Therapy for Highly Sensitive Persons (HSP)

Discover Your Gift

Are you someone that has been called “too sensitive,” “dramatic,” or feels like they just don’t fit in?

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Do you find that you tend to get emotionally exhausted and overwhelmed from the day to day?

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Have you ever been told that you need “thicker skin” which makes you feel like you are weak?

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Do you do everything in your power to avoid potential conflict or confrontation?

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Do you tend to over analyze every word and gesture and have a hard time letting things go?

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Are you someone that gets told to lower their voice or “calm down” when you are really just passionate and feel strongly about a topic?

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Do you need alone time to regroup after a busy day or social outing?

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Do you tend to get easily impacted by loud noises, certain textures and fabrics, hot/cold temperatures, and strong scents?

Highly Sensitive Person HSP Therapy | Susan Abdel-Haq, LMFT | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Telehealth Therapy in California

THEN IT’S TIME TO

put yourself first

Therapy for highly sensitive people can be incredibly validating.

An HSP is a relatively new term used over the years to describe someone with an innate trait to process information on a deeper level and feel more overstimulated by their external world.
Individuals with this personality trait tend to be more hyperaware, take more time to process information and make decisions, and are also more emotionally responsive or empathetic.

You find that you have difficulty adjusting to the changes that life throws at you. At a young age, you may have been the “black sheep” of the family or the one that couldn’t just “let things go”. You try to navigate your world in a nonconventional way and you feel like your successes aren’t always noticed or celebrated. Being highly sensitive can leave you with highs and lows and feeling like there is something wrong with you. It is even harder when you try to confide in others about how you feel and you are left feeling misunderstood. Because of your past experiences and strong ability to empathize and relate to others, you may have even chosen a profession centered around helping others such as nursing, teaching, coaching, etc. Although you are working within your strengths, self care can be difficult to prioritize and even saying “no” can be a struggle.

Anxiety and Trauma Therapy | Susan Abdel-Haq, LMFT | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Telehealth Therapy in California

THERAPY CAN HELP.

You can learn how to better understand yourself, set boundaries in your environment, and find the spaces that celebrate you.
You can learn how to cope more effectively with the stressors that come your way while honing in on your natural abilities such as being creative, intelligent, intuitive, and a compassionate healer.
You may have experienced being told that you need some kind of therapy because your environment makes you feel that you are inconveniencing them with how you react to things. This can be further stigmatizing and make you feel like you are different. There might even be a fear of feeling consumed with emotion or being criticized if you choose to get support. But what if I told you that therapy could be about valuing your unique qualities and celebrating your strengths instead of “fixing” you? Especially when you are one of the strongest individuals out there.
Highly Sensitive Person HSP Therapy | Susan Abdel-Haq, LMFT | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Telehealth Therapy in California

HAVE SOME

QUESTIONS?

How do I find out if I am really an “HSP”? Where can I learn more about this?

Dr. Elaine Aron, a celebrated therapist who created the term HSP, has devoted extensive research and material on this unique topic along with a useful checklist as a guideline for reference.

As with many personality traits, you could fall under a spectrum so it is good to reflect on what speaks to you! 

What if I get emotional in my therapy?
Because being highly sensitive can amplify your experience. It is important to have a therapist who you feel understands you and is well-versed into your unique struggles. This is especially true if you also struggle with anxiety, depression, etc. Having said that, I support you by holding that space so you can experience your emotions in a way that is free of criticism and is completely authentic and healing.
Do I have to change who I am?
People don’t always go to therapy because there is something “wrong.” Therapy can be a journey to self-discovery on how to respond to challenging situations that you encounter. Therapy for HSP would entail giving you more space to reflect and process the things that we discuss but to also understand that there is nothing wrong with you. It is also about feeling understood, validated, and reflecting on the positives.
Anxiety and Trauma Therapy | Susan Abdel-Haq, LMFT | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Telehealth Therapy in California
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
You can learn to feel comfortable in your skin and embrace your authentic self.

If you would like to schedule an initial consultation, please call me today.

Susan Abdel-Haq, LMFT | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Telehealth Therapy in California