“Calm down.”
“You’re too sensitive!”
“It’s not that big of a deal.”
These sentiments are likely all too familiar to the highly sensitive person, and in particular the highly sensitive child. Growing up, I recall countless teary eyed instances of fighting - with little success - to try to restrain the expression of my emotions, only to be met with judgment and criticism from adults and fellow children alike. Often HSPs grow up to absorb these messages and take them on as our own, which can lead to the belief that we, and our feelings are, inherently “too much”. This can lead to self-blame and guilt, and the adoption of an almost default state of apologetic being. Even if logically we now know that sensitivity is not shameful and is even in many ways a strength, letting go of these internalized ideas can be difficult. Accepting one’s sensitivity can be a slow process, but here are a few ways to start.
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Learn the difference between insurance therapy and private-pay therapy in Sacramento. Understand costs, flexibility, and how to choose the option that fits your goals.
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Have you ever gone on a handful of dates with someone, hopeful that the budding relationship would blossom, only to find that weeks later, none of your messages or calls to them are answered? Or has a friend at school suddenly cut off all communication with no explanation, and is now avoiding you in the community? Maybe you have felt such intense disconnection from someone that you can no longer maintain a relationship—yet the thought of reaching out to explain this to them fills you with so much dread that you’re considering just deleting their contact info and sweeping it all under the rug?
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Anxiety in adulthood often traces back to childhood emotional neglect—when your emotional needs were unmet, even in a “normal” home. Learn how this quiet wound fuels perfectionism, people-pleasing, and inner criticism—and how therapy can help you heal, reconnect, and feel more at ease.
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Constantly saying “sorry,” even when you’ve done nothing wrong? Over-apologizing often points to deeper patterns like people-pleasing, low self-worth, or fear of conflict. Learn what’s really behind the reflex—and how therapy can help you build confidence and take up space without guilt.
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Brainspotting is a powerful, body-based therapy that helps process trauma, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm—especially when talk therapy isn’t enough. Learn what to expect from sessions and how this gentle, somatic approach supports deep healing in Sacramento or online across California.
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Feeling overwhelmed this summer? If you're a highly sensitive person (HSP), the season's heat, social pressure, and disrupted routines can lead to burnout. Learn why summer can be especially draining for HSPs and discover practical, therapy-informed strategies to stay grounded and restore your energy.
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There is enough to contend with being an HSP in a healthy and functioning world, but what do you do when the world feels like it’s unraveling? When it feels like every few minutes there is a news update about a cataclysmic natural disaster, ongoing conflict in war torn countries, reversals in civil rights policy, and increasing division in the world, what pressure do we put on ourselves? Do we expect ourselves to be unimpacted, to separate emotionally, to not react or respond. Being a highly sensitive person means we are highly attuned and keyed into the world around us — so naturally, an HSP would pick up on the intense emotional experience happening in the world right now and have a correlating reaction to it.
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Therapy is not a straightforward process. It can be challenging and downright painful at times, but can also be profoundly healing. While I hope that all therapeutic relationships contain a free flow of information and feedback between therapist and client, this too can be complicated, and we might benefit from some simple suggestions from a therapist’s perspective. To that end, I wanted to share some thoughts and encouragement that may provide some clarity and even improve your experience of therapy.
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