People Pleasing

Everything Willow Labs has written about People Pleasing, drawn from CBT, ACT, IFS and other evidence-based approaches. Practical, no fluff, with the techniques therapists actually use.

2 articles

CBT · 8 min

The Fawn Response: When “Too Nice” Is Self-Protection

When “being nice” feels compulsory, you’re not just polite—you’re protecting yourself. Here’s how the fawn response works and how to retrain it.

May 12, 2026

Relationships · 7 min

Stop People-Pleasing: Reclaim Your No in 6 Steps

Your thumb types yes while your gut says no. This is how to stop people-pleasing, set clean boundaries, and make your yes mean something again.

May 12, 2026