Appreciating the Highly Sensitive Person

Benefits of the Highly Sensitive Trait in Oneself and Others –
High sensitivity is an inherited trait of 15-20% of the population. The highly sensitive person, or HSP, notices more in the environment. The HSP is more sensitive to noise, lighting, medication, food additives, effluents in the air, and the moods of others; and can become overwhelmed by large quantities of input. The HSP tends to deeply reflect on everything before acting, process information more thoroughly, detect and understand more precisely whatever come in.

HSP’s tend to be empathic, intuitive, creative, careful and conscientious. They have special needs for sanctuary and solitude, adequate sleep, and regeneration. It is important that the HSP understand and appreciate this trait, then utilize these unique gifts for self, others and society. Participants gain an appreciation of the highly sensitive trait that will improve how they manage that trait in themselves, how they raise and educate children, and how they deal with colleagues with this trait. The highly sensitive student, for example, attains higher reading scores learning under incandescent lighting. The HSP is more likely to be misdiagnosed ADHD, be allergic and overwhelmed by environmental issues.

This session will:

• assess participants for the HSP trait,
• provide an overview of the HSP trait,
• present specific considerations for coping effectively with
  • personal practices and vulnerabilities,
  • professional and social relationships,
  • the culture
• demonstrate how the trait is a strength, not a weakness, and
• provide specific practices for self-care and self-management.

Dr. Radde, practicing psychologist in Superior, has worked with hundreds of HSP’s in his Colorado, and formerly in his Washington, D.C. psychology practice as well as continuing education courses around the country. He has reframed his own life using what he has learned as an HSP. This session is drawn from the work of Elaine Aron, Ph.D., author of The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive in a World That Overwhelms You.

Understanding The Highly Sensitive Person
Appreciating the Trait of
a Finely Tuned Nervous System in
Children, Students, Clients, Spouses, Colleagues, and…Oneself!

High sensitivity is the valuable inherited trait of a more finely tuned nervous system. Some 15 to 20% of the population is noticeably more sensitive to such stimuli as noise, fluorescent lighting, food additives, effluents in the air, and the moods of others. Highly sensitive persons, HSP’s, notice more in their environment and tend to reflect deeply, processing information more thoroughly. HSP’s tend to be empathic, intuitive, creative, and careful. Often ridiculed and dismissed by popular culture, misdiagnosed as neurotic, and made to feel as if they are aliens; it is especially important that the HSP appreciate this trait, emerge with this strength, and utilize these unique gifts for self, others and society. The HSP has special needs for sanctuary and solitude, adequate sleep, and regeneration. Conscientious, the HSP seldom needs surveillance and dislikes being judged. Knowledge of the trait is essential. Once informed of their trait, most HSP’s can appreciate their gift as a strength and engage in more supportive self-management techniques. This session provides an overview and coping skills for the HSP. September 11th, for example, had extra impact for the HSP resulting in trauma and cocooning more than most. More easily entranced by TV and the 9/11 images, HSP’s were mesmerized and disturbed at the same time.

This session will:
• assess participants for the HSP trait,
• provide an introduction and overview of the HSP trait,
• present specific considerations for coping effectively with
• personal practices and vulnerabilities,
• professional and social relationships,
• the culture
• demonstrate the strengths of the trait, and
• provide specific practices for self-care and self-management.

This session is drawn from the work of Elaine Aron, Ph.D., author of The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive in a World That Overwhelms You. Paul O. Radde, Ph.D., Colorado licensed psychologist, and author of Thrival! How to Have an Above Average Day Every Day (2003), has worked with hundreds of HSP’s in open enrollment groups, in his 25 year Washington, D.C., therapy practice, and in consulting with mental health providers on the HSP trait.