therapy for highly sensitive people

Do you ever feel overwhelmed from too much stimulation?

Have people called you too sensitive? Do you tend to feel things deeply and need time to process your emotions? Do you need extra downtime or feel overwhelmed on busy days? If so, you might be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).

Schedule a Session

HSPs often believe something is wrong with them.

Traits that are typical of HSPs can leave you believing there’s something wrong with you. For example, you may feel burdened by your emotions or exhausted by the needs of others that you feel obligated to meet. HSPs can struggle immensely with specific triggers, and it can be challenging to cope with change or spontaneous events. This all sounds negative and overwhelming, and if you’re an HSP, you may feel misunderstood or overwhelmed every day.

If you feel misunderstood or like there’s something wrong with you, let us be the first to say that there is nothing wrong with you — you are remarkable. In fact, you possess numerous positive traits, such as deeper empathy, stronger intuition, and a zest for art and beauty. These positives can be overshadowed by the adverse impact of feeling emotions and empathizing so deeply, but therapy can help you learn to manage your potentially overwhelming emotions in order to live a more satisfying life while embracing every aspect of who you are.

"therapy helped me to see the beauty in my sensitivity."

- Anonymous

Signs you're a highly sensitive person (HSP).

If any of these feel familiar, you may be part of the 20% of the population considered to be highly sensitive people (HSPs), meaning your brain processes information more deeply than most:

HSPs are more perceptive and attuned to their surroundings
HSPs are more aware of their feelings and emotions
HSPs can be extremely upset by violence, cruelty, or unkindness
HSPs are often exhausted from being attuned to the emotions of others
HSPs seek depth in relationships and consider things deeply
HSPs can struggle with criticism and feedback
HSPs have a difficult time setting boundaries
HSPs often avoid conflict
HSPs can struggle with change
HSPs can be very moved by beauty and art

If you're not sure if you're a highly sensitive person, you can take Dr. Elaine Aron's self-test here. You can also visit her website for more research on HSPs.

As an HSP, you don't have to struggle anymore.

in therapy...

we will work together to explore your sensitive gifts, identify your needs, and optimize your environment so you can thrive. Beachside Counseling can also help you learn viable coping skills to manage your stressors. When you participate in therapy, you'll feel seen, heard, and supported in other related goals, such as strengthening your self-esteem, improving your interpersonal relationships, and adapting to challenging life circumstances.

When you’re ready, the Beachside Counseling is here for you. Use the link below to schedule a consultation to determine if therapy for highly sensitive people in our San Diego practice is the right next step for you.

Schedule a Session

How do I know if therapy would be helpful?

If you're experiencing any of these challenges, we can help:

You often feel overwhelmed by the world
You require more down time than other people in your life
You’ve been told you’re “too sensitive” throughout your life
You’re sensitive to things like sounds, smells, and textures
You have a hard time receiving feedback

You tend to have big emotions and feel things very deeply
You have a difficult time setting boundaries with other people
You struggle to connect with others unless it's in a deep and meaningful way
You have a hard time getting your needs met
You struggle with big or small life change

While being a highly sensitive person isn’t an official clinical diagnosis, it’s definitely a real thing that many people struggle with. When you visit us for therapy in our San Diego practice, we can examine your experiences as a highly sensitive person and discuss the rewarding aspects of feeling things intensely as well as exploring the ways that being a highly sensitive person has negatively impacted your life, so you can stop avoiding your big emotions and overwhelming feelings and start loving your life again – heightened sensitivity and all. Learn more about therapy for highly sensitive people and empaths on this page or by contacting our San Diego therapy team to schedule a consultation.