The People-Pleasing Psychic Medium

Lydia was a single mother and professional organizer troubled by an inability to say "no" — no matter how busy or stressed, she always dropped everything to take care of everyone around her before herself. (This being Miami, she also worked on the side as a medium for spiritualist séances.)

I induced trance with a very gentle progressive relaxation, reminding her she had nowhere else to be and full permission to let go — this was her time to take care of herself. Then a guided visualization to a magical well deep underground, the font of a subterranean stream that would continually replenish her life force. Her job was to guard this well; the cavern was a retreat she could return to anytime; and only when the well was full to overflowing should she even think about spending energy taking care of other adults without receiving anything in return. She should drink from it until she wasn't thirsty anymore.

Emerging from trance, she suddenly started sobbing. "I've never experienced that kind of peace and quiet before. The place you took me, such tranquility! I love the spirits I channel, but they never shut up — I have to listen to them all day long, every waking moment, sometimes it drives me crazy! I haven't had a break from them since I was a little girl — that was the first time I've been alone with my own thoughts in years!"

A week later: greatly reduced stress and a new satisfaction with life. No longer overwhelmed by the non-stop chatter in her own head, she now found it much easier to set boundaries with other people.