Episode 50: How to navigate being highly sensitive. With Jo Sheppard.
How can being highly sensitive be a gift rather than a burden, and how do we learn to embrace and navigate that sensitivity in our lives and work?
In this episode, we dive into the world of bodywork and healing. Jo is an experienced Osteopath whose journey has taken her beyond physical health and into the realms of emotional and spiritual. We explored how we can create a safe space for ourselves - and our patients - to surrender, trust and come home to our bodies. Jo shared how she navigated and still navigates her path as a highly sensitive being and it can be a gateway for deep transformation.
If you’re someone who identifies as highly sensitive or if you’re curious about how shamanic practices can be integrated into modern therapeutic work, this episode is for you. Tune in to hear Jo's powerful insights and learn how you can navigate your own healing journey with more softness, trust, and confidence - and meet the fear of being “weird” or “witchy”!
Read more about Jo:
Jo initially earned a degree in Fine Art before retraining as an Osteopath, inspired by her own positive experience with osteopathic treatment for back pain. She has been a practicing Osteopath for over 17 years. In addition to her clinical work, Jo lectures at the European School of Osteopathy and serves as a personal tutor and student mentor.
Jo’s specialist interest lies in working with the effects of trauma and stress, whether stemming from physical or emotional causes. During her exploration of trauma responses, she encountered the shamanic concept of "soul loss," which sparked her interest in shamanism and indigenous healing practices. Since 2019, Jo has been training in psycho-spiritual and therapeutic shamanism, focusing on integrating shamanic techniques into modern therapeutic settings.
Jo is also deeply committed to supporting her fellow osteopathic colleagues in leading happy and fulfilling professional lives. She is currently training to become a supervisor, aiming to guide osteopaths towards a more confident, joyful, and fulfilling practice.
In this conversation we talked about:
Jo's journey from Fine Art to Osteopathy: How her personal experience with back pain led her to explore the healing arts — and why understanding that sensitivity doesn’t equal shyness has been key.
Exploring sensitivity as a strength: Jo shares her own healing journey as a sensitive person, coming to understand her emotional and physical sensitivity as a powerful tool rather than something to be "fixed."
How Jo meets trauma and stress in her clinical practice: Jo introduces shamanic practices and explains how she integrates these ancient techniques with Osteopathic treatment to address trauma and emotional blockages.