of these, interviews,

00:29:42.446 --> 00:29:42.477
Okay.

00:29:42.527 --> 00:29:58.336
The human is a very complex experience and we like that you both have resonated with the different ways in which emotions can bring to the surface, complex issues that are best dealt with.

00:29:58.832 --> 00:30:08.461
Within relationships, there is quite often mirrors to your experience that can be reflected through one another and through the very powerful connection.

00:30:08.471 --> 00:30:18.092
It is the very thing that allows you to sense and feel when you're in alignment and when you're living life to an accordance with what brings you.

00:30:18.602 --> 00:30:22.842
A sense of peace and a sense of connection and happiness.

00:30:23.251 --> 00:30:30.201
And there are many different strategies and many different techniques that you can engage.

00:30:30.231 --> 00:30:44.001
We like that healers, take different tools and techniques and lean on different ones at different times in order to find clarity and in order to find peace around certain circumstances.

00:30:46.317 --> 00:30:53.386
And what we also would like to remind you is that it's not as difficult as you think.

00:30:53.446 --> 00:31:10.836
So quite often humans get very caught up in resistance and fighting the very emotions and there is a tendency to suppress them when in fact if they just allowed that emotion to come up and sat with it for a few moments and brought just simply an awareness.

00:31:11.176 --> 00:31:16.257
To what they're feeling and what they're thinking and what they've experienced.

00:31:16.537 --> 00:31:33.287
It doesn't take much to gain a neutral perspective on it, which is part of what we do when we blend with our human counterparts is bring a more balanced perspective to the very, at times, hot emotional experiences.

00:31:33.287 --> 00:31:41.906
We say hot as in the fluctuations of energy and the rise and falls and the peaks and troughs of life's experience.

00:31:41.906 --> 00:31:45.666
And it is where we find the most interest.

00:31:45.906 --> 00:31:54.626
It is part of our desire to help humans learn how to navigate through the challenging situations with more ease and more grace.

00:31:54.626 --> 00:31:59.186
And part of that is exactly as you two have described and have spoken about.

00:31:59.186 --> 00:32:08.306
It is about self understanding, self compassion, bringing love to any problem or challenge that you're facing.

00:32:08.306 --> 00:32:12.344
There is always a spiritual solution to any problem.

00:32:12.344 --> 00:32:14.586
It doesn't necessarily come with.

00:32:15.346 --> 00:32:27.267
is sometimes the solutions that will actually ease the bigger burden may have to go through a challenging experience in order to bring about change.

00:32:27.527 --> 00:32:31.176
And that is where support can best help you navigate through.

00:32:31.711 --> 00:32:36.731
The difficulties of change when and if it's the right time for that person to do so.

00:32:38.201 --> 00:32:42.471
We would, love to answer any questions if you have one for us, Laura.

00:32:48.509 --> 00:32:51.719
I guess just, am I on the right track with all of this?

00:32:51.898 --> 00:32:54.298
Because this hybrid way of working,

00:32:55.892 --> 00:32:57.582
Brings about its challenges.

00:32:58.548 --> 00:32:59.169
Yeah.

00:32:59.626 --> 00:32:59.946
Yes.

00:33:00.196 --> 00:33:11.507
Well, the thing is, is that there are limitations within some of the therapeutic practices and they don't from what we're feeling and tuning into from you.

00:33:11.517 --> 00:33:18.116
They don't always take into an account the energetic experience of the human and the energetic way in which humans interact.

00:33:18.116 --> 00:33:35.281
In fact, everything is energy, but the mental modality Faces, the problems and challenges through a mental lens and an emotional lens and doesn't necessarily take into the bigger underlying beliefs that also contribute to.

00:33:36.007 --> 00:33:37.817
The challenges that human face.

00:33:37.826 --> 00:33:48.957
So we always suggest that you operate in a way that is integral with your own values and your own principles and your own beliefs.

00:33:48.957 --> 00:33:52.696
And that might mean that at different times you have to wear different hats.

00:33:52.696 --> 00:33:57.926
It might mean that in order to satisfy the legalities or the.

