Stevie Jones, LCMHCA
“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood.”
~ Ralph Nichols
Here’s a simple truth: rejection hurts. For some people, that pain can feel especially intense, shaping how they experience relationships, everyday interactions, and even their sense of self. If this sounds familiar, you may relate to what is called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), a term commonly used to describe intense emotional sensitivity to perceived or actual rejection, criticism, or disapproval.
I specialize in working with adults who experience intense emotional sensitivity around rejection, fear of abandonment, and insecure attachment. You may find yourself replaying conversations in your head, worrying about a delayed text, or noticing patterns of people-pleasing, codependency, or pulling away first to protect yourself from being hurt. These patterns can leave us feeling stuck, but they also make sense as attempts to protect ourselves while reaching for something we deeply need: connection.
My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and grounded in compassion. I believe therapy can be a space to explore not only why certain patterns show up, but also how they feel and what might help them begin to shift. Alongside approaches that build insight, emotional awareness, and practical coping skills, I incorporate Brainspotting, an experiential therapy approach that uses focused eye positions and mindful attention to help explore emotional experiences. For some people, this can offer another way to work with feelings or experiences that are difficult to put into words. We can move at a pace that feels manageable, with curiosity rather than judgment.
I have over five years of experience in the mental health field, including substance use treatment, college counseling, and inpatient residential care. I believe healing means learning to hold two things at once: accepting yourself as you are while creating meaningful change. The goal isn't to care less or feel less deeply, but to develop greater self-compassion and emotional steadiness so that the fear of rejection has less power over your sense of worth, your relationships, and your life.
If you're ready to explore your patterns with greater compassion and find new ways of relating to yourself and others, I'd love to connect. I offer a free consultation so we can talk about what you're looking for and explore whether we might be a good fit.
Therapeutic Modalities
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Attachment-Based Therapy
Brainspotting
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Compassion-Focused Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Narrative Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Parts Work (Internal Family Systems, Gestalt, Ego-State Therapy)
Relational Therapy