Jennifer Kemp - Clinical Psychologist

21/12/2025

If you experience RSD, safe people change everything.

Healing isn't just work you do alone—it's deeply relational. You need your small, reliable circle of safe people.

Not perfect people. Safe people.

Safe people are consistent. They're non-judgmental. They respect your needs without making you feel like a burden. They let you unmask—show your real self, stim, talk about your special interests, communicate directly—and they don't pull away.

Your trust won't happen instantly. It builds slowly, one safe interaction at a time. One time they respect your boundary. One time they show up reliably. One time they don't punish you for having needs.

Gradually, your nervous system starts to learn: This person is different.

Authentic connection is the strongest healing tool for rejection wounds. Not because safe people will never hurt you—they will, they're human—but because they'll repair when they do. They'll hear your pain without getting defensive. They'll stay consistent even when it's hard.

These people exist. And you deserve to find them.

💙 Save this if it resonates
💙 Tag your safe person below

https://jenniferkemp.com.au/

14/12/2025

People pleasing is a really hard habit to let go of. Trust me I've been working on it for a couple of years.

As soon as I stopped looking after everyone else's needs and actually prioritised my own I felt like I was being a real a**hole.

Somehow I had to reconcile my own needs being important.

It's a tough one. What do you do?

https://jenniferkemp.com.au/

11/12/2025

sign this petition to fight the changes.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-computer-generated-ndis-plans

10/12/2025

The Pain of Rejection in the Holidays

The holiday season often creates unrealistic expectations of connection.
Being bombarded by images of happy families is painful when that’s not your experience.
You feel intense pressure to ‘perform happiness’ and work hard to avoid being judged or excluded.
Every social gathering is like a high-stakes exam, testing how much you belong.
Rejection sensitivity can make every critical glance or harsh tone feel painful and raw.
It's okay if your holidays don't look like a Hallmark movie.
This season, prioritise safety and authenticity. Find places where you feel like you belong.
Reach out to people who appreciate you as you are. It’s time to create your own holiday traditions, ones with true comfort and acceptance.
psych

04/12/2025

Neurodivergent "Green Flags" in Friendships & Relationships

✨️Explicit Communication: They say what they mean and mean what they say (no hints or subtext).
✨️Info-Dumping: They ask you about your special interests (spins) with curiosity, not judgment.
✨️Sensory Consideration: They notice when you're uncomfortable and quietly make changes without being asked.
✨️Parallel Play: They are comfortable being in the same room as you, doing different things.
✨️Holding Space: When you're overwhelmed, they give you time to recover before expecting you to speak.
✨️Co-regulation: They know what you need to help soothe emotions and give it, with your consent.
✨️Penguin Pebbling: They know what you like and share things they know you'll appreciate.

What else?
Share your “green flags” for neurodivergent friendships in the comments.

Check out my website for constantly updated, free resources to help you support your clients with RSD, including workbooks, e-books, checklists, and quick reference guides. Register to download, and I'll let you know whenever a new resource is added.
https://jenniferkemp.com.au/

04/12/2025

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRyR4tjE3hy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

24/11/2025

21/11/2025

This puppy edition comes with extra misery. Poor puppy tore off a toenail in a random accident.😥 😱
Lovely that the vet student made the time to add a little extra bling to his bandage.☺️

17/11/2025

The Therapist’s Struggle: Feeling Like We Are "Failing" when RSD Hijacks Our Client’s Life

Let’s be honest: Working with the raw intensity of rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) can leave even the most seasoned therapist feeling depleted. When your client shuts down, isolates themselves, or lashes out in anger, it can permanently damage their relationships.

When painful dysphoric feelings drag on for weeks and then months, do you find yourself questioning your skills? The client’s intense emotional pain fuels our urgent need to help them feel better. When they don’t, it can trigger our own inner critic, which whispers, “You should be able to fix this faster,” and “You don’t know what you are doing.”

The reality is that working with neurodivergent clients experiencing devastating RSD requires us to build foundational skills. Developing interoceptive awareness, emotional regulation skills, and perspective-taking is essential to lasting recovery and will take time and practice.

Try This: When your client’s overwhelm triggers your overwhelm, name the process, not the content. Try an internal check: "My client is feeling helpless right now, and I’m feeling pressure to solve it. I need to shift back to being present and compassionate towards myself and my client."

Remember: You are not failing as a therapist; you are a human who is holding space for profound pain.

Check out my website for constantly updated, free resources to help you support your clients, including workbooks, e-books, checklists, and quick reference guides. Register to download, and I'll let you know whenever a new resource is added.

https://jenniferkemp.com.au/