therapy for
highly sensitive people

I provide therapy for highly sensitive people who are tired from feeling overwhelmed in the world to feeling confident in who you are, able to set boundaries, and no longer feel like “too sensitive,” is a bad thing.

Therapy for highly sensitive people (or HSP) can often mean untangling the messages you’ve been told. You’ve heard it so many times, “you’re too sensitive, you need to grow a thicker skin.” As a highly sensitive person you might feel overwhelmed by the world, or feel like there’s something wrong with you. You might crave relationships and connection, but might find it challenging to set boundaries once you’re in them. You want to feel seen in your relationships, but you end up running out of energy and end up soaking up other people’s “stuff.” You feel like your emotions are taking over your life and.

As a highly sensitive person, you don’t have to feel this way. The world is overwhelming, but it doesn’t mean your life has to be overwhelming. Being and HSP and having anxiety or depression can be manageable. I focus in helping highly sensitive people feel empowered to create relationships that feel meaningful to them, put their own needs first, and feel less overstimulated by the world. As a queer-identified HSP myself, I have a particular interest in the intersection of being an HSP and working with the LGBTQ community.

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how therapy
can help

Together we’ll identify the areas of your life that aren’t working, and we’ll most importantly take a look at what is working as well. I interweave different tools including mindfulness, somatics (body based work), brainspotting, and connection through the therapy relationship to support you in exploring what your own needs are.

During our sessions, I use different tools including mindfulness techniques, somatics (body-based work), brainspotting, trauma-informed therapy and connection through the therapy relationship to support you. I’ve been told that I’m easy to talk to and my style is direct and collaborative. So while, I’m a really good listener (isn’t that part of how to be a therapist 101?), I really like our sessions to be more of a conversation where we’re both in the weeds together.

You don’t have to feel so overwhelmed.
You can have connections that feel meaningful.
You can learn to say no confidently.
You can have a life that feels both exciting and nourishing for you.

Hi, I’m Emily, I provide therapy for highly sensitive people in San Francisco

I love working with folks who identify as highly sensitive because I myself identify as a highly sensitive person. It can be incredibly validating to learn about this trait and to hear that about 15-20% of the population identifies as an HSP whether they know it or not. While it can be incredibly overwhelming to be an HSP when you find a therapist who specializes in therapy for highly sensitive people and understands how HSP’s and anxiety or depression can correlate to one another it can be incredibly eye opening as well. I’d love to help you figure out how to see your sensitivity not only as a powerful tool but as one of the best qualities about you.

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therapy for highly sensitive people FAQs

+ How do I know if I'm highly sensitive?

Researcher, Elaine Aron, discusses four characteristics that are part of the highly sensitive trait. This includes Depth of Processing, Overstimulation, Emotional Reactivity/Empathy, and Sensing the Subtle (or DOES).

Depth of processing means that HSP's are constantly taking in new information and reflecting on that information. As a result you might take more time to process information because you are doing so on a deeper level.

HSP's also often find noise, crowds, bright lights, or too much sensory input to be overstimulating. When this happens HSP's either learn to avoid that stimuli, or continue to interact with the world in a way that causes overwhelm.

Emotional Reactivity/Empathy relates to how deeply HSP's feel both postivie and negative emotions. Due to mirror neurons that are more commonly seen in HSP's, you might also have a greater ability to hold empathy for others.

Lastly, highly sensitive people are more aware and impacted by subtle changes in the environment. Sensing the subtle relates to how much a person picks up on these things include changes in smell, noise, or even tastes.

+ If I am highly sensitive, does it mean something is wrong with me?

No. Being highly sensitive is not a disorder, but rather a trait that was identified by researcher Eliane Aron. In fact, about 20% of the population has this trait which is too large of the population for it to be considered a disorder.

+ Am I too sensitive?

There's no such thing as being, "too sensitive." There is such a thing as being overwhelmed, overstimulated, and underresourced. I've found that when highly sensitive people are able to set boundaries, say no, connect with others on their own terms, and feel nourished that the overwhelm of the world is decreased. When that overwhelm is decreased your sensitivity is a really powerful and beautiful tool.

+ Do I have to be an introvert to qualify as highly sensitive?

Nope. About 30% of folks who identify as a highly sensitive person are actually extroverts.

+ Why do you specialize in working with highly sensitive people?

I have a focus in this because I identify as highly sensitive myself! I know how overwhelming the world can feel as an HSP, but I also know how amazing it can be when you set boundaries, have the right tools, and figure out how to create a world that works for you.

+ How can I learn more about being a highly sensitive person?

A great place to start is by reading, "The Highly Sensitive Person," by Elaine Aron. As the biggest researcher on highly sensitive people, the book is a great starting point because it talks more about how this trait shows up in people and how you can navigate a world that is often overwhelming for HSP's. I think this book along with, "The Highly Sensitive Child," is also great for parents of highly sensitive children as well because you'll get a greater sense as to how to support your child if they identify as an HSP.

therapy for highly sensitive people