Highly Sensitive Person Therapy
Are you Highly Sensitive…..?
• Are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong
smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby?
• Do you need to withdraw during busy days, into bed or a darkened room
or some other place where you can have privacy and relief from the situation?
• Do you often feel overwhelmed by your environment or have a hard time
in large crowds?
• When you were a child, did your parents or teachers see you as sensitive
or shy?
• Do you make it a high priority to arrange your life to avoid upsetting
or overwhelming situations?
Highly Sensitive People or HSP’s, often grow up hearing, “you’re
just too sensitive”, or were referred to as shy. If you grew up
feeling different from others, you may be highly sensitive. Highly
Sensitive people are especially attuned to subtle differences in
their environment and have a high attention to detail. The Highly
Sensitive Person trait is an innate, inherited temperament trait
also known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS). The term was
coined by Dr. Elaine Aron in the ’90s and has been researched
extensively. The trait exists in about 20% of the population. One of
the hallmarks of the trait is the depth of processing. HSP’s see and
feel the world deeply which can lead to feelings of overwhelm.
Highly Sensitive People…
• Are at higher risk for anxiety and depression
• Take on the emotions of others and have difficulty managing their environment
• Often feel there is something “wrong with them” and feel misunderstood
• Have difficulty with change
• Sensitive to stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, and other drugs
• Struggle with setting boundaries, people-pleasing
• May perform poorly under time pressure
How therapy can help…
Therapy for the Highly Sensitive Person begins with education. The
more you understand your trait, the more you will be able to adapt
to your environment. Once you understand your biological
differences, you will start feeling better! A skilled HSP therapist
can teach mind-body techniques to calm the heightened central
nervous system characterized by HSP’s. Practicing compassion and
consistent self-care will help you build resiliency and live with
greater ease and calm. Learning to set healthy boundaries for
yourself and others will lead to greater relationship satisfaction.
• Decreased anxiety and depression
• Increase coping skills and build resiliency
• Improved self-esteem
• More satisfying relationships
• Understand the framework of your trait to maximize your strengths
• Be able to see the richness of the world that was intended by your
trait