Stop the People-Pleasing
& Over-Functioning
That's Sucking the Life Out of You
So you can get your life back.
Psychology-informed coaching services to help you reclaim your time, energy, and headspace so you can focus on what matters most to you.
When...
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helping...
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high-functioning...
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giving...
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achieving...
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getting things done...
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being responsible...
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pitching in...
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doing things for others...
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caring for others...
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over-helping...
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over-functioning...
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over-giving...
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over-achieving...
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perfectionism...
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feeling responsible for everything...
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picking up the slack for everyone...
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neglecting yourself...
turns
into...
...Then You Might be In People-Pleasing Territory
People-pleasing and over-functioning can cause you to feel drained, depleted, worn out, stretched thin, and have nothing left for yourself.
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It can chip away at your self-worth and self-respect, and overall have a significant cost to your own wellbeing.
My psychology-informed coaching helps you stop the people-pleasing that’s draining you so you can keep your kind, caring, generous spirit—without neglecting yourself.
I can help you break free from patterns that are holding you back, so that you can get your time, energy, and mental bandwidth back to focus on what matters most to you.
When you do, you’ll have a full tank left for you. You’ll feel less alone in it all. And you’ll experience a sense of ease and inner peace you didn’t think was possible.
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​Sound interesting? Read more below.
Or if you're ready to get started right away, grab your free workbook:
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Beyond People-Pleasing:
Understanding the Patterns, Impact, and Path Forward
Does This Sound Familiar?
People-pleasing can show up in a number of painful ways—sometimes differently for different people.
Mental and Emotional Burnout
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You feel depleted from over-functioning and being overly-responsible in relationships, and you sometimes feel taken for granted—yet guilty when you try to set boundaries.
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You feel like you’re on autopilot, doing things for others—managing their needs, expectations, and emotions—because you feel like you have to—and it's quietly sucking the life out of you.
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You spend all your time, energy and mental bandwidth on other people, and have nothing left for you—and it’s starting to affect your wellbeing.
Losing Yourself in the Role
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Sometimes you feel as though your worth is based on what you accomplish and what you do and provide for others—and somehow you never feel like you’re good enough.
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You’ve been making sure everyone else is okay, holding things together—but you feel like the supporting character in their story instead of the lead in your own.
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You feel like it’s your job to help and serve others, so asking for help doesn’t even occur to you—especially when you’re not sure what you need anymore.
The Pressure to Please and Perform
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You say yes to things when you’re already over-extended, because saying no might disappoint someone—or worse, you might be seen as selfish or unkind.
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Sometimes you feel alone with it all—with the constant pressure to achieve, to get it right, to do the right thing, and with other people’s expectations of you.
Imagine This, Instead
When we break free from unhealthy people-pleasing patterns, amazing things can happen.
A Strong, Supportive Relationship With Yourself
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You’re tuned in to your own needs and wants and you show up for yourself to the same degree you show up for others—making yourself an equal priority.
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You honor your own rights and take good care of yourself—you sometimes even focus on your own interests and preferences—without feeling selfish or guilty.
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You have a respectful, supportive relationship with yourself—and it enables you to be more authentically respectful and supportive to others.
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You have a deep, lasting sense of self-worth—from the inside out—without having to prove yourself to anyone or rely on other people’s opinions.
Showing Up Fully & Authenticallly With Others
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You can tell the difference between the kind of helping and giving that is life-enhancing, and the kind that's draining.
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You make thoughtful choices about how much you do for others, so that you can keep your kind, caring spirit without neglecting your own needs.
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You advocate for yourself and set healthy boundaries that protect your time, energy and overall wellbeing—with warmth, clarity, and respect.
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You take responsibility for yourself and let go of being responsible for others.
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You feel more connected—and less alone—because you can share openly and express yourself with honesty and respect, while expecting the same in return.
Hi, I'm Dawn...
If you’re a woman who has been stuck in over-functioning, people-pleasing patterns and you’re worn out, drained, and emotionally depleted—I see you. I understand what it’s like because I’ve been there. For years, I poured myself into helping, supporting, and doing so much for others to the point that it was sucking the life out of me.
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Sometimes I didn’t even know what my own needs or preferences were, because it had all become so automatic. I found that the perfectionism I always had was a subset of my people-pleasing tendencies, and when I was under stress, it all went into overdrive, reaching a peak during my elder-caregiving journey a number of years ago.
But slowly and imperfectly, I changed course to save my sanity. I figured out how to help, support, and do things for others, and still be high-functioning in life, without abandoning myself in the process. I realized my deeply held values (being kind, compassionate, caring, and giving) can be honored while also treating myself with the same respect, so I’m not always having to pour from an empty cup. Now I feel like I have my life back...I have the energy and mental bandwidth to focus on my own needs, interests, and passions.
I’ve taken my personal experience together with my knowledge, skills and experience from 17+ years as a licensed therapist, and created a psychology-informed coaching program specifically to help over-functioning women stop the people-pleasing that’s draining them, so that they can reclaim their time, energy, and mental bandwidth to focus on what matters most to them.
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I’d be delighted to help you do this too.
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"Working with Dawn was my best investment in years…I was immediately able to make shifts in my thinking, discernment, and actions, which has brought more empowerment, excitement, and confidence as I go through my day. Dawn is an exceptional human being, teacher, and guide. She brought great skill, experience, genuineness, humor and non-judgment [to our work together.] I will most definitely be referring my clients, friends, and family!”
~Kathy D. Baltes, LCSW, Maine
Ready to break free from the people-pleasing
that's draining you?
I have 3 offerings so you can get the level of support you want—for wherever you're at.
Option
Personalized Assessment & Consultation
Get insight & next steps—without a big time commitment.
The People-Pleasing Review includes a preliminary survey and a 1:1 consultation/strategy call. It’s a focused, personalized experience that helps you connect the dots and apply fresh insight directly to your life—with real-time guidance and support. The result? You’ll get clear on your most depleting people-pleasing patterns and how they’re affecting your life—and walk away with courageous first steps to start shifting them—all in under an hour.
2
Option
Free
Workbook
The simplest way to get started and explore at your own pace.
The People-Pleasing Primer:
A Deep Dive Into the Patterns, the Impact, and the Possibilities Ahead is an interactive digital workbook that offers meaningful insight and support—right when you need it. (No scheduling required.) You can move through it on your own terms, in your own time. The result? You’ll recognize the signs of people-pleasing and its effects on your wellbeing, and begin to envision what life could look like when you start breaking free.
1
Option
Full 8-Session Coaching Program
Get full, tailored-to-you support with tons of personal attention.
The People-Pleasing Recovery Plan, is an 8-session, psychology-informed, 1:1 coaching program designed to guide you step-by-step through a thoughtfully structured process so that change will feel manageable, not overwhelming. The result? You’ll go from emotionally exhausted and stretched thin to grounded and empowered—with the time, energy, and bandwidth to focus on what matters most to you.
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If you're not sure which one is the best fit for you, please reach out and I'd be happy to help!
Disclaimer: Although I hold a current license as a clinical counselor, the services outlined on this website are coaching, not clinical counseling/psychotherapy. Clinical counseling/psychotherapy involves providing a diagnosis and treatment for clinical conditions, such as depression and anxiety, and I no longer provide that service. I do, however, consider my coaching services to be psychology-informed, because I bring in my knowledge and experience as a therapist to my coaching work, and teach skills and strategies that are part of counseling-based approaches. But it's important to note that my coaching services are not to be considered a replacement for clinical counseling/psychotherapy.