00:33:58.227 --> 00:34:08.987
Recommendations of one modality might be that it's experienced in total separation to another, and so it's offered as perhaps a different experience for people.

00:34:09.327 --> 00:34:16.967
There will be a underlying connection that runs as a thread through what it is that you do and how you operate.

00:34:16.967 --> 00:34:42.666
We have seen through Lisa's experience that in the beginning, In the early years with little experience, it was much easier for her to follow those that have gone on before and follow the rules as that was laid out for her to do so, because someone that does not have a breadth of experience within a certain modality does best to just follow the rules until they themselves have that breadth of experience.

00:34:42.956 --> 00:34:53.476
Once they have, they understand through their own personal experiences where those rules can be applied and where they can be, Gently moved around.

00:34:53.516 --> 00:34:54.507
Does that make sense?

00:34:54.516 --> 00:35:06.916
So for the for always for the benefit of the client and the therapeutic relationship as a whole and when there is that integrity that stands at.

00:35:07.711 --> 00:35:18.952
As the basis with which you work is to work in a, in a way of assisting the outcome is positive for the, for the interaction together.

00:35:20.331 --> 00:35:33.621
It can be, it can be gently navigated and it, and it is also an understanding of checking in with yourself as to whether you know the work that you're doing is in, is in balance.

00:35:34.237 --> 00:35:39.246
And is working in an ethical way, and when you know that it is, you can rest assured.

00:35:39.547 --> 00:35:47.266
Whether you would get others acknowledge different modalities, perhaps it would not come if they have not yet experienced it themselves.

00:35:47.277 --> 00:35:52.007
So sometimes there is just a blanket no, because they do not understand what it is.

00:35:52.206 --> 00:35:57.007
And without the breadth of understanding what it is, it's hard for them to make a decision to say yes or no.

00:35:57.387 --> 00:36:00.237
So sometimes they just stick with the modality that is known.

00:36:00.947 --> 00:36:07.936
And they make rules around that one because there are so many different ways that humans can interact in so many different modalities.

00:36:08.327 --> 00:36:17.246
And again, as you said earlier, that also depends on the needs of the human and some modalities just simply will not resonate with some humans.

00:36:17.456 --> 00:36:25.726
So therefore it would make sense that you put on the clinical hat for that person and someone that is totally open to energy and loves it and has experienced it.

00:36:25.726 --> 00:36:29.577
So has that full breadth of understanding and awareness, then they would.

00:36:29.876 --> 00:36:32.757
It would make sense that you could lean into that area with them.

00:36:32.987 --> 00:36:38.806
We have enjoyed this interaction and look forward to connecting with you all again.

00:36:38.817 --> 00:36:39.456
Namaste.

00:36:44.777 --> 00:36:48.777
Thank you again, Laura, for sharing your wisdom and heart with us today.

00:36:48.827 --> 00:36:53.646
So for those who would love to connect with you and learn more about your work, how can they find you?

00:36:55.096 --> 00:36:57.016
My website is lauramcvay.

00:36:57.016 --> 00:36:58.096
com.

00:36:58.096 --> 00:37:00.916
au, I am on most of the social media sites as well.

00:37:01.036 --> 00:37:08.045
And I'm working on being more consistent about posting particularly Reiki videos, so do come over and encourage me there.

00:37:08.817 --> 00:37:09.617
Beautiful.

00:37:09.617 --> 00:37:12.197
Do you have any special offers for our listeners?

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Listeners can receive 10 percent off their first individual session using the code POD10.

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So P O D 1 0.

00:37:20.956 --> 00:37:22.476
That's valid for the next six months.

00:37:23.697 --> 00:37:24.646
Wonderful.

00:37:24.657 --> 00:37:26.396
Thank you so much, Laura.

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And I will put all Laura's links to be able to access that special rate, at the end in the show notes.

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So thank you again, Laura, for sharing your wisdom and heart with us today.

00:37:39.157 --> 00:37:41.146
Thank you to everyone who's listening.

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Remember taking care of yourself.

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Isn't a luxury.

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It's a necessity.

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Until next time, be kind to yourself, honor your energy and keep shining bright.

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See you in the next episode.