Are you ready for the difference it makes when you are heard?

Does it seem like nobody listens to you?

What if someone really did?

Linda Lee Russell

Listener Consultant

I’m Linda Lee Russell, and my gift is listening.

Since 2020, I’ve been a dedicated student at the Landmark Academy at Cal State University, Fullerton. My studies there have centered around Active Listening, where we don’t just learn the theory—we practice deeply with one another and in real conversations.

I also serve on two teams of facilitators, leading weekly

Inquiry Exploration groups. These sessions create powerful spaces for people to be heard and understood, often for the first time in their lives.

Listening has become more than a skill for me—it’s a way of being. When people speak and feel truly heard, something shifts. They reconnect with who they are and what matters most to them. That’s the space I hold.

My friends about me!

My friends say, I am a great listener. They talk to me about anything and everything and I listen well, for a long time.

What You Can Expect

A 55-minute one-on-one Zoom session focused entirely on you
A space where you can speak freely—no judgment, no advice, no interruptions
Someone who listens deeply for what matters most to you: your values, your feelings, your truth
A sense of clarity that comes from being truly heard
A calm, private environment where your voice and experience matter
A limited number of sessions per week, so each conversation receives full attention

Book Your Listening Session

Benefits of Being Truly Heard

We often underestimate how powerful it is to simply be heard.

No advice. No pressure.

Just someone holding space while you speak freely, reflect deeply, and reconnect with yourself.

Whether you're facing a tough decision, feeling overwhelmed, or simply need to sort through your thoughts, having someone truly listen can bring clarity, peace, and strength.

Below are some of the many quiet gifts that come from being deeply heard:

Relief – Letting out emotions reduces inner pressure and stress.

Peace – Quiet presence without judgment brings emotional calm.

Belonging – Connection without fixing reminds you that you're not alone.

Clarity – Speaking aloud helps untangle your thoughts and understand what you really want.

Confidence – Being heard supports you in making grounded decisions.

Validation – Feeling seen and accepted for who you are builds self-worth.

Insight – Listening can bring self-awareness and personal growth.

Processing – Talking it out helps you work through mixed emotions.

Presence – A calm, focused listener creates a safe space for expression.

Can you want to be heard?

When You Might Need Someone to Listen

We all encounter moments that feel too big, too complex, or too emotional to navigate alone. These are the times when having someone truly listen—without judgment or interruption—can make all the difference.

Linda listens for what matters to you, what’s important for you, and who you are becoming.

Situations You Might Book a Listening Session For:

You’re at a choice-point in your life and feel unsure
You or a loved one becomes seriously ill or injured
A surprising event leaves you flooded with mixed emotions
You want space to think out loud, uninterrupted
Your family and friends mean well, but often try to influence your decisions
You want someone who won’t fix, judge, or explain—just listen
You need time to discover who you are and what you want
You’re sorting through complicated thoughts or emotions
You feel torn between choices: I want this; I don’t want that… what do I really want?

Real-Life Example

“I once considered two new job opportunities—one in Atlanta, one in the Eastern Sierra. Both were exciting. But by talking it through out loud, I realized neither was the right fit for me. I didn’t need advice. I needed space to hear myself.”

Why “Out Loud” Matters

We use different parts of our brain when we speak, move, and feel out loud—compared to silent reflection. Expressing thoughts vocally helps trigger deeper understanding. It gives your mind space to sort itself out.

“This kind of listening supports me in processing all of it—my feelings, my options, and my next steps. It helps me find my way back to peace, to belonging.”

Shared by Sally Farrier, Health Leader

“Sometimes we just need someone to listen—not to advise, console, or encourage. We need someone who lets us be exactly where we are, and lets us feel what we’re feeling.
That’s how we start hearing ourselves.”

Book Your Listening Session

Why Listening Matters

In a world full of noise, real listening is rare—and powerful. When someone truly listens, something deep shifts inside us. We feel seen, validated, and understood. We reconnect with who we are, and from that place, we can move forward with more confidence, peace, and clarity.

These Are 3 Research Articles That Support the Power of Listening

Neuroscience of Feeling Heard:

A 2014 study published in Social Neuroscience explored how perceiving active listening affects our brain. Using functional MRI scans, researchers found that when individuals felt genuinely heard, there was increased activation in the ventral striatum—a region associated with reward processing. This neural response suggests that being listened to is emotionally satisfying and neurologically rewarding. Additionally, the study noted activation in areas linked to emotional appraisal and empathy, indicating that active listening fosters deeper emotional connections.

Learn more about this

Active Listening in Leadership

Research from Penn State University, in collaboration with MacEwan University and the University of Central Florida, examined the role of active listening by managers during organizational challenges. The study revealed that employees reported a heightened sense of job security and personal control over their careers when managers practiced active listening. This approach alleviated anxiety about potential job loss and promoted a more supportive and trusting workplace environment.

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Therapeutic Outcomes Enhanced by Listening

A case report published in Pharmacy in 2025 highlighted the impact of active listening in healthcare settings. The study focused on a patient with type 2 diabetes who initially struggled with medication adherence. The patient transitioned from non-adherence to active participation in their treatment plan through four non-interventional interviews where healthcare providers employed active listening techniques. This shift underscores how attentive listening can empower patients, improving health outcomes.