Highly Sensitive Person Therapy
Hey fellow HSPs! (Not sure if you're an HSP? Keep reading, and you'll know by the end of this page.) Chances are, you've landed here because you're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and on the verge of being pushed to your limits. While everyone else seems to be juggling multiple responsibilities effortlessly – from time commitments to meal prep to handling the noise of everyday life – you find yourself struggling to keep up, even with less on your plate. It's as if the weight of the world is crushing down on you, and it feels like too much to bear.
Imagine if you could sit down with someone who truly understands what you're going through.
Someone who not only empathizes because they've experienced these feelings themselves as an HSP but also because they've worked extensively with hundreds of people just like you. What if, through therapy, you could start managing your day in a way that works for you, while still feeling confident and empowered? Picture being able to navigate your surroundings without the overwhelming urge to retreat to your bed as soon as you get home. Envision having energy left at the end of the day to pursue the things that truly matter to you. Wouldn't that be amazing?
What do you Mean Highly Sensitive Person?
According to lead researcher Elaine Aron, about 15-20% of the population are known as highly sensitive people (HSP). That number means we are too many to be considered a disorder, but few enough that the world does not understand us.
So what does being a highly sensitive person mean?
It means that we perceive the world in a very different way. How I describe it to my clients is that are HSP’s is that we feel and observe the world on a much deeper level.
Imagine this scenario: You are in a room with 9 other people people. You possess exceptionally sensitive hearing, and in walks a child, excitedly blowing a dog whistle. With each blow, he laughs, because he can’t hear it! You, on the other hand, wince in pain because it is a sound audible only to you and Fido! Others might dismiss your reaction by saying "you’re crazy," claiming you're "too sensitive," or even denying that the "whistle wasn’t being blown."
Being highly sensitive often feels like this –we feel misunderstood and invalidated. (Yes, I am highly sensitive too!) We, as HSP’s pick up on subtle changes in our environment that 8 out of 10 people do not. It can be things like subtle smells, lighting, temperature changes, sounds, or physical or emotional cues from others.
If you are here, I imagine you are currently feeling:
Feeling overwhelmed with not knowing how to say no.
Constantly inundated with information, leading to sensory overload.
Struggling to set boundaries because of the fear of making others feel bad.
Taking on too much and feeling drained by the weight of responsibilities.
Imagine therapy with someone who gets it! Someone who will help you:
Convert the frustration with being an HSP into your superpower.
Optimize your sensitivity instead of hiding it.
Explore how listening to your sensitivity can help you side-step overwhelming situations and conserve emotional energy.
Encourages you to use your emotion to power your voice
What if instead, you could feel like your sensitivity enhances your:
Ability to have a deep understanding of others
Sense of justice
Desire to give from a place of high conscientiousness
Form strong connections to other living creatures.
Own personal "spidey sense" to navigate the difficult situations
Unique perspective to help change the world
Ready to get started? Sign up for your free consultation!
Have you been told, heard or experienced things growing up such as:
“You cry too easily”
“You are just too sensitive”
“You take things too personally; I was only joking”
“You need to lighten up”
You are often considered shy, although not always
You prefer fewer friends with deeper connections
You pick up on underlying meanings
You were teased or picked on as as kid
Or my personal favorite statement:
“It’s all in your head”…well yeah, kinda…
Things that may be somewhat arousing to most people can set an HSP’s nervous system on edge. Like loud noises, groups of people, bright lights, fabric textures, fatigue, or hunger. Research has shown that our brains are wired differently. It is not that we choose to be “too sensitive” but that our right hemisphere perceives information differently.
If you're nodding along, feeling the weight of these challenges, and yearning for a solution, you're in the right place.
Together, we can embark on a journey to reclaim control over your life, find calm amidst the chaos, and rediscover the joy and vitality that comes with embracing your sensitivity. One of the things we will do together is identify your energy-enhancing and energy-zapping activities, helping you let go of the burden of others' judgments, and guiding you towards understanding that true self-care goes beyond mere indulgences like bubble baths and exercise – it's an act of profound love, both towards yourself and those you care about. Let's explore the possibilities and work towards a future where you thrive, not just survive.
