HSP Therapy
Online therapy for residents in Portland, OR and all of Oregon
Are You Highly Sensitive And Feel Misunderstood?
Are you a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) who often feels overwhelmed and emotionally drained by the world around you?
After a busy day spent engaging with people, do you often feel overstimulated and need additional time alone to recharge and recover?
Does your empathetic nature ever lead you into lopsided relationships where you tend to give more than you get?
Living in today’s world as an HSP can be exceptionally challenging. Because you feel things intensely, witnessing global turmoil and human suffering may affect you more deeply than others. If you aren’t careful about limiting news consumption, your stress response might get triggered, causing gastrointestinal issues, elevated blood pressure, and chest tightness. Your highly empathetic nature can make you more prone to anxiety, depression, and sensory overload.
You May Be Labeled By Others As “Too Sensitive”
From an early age, you may have been told you’re “too emotional” or that your “overly sensitive nature” makes you weak. Perhaps friends and family don’t understand why social interactions sap your energy, and that you sometimes need downtime by yourself to recharge. Conversely, it may be challenging for you to relate to those around you who can take traumatic world events in stride without becoming overwhelmed by heavy emotions.
Perhaps the term “HSP” is new to you, but you recognize these qualities in yourself. Until now, you may have assumed you suffer from anxiety, depression, or sensory issues, not realizing that HSP is a personality trait that approximately 15-20 percent of the population is born with. [1]
Whether or not you’ve identified as highly sensitive before, you’re likely seeking self-understanding and guidance. In therapy, we can unpack what it means to be an HSP, helping you navigate its challenges while also embracing its gifts.
Science Backs Why Some Are More Sensitive Than Others
Being an HSP is neither a diagnosis nor a mental disorder—it’s a personality trait some are born with. According to clinical psychologist Dr. Elaine Aron’s definition, “the highly sensitive person has a sensitive nervous system, is aware of subtleties in his/her surroundings, and is more easily overwhelmed when in a highly stimulating environment.” [1]
Once only thought of as a “woo woo” term, scientific research focusing on the genetic traits inherent in HSPs has revealed that those with a shorter serotonin transporter gene (SERT) were more likely to “have a stronger response to one’s environment in general.” [3] It is also believed that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) may exacerbate sensitivity in some people.
Highly Sensitive People Often Feel At Odds With Western Culture
American culture has long embraced an ethos of fierce independence and grit. Our folk heroes are often depicted as physically and mentally tough, favoring stoicism over vulnerability. So, as HSPs, it’s easy to feel out of step with the world around us. Whenever someone tells us we’re too sensitive, we wish we could be accepted as we are.
Counseling tailored for highly sensitive people gives you a chance to learn more about how you’re wired and how best to thrive. With empathy and acceptance, you’ll learn helpful strategies for living in a more grounded and joyful way.
Therapy Can Help You Gain Valuable Insights About Being An HSP While Providing Support
When you’re highly sensitive, you may feel like a lonely traveler in a strange land. Although you’re gifted with deep compassion, emotional literacy, and keen intuition, these same attributes can lead to a higher likelihood of anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, both physically and emotionally. Perhaps you’ve even wondered if you’re heightened responses to sensory input could indicate you’re on the spectrum.
Therapy will be a journey of discovery, providing a safe and supportive space to explore the ways being an HSP impacts you day-to-day. With an intimate understanding of what it means to live as a highly sensitive person, your therapist can help you feel more empowered, allowing you to find self-acceptance and strength in your unique gifts.
What To Expect In Therapy Tailored For Highly Sensitive People
First and foremost, I will meet you where you are with curiosity and compassion, getting to know who you are and what has brought you to therapy. If you suspect you might be an HSP or empath, I will ask questions to further explore whether or not you resonate with the identified personality traits.
If I determine that you resonate with the HSP profile, we can help you better understand what that means. If you’re interested, I may pull in research conducted by psychiatrist Dr. Judith Orloff and clinical psychologist Dr. Elaine Aron, which has helped shape our understanding of the HSP personality. Having this knowledge builds greater awareness of the challenges that come with being an HSP, while also refining the gifts that accompany it—such as intuition, compassion, profound empathy, and a heart that thrives on connection.
For example, if you’re struggling with relationships, perhaps your innate tendency to be a caregiver and people pleaser makes you susceptible to attracting people who feed off your energy. Without establishing proper boundaries, you may get trapped in unhealthy dynamics.
I will also identify self-care practices you can incorporate into your routine, such as limiting your news intake and building in more downtime after rigorous work or social events. Additionally, you’ll be encouraged to embrace vulnerability as a strength and not a weakness, find like-minded people, and perhaps, even seek an occupation that favors your abilities.
The Modalities I Draw From In HSP Counseling
Depending on the challenges you face, I tailor HSP therapy to incorporate evidence-based modalities, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, and narrative therapy. Each approach offers tools to help you navigate the world around you with less overwhelm, greater confidence, and more resilience.
At my Wellness Studio, we offer somatic therapy, such as tapping, to help regulate your nervous system, and Reiki to fortify and protect your energy field. Additionally, meditation and yoga are available that foster the integration of body, mind, and spirit.
Despite living in a culture that doesn’t always embrace your gifts, you possess profound qualities that are game changers, not only for yourself but also those you’ve chosen to bring into your life. Let's explore what it means to be an HSP, building a new narrative that honors who you are and the energy you bring to your journey—and the world.
But Maybe You’re Not Sure If HSP Therapy Is Right For You…
How can I be sure that I’m a highly sensitive person and that therapy will help?
I’m particularly aligned with the attributes of the highly sensitive person because I am one. Fortunately, being a therapist and HSP makes me uniquely qualified to help you. Because I understand first-hand what it feels like to live with heightened sensitivity, empathy, and intuition, not only can I help you determine if the HSP profile resonates with you, but together we can navigate potential pitfalls and lean into gifts with renewed appreciation.
Won’t it take a long time for HSP therapy to make a difference?
You’ve probably heard this before, but it’s true—what you get out of HSP counseling depends on what you put into it, both in and out of therapy. When you leave a session, we encourage you to test drive the tools you worked on, applying newfound insights to your life.
As you continue to experience wins and successes, your brain and body will be wired to replicate them, accelerating your progress. At the end of the day, your HSP counselor is rooting for you to work them out of a job.
My previous experiences in therapy weren’t positive.
At Amanda Patrick Wellness, I have curated an energy that feels more like coming to a home than an office. My practice fosters a safe, inclusive, and collaborative power structure where your voice and choice are what drives our care.
My clients are often surprised by how at ease they feel here—simply put, we want each session to feel like coming home to yourself.
Embrace Your Gifts, Find Your Strength
Learning to navigate the world as an HSP will open up new pathways for joy, groundedness, and connection.
For scheduling or any questions, please call (503) 908-5143 or reach out and send me a note.
[1] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/highly-sensitive-person
[2] https://hsperson.com/books/the-highly-sensitive-person/
[3] https://highlysensitiverefuge.com/new-research-about-the-genes-of-highly-sensitive-people/
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HSP Therapy
Portland, OR
Online Therapy
5441 S Macadam Ave STE A
Portland, OR 97239