highly sensitive power

Welcome to the wonderful world of high sensitivity.

We’re a community that’s growing rapidly as we find each other and find the resources and encouragment to love ourselves as we are and to thrive. We have much to offer and lots to say.

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The acronym HSP refers to a highly sensitive person; HSPs refers to highly sensitive people.

See the HSPs page for a general introduction to the trait of high sensitivity.

Check out the HSP Self-test to see whether you consider yourself to be highly sensitive. There’s a link to a test for evaluating high sensitivity in children.

WEBSITES ABOUT HIGH SENSITIVITY

See the Counsellors and Coaches section, below, for additional websites for HSPs.

Highly Sensitive People – Jim Hallows provides a strong voice of empowerment and education for HSPs on his Website, along with extensive resources. There are interviews to listen to, links to follow, and there is wisdom to take strength from. I’ve put him and his site here rather than below in the Counsellors and Coaches section because his website is so comprehensive.

The Highly Sensitive Person – This is the website of Elaine Aron, the author of The Highly Sensitive Person, among other books (see below), and the original popularizer of the trait of high sensitivity. Her website includes information about HSPs, herself, and her books. Issues of her newsletter, The Comfort Zone, going back to 2004 are also available to read.

The Highly Sensitive Person Publishing Company – Cliff Harwin’s website provides “inspiration and information for highly sensitive people” through a variety of resources, including books that he and others have written, like Making Sense of Your High Sensitivity and Kick the Worry Habit!, his Thoughts for the Thoughtful newsletter, and a free e-book, Real World Advice Specifically for Highly Sensitive People. (Cliff wrote a nice article about me and my Website in the “Featured HSP” section of his November 2008 newsletter.)

HSP Me – Started in September of 2008, HSP Me is a personal chronicle of a woman trying to understand her life as an HSP. It’s written by the intriguingly named blogger “Guilty Secret.” She explains in her first post – written shortly after discovering she has the HSP trait – that writing is how she processes – thus the blog.

HSP Notes – Peter Messerschmidt, a long-time advocate for HSPs, particularly for HSPs in community, started this blog in 2002. See also, below, The Pacific Northwest HSP Network, which Peter started. See also Highly Sensitive Power’s post about this blog.

Joyful Work for Sensitive People – Reading Erika Harris’ website makes my shoulders relax. The site’s tone of empowerment and its rich content make it not only encouraging but useful on a practical level.

The Pacific Northwest HSP Network – “A social network for Highly Sensitive People in the Pacific Northwest,” started by Peter Messerschmidt (see HSP Notes, above). The Network’s website and community are full of options for connecting in this region.

Talent Development Resources – Douglas Eby’s website is not primarily about the trait of high sensitivity, but he’s familiar with the trait and supportive of HSPs. His offerings of “information and inspiration to enhance creative expression and personal development,” and focus on the “psychology of creativity” and “high ability adults” provide much juice for the HSP soul. There’s a section about high senstivity on the site.

BOOKS ABOUT HIGH SENSITIVITY

By Elaine Aron:

• The Highly Sensitive Person
• The Highly Sensitive Person’s Workbook
• The Highly Sensitive Child
• The Highly Sensitive Person in Love

COUNSELLORS AND COACHES

Jenna Avery (C.L.C.) is a Certified Life Coach, a “Life Coach for Sensitive Souls,” with a website packed with information for HSPs, including a newsletter/blog, self-study classes, and lots of resources. See also Jenna’s Highly Sensitive Power interview.

Barbara Brady (M.I.M., and an HSP) is a Life Coach and Intercultural Trainer who works with clients in person, by phone, and via the Internet. One of Barbara’s particular interests is helping people live in a location that suits them, and she’s written a book on the topic: Make the Right Move Now: Your Personal Relocation Guide. See also Barbara’s Highly Sensitive Power interview.

Pamela Catapia (M.A., C.C.C., and an HSP) is a counsellor and group facilitator who specializes in issues affecting HSPs. She teaches seminars for HSPs on a variety of issues. Pam is based in Vancouver, Canada. See also Pamela’s Highly Sensitive Power interview.

Julie Cusmariu, Intuitive Consultant, Certified Life Coach, and Internet radio host provides deep wisdom about tuning in and empowerment, all with a gentle manner that makes connection easy. She’s based in Montreal, Canada. See also her interview on the Highly Sensitive Power website: Successfully Sensitive | Julie Cusmariu.

Jacqueline Strickland, a licensed professional counsellor, offers counselling, coaching, a newsletter, and more, with a deep HSP awareness. Her LifeWorks constellation of services also includes outdoor adventures for women. In 2001, Jacquelyn and Elaine Aron co-created the concept of HSP gatherings, which have helped hundreds of HSPs get together in ways that comfortably promote new friendships and self-acceptance.

SELF-EMPOWERMENT WEBSITES

The sites below offer a wide range of general articles about self-empowerment. I’ve liked these sites enough to post my own articles on them.

Intent.com – “Your trusted wellness destination for capturing and sharing your intentions – personal, social, spiritual and environmental.”

Personal growth from SelfGrowth.com – SelfGrowth.com calls itself the “Online Self Improvement Encyclopedia” and the most complete guide to information about self -improvement, personal growth and self -help on the Internet. It’s an organized directory, with articles and references to thousands of other websites.

TickledbyLife.com – “The world’s most popular life enhancement website.”

Flickr photo: Sense of Something Coming, by lepiaf.geo

This page was last updated on 12 January 2010.