The D.O.E.S. of being Highly Sensitive
Yes, you read that right, the D.O.E.S. Elaine Aron, the researcher who coined the term Highly Sensitive in the 90’s refers to highly sensitives having the D.O.E.S., keep reading to find out what that means! Elaine Aron's DOES framework, explains what make Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) tick. So, what's DOES? It stands for Depth of Processing, Overstimulation, Emotional Responsivity/Empathy, and Sensitivities to Subtleties.
Depth of Processing means HSPs think things over deeply, taking their time to absorb info.
Overstimulation happens when HSPs get overwhelmed by too much sensory or emotional stuff, needing downtime to recharge.
Emotional Responsivity/Empathy is about HSPs being super in tune with feelings, both their own and others'.
Sensitivities to Subtleties is all about picking up on tiny cues in the environment, like shifts in mood or tone.
As part of our work together, we will investigate how the DOES shows up in your world and impacts you on the day to day. This deeper understanding of yourself and how your brain works, allows you to make different choices and help your super power charge.
Highly Sensitives are touched emotionally by the world in a way that non-sensitives are not!
We don’t just hear a story on the television; We feel it.
This can often lead to us imagining what the person in the story felt like, in our bones and can cause us to have difficulty shaking off the feelings associated with the story.
Signs of A Highly Sensitive Person
Are you a Highly Sensitive Person? Take this Quiz to find out!
Are you a highly sensitive individual seeking support and understanding? Look no further! Discover the compassionate world of virtual therapy in Florida at Sage Synergy Counseling and Wellness.
In this video, we delve into the unique experiences of highly sensitive people (HSPs), who make up 15-20% of the population. You'll gain insights into what it truly means to be highly sensitive and how it can sometimes leave me feeling like I don't quite fit in.
Laura Zane offers virtual therapy sessions tailored specifically for HSPs in Florida. As an experienced therapist, Laura understands the intricacies of sensitivity and can guide you on a transformative journey towards embracing your unique qualities.
Join me as I explore how virtual therapy in Florida can help highly sensitive individuals like you. Learn about the tools and techniques, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and expressive therapies, that can empower you to navigate life's challenges more confidently.
Don't let your sensitivity hold you back; instead, let it be your strength. Begin your online therapy journey with Sage Synergy today, and start aligning your life with the fulfillment you deserve. Welcome to a world where being highly sensitive is celebrated and understood.
Hi, I’m Laura Zane
I help highly sensitive, intuitive and empathic people embrace their sensitivity, show up authentically, align their lives with their sensitive self and unapologetically be who they are.
I know how hard it is to find a therapist that gets you.
For years, I navigated my sensitivity without truly comprehending it. Despite admiring therapists I worked with, the term "Highly Sensitive Person" never arose in our discussions.
I distinctly remember the overwhelm, the doubts about my chosen path, and the constant exhaustion from sensory overload, especially after work. I wanted to navigate all of this better, but probably like you, I HAD NO IDEA HOW!
Then, almost miraculously, I stumbled upon the concept of being a Highly Sensitive Person through Elaine Aron's website. It was a revelation – suddenly, I felt seen and understood in a way I never had before. This newfound understanding didn't shame me; instead, it illuminated the fact that, like you, like other highly sensitives, I was simply wired differently.
This stuff wasn’t covered in my training or my own therapy, and most therapists I know, don’t know about this unique personality type. So how could they help?
But guess what? I got you! There are a ton of ways to help you fearlessly live a sensitive life!
I am here to help!
A woman wtih sunglasses smiles as she enjoys the sunshine glowing through the forest. She is feeling more confident after understanding her highly sensitive person symptoms. Sage Synergy Counseling and wellness can support you with an hsp therapist in lakewood ranch, fl, We offer hsp therapy in sarasota, fl and more.
You now know you are an HSP, but you’re not sure if therapy is the next right step for you…
I get it, the idea of opening up when you already feel overwhelmed, can feel like you are opening Pandora’s box. It is already hard enough to keep it together, why would we want to open it up more?
Here is the thing, therapy is just as much about learning how to allow the emotions to flow through you and contain the overwhelming was as it is about opening up. Therapy is a safe place to feel those sensitive emotions where you won’t feel judged or limited by someone who doesn’t understand or approve.
