Fiona Fletcher Tavernier

MA, Counseling Psychology

High Sensory Coach

Integrative Trauma Practitioner

Certified Reiki Practitioner, Usui Shiki Ryoho

Born a Highly Sensitive Person, a scientifically identified trait also known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity or High Sensory Intelligence, I have always had extremely high levels of empathy and intuition. As an Empath, I feel your feelings with you. I have always been very affected by stressful events in my family, school, work and the collective.

Having the trait of High Sensitivity significantly increases a person’s risk of anxiety, depression, ADHD, C-PTSD and trauma which becomes stored in the body and nervous system. This is because for High Sensory people the amygdala area of the brain is genetically wired to be more attuned to both real and perceived danger. The HSP nervous system is also wired to respond to all sensory input in a more heightened way than non-HSPs. Scientists report that the trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity exists in at least 20% of the human population and is found in at least 100 other animal species.

High Sensitivity is not a diagnosis because it is not a disorder or dysfunction. It is a genetically intended trait like curly hair or blue eyes.

Because HSPs are more sensitive to sensory input, they are at higher risk for trauma than non-HSPs. Trauma is identified as anything that is too much, too fast, too long or not enough for the nervous system. Trauma is anything that overwhelms the nervous system so that the information about the experience may not fully be processed and discharged from the body. Symptoms of trauma include: persistent fatigue, sleep disorders, nightmares, fear of recurrence, anxiety focused on flashbacks, depression, and avoidance of emotions, sensations, or activities that are associated with the trauma, even remotely.

I am extremely passionate about helping High Sensory clients with releasing and healing trauma as it impacts our lives in so many ways, including our ability to focus on learning, experience career success, experience physical and emotional intimacy and having good physical health. Above all it prevents us from expressing our High Sensory Intelligence which we were given as a gift to help support and guide the human species.

Later in life I have learned Reiki and became a practitioner of this modality because though I am educated and trained to use talk therapy, I longed to learn another modality that would help my clients release the trauma that remains in their nervous systems. That’s why I am so excited to offer Reiki for Healing.

High Sensory people often struggle to get the help they need to release trauma due to the sensitive nature of our nervous systems. Reiki is a non-invasive, gentle modality that supports engaging your parasympathetic nervous system, the state where your brain and body are out of the state of fight or flight and back in rest, digest, restore.

Reiki is a centuries old energetic healing practice which uses Universal Life Force (ULF) to balance the energies in the body and release old or stuck feelings and beliefs. Scientific Research has been able to identify that the human body has an energetic Biofield that can be used to balance and heal different energy areas of our bodies.

In your session with me I will help you identify areas of your body where you notice sensations that may feel blocked, tight, painful, stuck or otherwise uncomfortable. You may know of specific trauma(s) you have experienced or just have a general sense of carrying emotional and physical pain in your body. Using my hands I will work either off your body or on your body, depending on your personal preference. I work in the areas called Chakras or sources of energy in the body. If we are working remotely I can still work with your energetic body.

One of my favorite things about using Reiki as a healing modality is that I am able to work successfully with clients who have body trauma from physical and/or sexual assault, may have loss of memory of traumatic events, or who may have sensory sensitivity that prevents them from feeling comfortable being touched by a practitioner. Additionally, I am able to work successfully with neurodivergent clients who may feel limited by their interest or ability to process trauma verbally. Everyone is welcome and belongs here.

Finally, clients who have experienced trauma due to racial, religious or gender-conforming bias, including clients who are transitioning their gender with or without gender affirming medical care are very welcome to my practice. Come exactly as you are. You are a beautiful human.