Working with the Perfectionist, People-Pleasing, Highly Sensitive or Neurodivergent Child, Teen and Young Adult
Yoga and Somatic Practices to Support Youth & Young Adults with Boundary, Self Agency & Building Self-Confidence
Working with the Perfectionist, People-Pleasing, Highly Sensitive, and Neurodivergent Child, Teen or Young Adult
Yoga, Somatic Practices and Embodied Strategies to Support Boundary, Self-Agency, Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem
with Shawnee Thornton Hardy
Date: July 18, 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT
Pricing: $195
Early Bird Pricing: $165 if registered by July 11, 2026
This workshop will be offered live through Zoom.
If you are unable to attend live, the recording will be made available.
Participants will receive the Zoom link prior to the start of the workshop.
So often the perfectionist, highly sensitive or people-pleasing child, teen or young adult is overlooked because they may present as “well-behaved,” compliant, high-achieving or easy to work with. They may be the children who never complain, never ask for help, go above and beyond to please others, or constantly override their own wants, needs and boundaries in order to gain approval, avoid conflict or feel safe.
Many highly sensitive and neurodivergent children, teens and young adults experience the world deeply through their nervous system and sensory systems. They may absorb the emotions, stress or energy of others, struggle to discern what is “theirs” and what is not, experience chronic overwhelm, masking, anxiety, shutdown, perfectionism, or difficulty expressing their authentic needs, feelings and boundaries.
In this workshop we will explore how perfectionism, people-pleasing, heightened sensitivity and masking can impact the mental, emotional, physical and relational wellbeing of young people.
Participants will learn and explore:
- What to look for in recognizing children, teens & young adults who present as perfectionist, people-pleasing, highly sensitive, anxious, masked or withdrawn
- What it means to be a highly sensitive person
- Understanding perfectionism, masking and nervous system protective patterns through the lens of neurodivergence and sensory processing
- How heightened sensory systems can impact the way young people experience and move through the world
- Which nervous system patterns and protective responses may be more dominant in highly sensitive or neurodivergent youth
- The long-term impact of chronic self-suppression, over-accommodation and perfectionism
- Strategies for supporting young people who struggle with boundaries, self-expression, self-worth or authentic connection
- Supportive approaches for working with children, teens and young adults who present as shy, sensitive, introverted, anxious or emotionally overwhelmed
Throughout the workshop we will explore Yoga and Somatic Practices to support youth with:
Boundary
- Understanding what is theirs and what is not theirs
- Creating and embodying healthy boundaries
- Developing greater body awareness, containment and grounding
Self-Agency & Self-Expression
- Healthy expression of yes and no through movement, breath and sound
- Experiencing choice, voice and embodied agency
- Expressing thoughts, feelings, wants and needs in an empowered way
Self-Confidence & Self-Esteem
- Taking up space in the world with greater confidence and connection
- Building inner resilience through movement, mantra, Mudra and embodied practices
- Supporting flexibility and resilience when navigating challenge, conflict or overwhelm
Throughout the workshop participants will also engage in reflective practices exploring their own inner child experiences related to perfectionism, people-pleasing, sensitivity and belonging.
Great for:
- Yoga Teachers & Yoga Therapists
- Somatic Experiencing Practitioners
- Embodiment Facilitators
- Educators
- School Counselors
- Mental Health Practitioners
- Social Workers
- Parents & Caregivers
- Anyone passionate about supporting children and teens
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Anyone who identifies as a highly sensitive, perfectionist or people-pleasing adult and wants to better understand themselves through an embodied and nervous system-informed lens
Your Instructor
Shawnee Thornton Hardy is a yoga therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Ayurvedic wellness guide, and somatic touch facilitator. She is the founder of Embodied WellBeing Yoga Therapy, Asanas for Autism and Special Needs, and Yoga Therapy for Youth, and brings over three decades of experience working with diverse populations across all ages and stages of life. Her work is devoted to supporting children, teens, and young adults with neurodivergence, sensory processing differences, and complex needs—while also guiding the professionals who care for them. She is deeply passionate about helping individuals reconnect with their inner child through her trainings and offerings, supporting healing, play, and a return to authenticity.
With a deeply integrative and somatic approach, Shawnee weaves together yoga therapy, sensory integration, Polyvagal-informed practices, Somatic Experiencing, and embodied awareness to support regulation, resilience, and authentic expression. Her work is rooted in the understanding that behavior is communication, and that healing happens through safety, connection, and the body.
Shawnee is the creator of the C.A.L.M.M. Yoga Toolkit and Body Sensations Curriculum, and the author of Asanas for Autism and Special Needs and Yoga Therapy for Children and Teens with Complex Needs. She leads trainings and workshops internationally and serves as faculty for yoga therapy programs, mentoring practitioners in developing compassionate, inclusive, and effective approaches. She has been featured in numerous magazines, online publications, and podcasts.
Her teaching is both practical and deeply human—bridging science, lived experience, and heart-centered care. The root of her teachings is inclusion and accessibility. Through her courses, Shawnee invites you into a way of working that honors the nervous system, respects individuality, and supports meaningful, lasting change.
See her Website Here