One of the things I have learned, is that as HSP’s we feel the feels. Starting therapy doesn’t change that. You are going to feel the world, it is what we do. However, therapy does teach us to feel the feels and then let them go and not get stuck in them. We find the joy in all the feelings and begin to appreciate them for the indicator lights they are. Imagine being able to notice the feelings and then decide whether or not you want to react.
But I am so overwhelmed, do I really have time to add another thing to my plate?
I think the better question, is do you have time not to? I want you to imagine not going to therapy, not learning how to navigate these emotions. Where will you be in 5 years? 10 years? How long do you want to continue feeling like this? When will enough, be enough?
Therapy helps teach you how to use your sensitivity in much the same way you use GPS, your sensitivity becomes a guide and let’s you know if there is a crash up ahead, if the traffic (emotions) are jammed up or if you should take an alternate route. You get to choose which direction, not based on following the routes because they are familiar, but because you have information about what is up ahead. Ultimately you control the direction and can decide if it is the best route for you rather taking the route you always have. Learning to use your personal GPS saves you time, headaches and personal crashes.
Ready to get started? It’s important. Do it now.
Your tomorrow self with thank you!
You don’t have to continue to feel like there is something wrong with YOU!
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You don’t have to continue to feel like there is something wrong with YOU! 〰️
How Virtual Therapy can help Highly Sensitive People
For some HSP’s, especially if they are unaware that they are HSP’s, the constant data input can be overwhelming and physically or mentally distressful. This is where the judgment of non-sensitives comes in…and we are called “too” sensitive or perfectionists. The truth is, we are often just trying to control our environment, so we don’t feel quite so agitated.
Here is the thing, HSP’s need more down and outdoor time to replenish. We need deeper relationships to feel connected. While 70% of HSP’s are considered shy, another 30% of us are extroverted. However, even as an extrovert, we need our “me” time. Studies have shown that men and women are equally sensitive. But, it displays differently due to cultural conditioning.
How does therapy for Highly Sensitive People work?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for HSP’s
Here is the thing: we easily imagine putting ourselves in another’s place. Such things as boundaries, standing up for ourselves, or saying “No” can be difficult because we don’t want to hurt someone else and we don’t want to get the double whammy of their pain and OURS. As a highly sensitive counselor myself, I can help you learn healthy ways to say no, without the guilt.
We will use cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which addresses thoughts and feelings such as “was I too harsh when I said that?” “Are they mad at me now?” to help break that constant negative thought merry-go-round so that you can stop second guessing yourself ALL of the TIME!
I will guide you in embracing self-love and accepting your vulnerability, allowing yourself to be authentically you without concern for others' judgments. Picture yourself confidently expressing your feelings without over analyzing EVERY single word… and being able do this even if you have tried therapy before!
Person Centered Techniques for HSP’s
We will also use expressive therapies such as role-play, art, and music to address the overwhelming physical sensations (Come on, you know the ones I am talking about: tight throat, tears because you are mad, hot face, nausea before presenting) that can come up when we are asserting ourselves or being vulnerable with others so that you can say what you need to say, even if your body is reacting.
Expressive/Somatic Therapies for HSP’s
Begin HSP Therapy online in FL with Laura!
Working with a virtual HSP therapist online in Florida can help you function in the world of non-sensitives. Without all the extra layers of guilt.
A lot of my highly sensitive clients report that once they realize they are an HSP, it becomes easier for them to begin to express what they really want because they realize that it isn’t going to impact others the way they imagine….because the majority of people around them are not as sensitive as they are.
As a therapist that is an HSP, I can help you begin to understand this wonderful quality about yourself. All while helping you begin to align with the type of life you want. To begin online therapy, schedule your free consult NOW!
Want more information? Check out my vlogs on being Highly Sensitive:
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YouTube Vlog on Being Sensitive
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When at work, we often need to get outside to feel better and ground. This video gives you tips on how to do that.
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In this video I do a deep dive on Being Highly Sensitie
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This video is on How to manage at work as a Highly Sensitive Person
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Written blog on how sometimes as HSP’s the demands of friendship can feel overwhelming. Not wanting to hang out isn’t personal, It’s self-care.