What Is An Intuitive Reading?

What Is An Intuitive Reading? A Therapist Explains

What Is An Intuitive Reading?

As a therapist, I was trained in clinical frameworks, trauma-informed care, and nervous system work. For years, I worked with clients moving through addiction, anxiety, burnout, grief, and relationships. I still do. But something shifted in 2017 that changed the course of my practice.

I was sitting in my hairstylist’s chair, telling her about a dream I had the night before. As I spoke, I could feel something strange happening. The details from the dream — names, emotions, circumstances — matched exactly what she was going through in her life. She started crying. So did I. She said it felt like healing. That moment opened something in me. I realized I wasn’t just sharing a dream. I was channeling something meant for her. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but I followed the pull.

Since then, I’ve been offering intuitive readings alongside my counseling work. And if you're wondering, What is an intuitive reading, really?, you're not alone.

Let’s stay in touch. Sign up for my email list or schedule a free 30 minute discovery call.

It’s not fortune-telling. And it’s not therapy.

Let’s start with what it’s not.

An intuitive reading isn’t about telling you your future or laying out exact answers to every question. It’s also not a substitute for therapy, although for me, these two paths often intersect in powerful ways.

An intuitive reading is a space where we pause, tune in, and listen on a deeper level. It’s a conversation with your soul, your subconscious, your energy — whatever words resonate with you. It’s a place to receive insight that doesn’t always come from logic. Sometimes the messages are emotional, sometimes symbolic, and sometimes practical. But they’re always connected to something meaningful.

You might leave with a sense of clarity or direction. You might hear something that affirms what you’ve known deep down but haven’t trusted. You might feel lighter, more centered, or more connected to your own intuition.

It’s hard to define, because intuitive work often moves beyond words. But it’s not about handing your power over to someone else. If anything, it’s about helping you hear your own voice again.

So what is an intuitive reading?

An intuitive reading is a session where I tap into the energy around and within you and reflect back what I’m receiving. I might hear words. I might see images or feel physical sensations. Sometimes I’ll get a strong emotional impression or a knowing that lands clearly in my body.

The messages don’t come from me as much as through me.

Often, the guidance that shows up points to something you've been sensing but haven't quite articulated. Other times, it brings attention to what’s blocking your energy or holding you back. It might offer language for something you’re moving through or help you reconnect with your purpose.

I like to think of it as soul-centered guidance. It's not diagnostic or prescriptive. It’s intuitive insight that can help you see yourself with more compassion, clarity, and trust.

What happens in a session?

Every session is a little different, because every person is different. But here’s how it usually works.

We begin with a short grounding practice. I might guide you into your breath, help you settle into your body, or invite you to share what feels present. There’s no need to prepare anything in advance. Just come as you are.

Then I begin to listen. I tune into what’s coming through and share whatever I receive. This might be words, images, physical sensations, or simply a sense of something that wants to be known. You’re welcome to ask questions or simply receive. Either way, we’re in it together.

You might come in with a specific question — something about a relationship, your career, a life transition. Or you might not have a clear focus, just a feeling that something’s stirring. That’s okay too. The reading will meet you wherever you are.

Throughout the session, we explore what resonates. It’s not about getting it “right” or decoding a perfect message. It’s about connecting with the deeper truth that’s already within you.

How is this different from therapy?

Therapy and intuitive readings both offer support, but they do so in different ways.

Therapy tends to be structured and progressive. It focuses on working through emotional pain, understanding patterns, building new tools, and healing over time. There’s a container and a process.

An intuitive reading is often more fluid. It’s about insight in the moment. Sometimes it opens a doorway to deeper therapeutic work. Sometimes it brings a wave of clarity or validation that shifts how you see yourself right away.

In my practice, I see the value of both. Some clients come in for readings alongside their therapy. Others use intuitive sessions as a check-in during a time of transition. There’s no one right way. You don’t need to choose one path over another. You just need to follow what feels supportive.

Who is an intuitive reading for?

Most of the people I work with are women in midlife who feel like something needs to change but aren’t sure where to start. They might feel burned out, uninspired, or restless in a life that looks fine on paper. They might be craving more connection, meaning, or trust in themselves.

They often say things like:

I don’t know why I feel so stuck.
I keep repeating the same patterns.
I feel like I’m meant for more, but I don’t know what that is.
I’ve lost touch with my intuition.
I don’t feel like myself anymore.

You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t even need to know the question. If you feel pulled to explore something deeper, this work might be for you.

Do I have to be “woo” to do this?

Not at all.

I know the word intuitive can bring up different reactions. You don’t have to believe in crystals or astrology or anything mystical to benefit from a reading. You just need to be open. Curious. Willing to explore what’s coming up in your life in a new way.

Some clients are deeply spiritual. Others are skeptical and analytical. Both can receive something powerful. This isn’t about convincing you to believe in anything. It’s about creating space for insight to rise.

Even if you’re unsure how it all works, the feeling when something resonates is unmistakable.

If you’re curious about what it would look like to work together, you can schedule a free 30 minute discovery call.

What might come through?

Every reading is unique, but here are a few things that often come up:

A deeper understanding of a stuck emotional pattern
A message from your inner child or higher self
Clarity around a decision or relationship dynamic
A reminder of your worth or your soul’s desire
Imagery or metaphors that bring healing or insight

Sometimes it’s something you’ve been waiting to hear. Other times, it’s something you didn’t expect but can’t forget. Many clients write things down during or after the session, then come back to them later. The meaning often unfolds over time.

What if something hard comes up?

This is an important question. And it’s why I hold these sessions with great care.

Because I’m also a trained therapist, I know how to navigate emotional terrain. If something difficult arises, we don’t rush through it. We pause. We breathe. We honor whatever needs to be seen.

An intuitive reading isn’t about bypassing or forcing positivity. It’s about welcoming the full spectrum of what’s alive in you — even the messy parts — and creating space for healing.

You are always in control. Nothing will be pushed or forced. Everything is held in a space of compassion.

Why this work matters to me

I believe we all have an inner voice that knows what’s true for us. But life has a way of drowning it out.

We get stuck in roles, routines, and responsibilities. We lose touch with what we feel, what we want, and what we need. We spend so much time managing, fixing, and caring for others that we forget how to listen to ourselves.

An intuitive reading isn’t magic. But it can feel magical. Because when you hear your truth spoken out loud, something shifts. You soften. You remember.

And that remembering can change everything.

If you're feeling the pull

You don’t need to have the perfect question or a clear intention. If something about this resonates, that’s enough.

I offer intuitive readings to clients locally in Boulder and remotely via Zoom. If you're curious, you're welcome to schedule a session or reach out with questions.

You’re not lost. You’re just ready to hear something deeper.
I would be honored to hold that space with you.