Being in the spotlight comes with its own set of unique pressures and challenges. For a highly sensitive person, the demands of the entertainment industry can often feel overwhelming. However, world-class coach Cathy Spaas is on a mission to help professional performers & artists to navigate these challenges and thrive at the highest level.
As a former elite international showjumper herself, Cathy understands firsthand the pressures and demands of performing at the highest level. After suffering from burnout in 2016, Cathy educated herself to set out on a new path, and help other highly sensitive people like herself create the life of their dreams and understand they can have massive career impact without sacrificing their health, relationships, or boundaries.
In her personalized coaching program, Cathy helps her clients achieve their goals across the key areas of work, relationships, and health, and navigate the shifting challenges of career and life to thrive at the highest level. Through her modality called “Claim Your Shine,” Cathy guides highly sensitive individuals to break free from limiting thought patterns, learn how to easily and consistently access their creativity, overcome perfectionism, and unlock their full potential.
But what exactly is a highly sensitive person, and why is it important for artists and performers to understand this trait?
High sensitivity, also known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), is a personality trait that affects approximately 20% of the population. Highly sensitive people (HSPs) are often characterized by their heightened emotional reactivity, sensitivity to sensory stimuli, and deep processing of information. This trait can make HSPs more attuned to the subtleties of their environment and relationships, but it can also leave them feeling overwhelmed and easily overstimulated.
For artists and performers, this trait can have both positive and negative impacts. On the one hand, HSPs may have a heightened ability to connect emotionally with their audience and to convey their emotions through their work. However, the pressures and demands of the industry can also be particularly challenging for HSPs, leading to anxiety, burnout, and other negative outcomes.
This is where Cathy’s coaching program comes in. By guiding HSPs to embrace their sensitivity and tap into their strengths, Cathy helps her clients to find their superpower and thrive in the spotlight. Through a combination of coaching, education, and personalized support, Cathy helps her clients to:
- Develop greater self-awareness and understanding of their unique strengths and challenges as an HSP
- Overcome limiting beliefs and thought patterns that may be holding them back
- Learn practical strategies for managing anxiety, stress, and overwhelm in high-pressure situations
- Find balance and fulfillment in their work, relationships, and personal life
- Access their creativity more easily and consistently, without experiencing writer’s block or other creative blocks
- Build confidence and resilience to navigate the shifting demands of the entertainment industry
One of the key principles of Cathy’s coaching program is the importance of vulnerability and self-compassion. For HSPs, who may be prone to self-criticism and perfectionism, learning to be kind and compassionate towards oneself can be transformative. By shifting their mindset from one of self-judgment to one of self-love and acceptance, HSPs can tap into their inner strengths and find greater success and fulfillment in their work.
In addition to her coaching program, Cathy is also the host of the show “Spotlight Stress,” where she interviews celebrities on all aspects of life in the spotlight. Through these interviews, Cathy provides a platform for celebrities to share their own experiences of the pressures and challenges of the entertainment industry, and to offer insights.
