Working with Sensitivity: Temperament, Treatment, and Alignment with Adults and Youth who are Highly Sensitive.

An Online Lecture and Discussion by Alane Freund, MS, MA, LMFT, ICHS. 
Sliding scale $15-45. Students, Trainees, Associates, and Interns attend for free.
No one turned away for lack of funds.
Continuing Education available.

Friday, January 10th at Noon, Pacific Time (12:00-14:00 US Pacific)

Register Now

Alane Freund, will outline core characteristics, scientific research, and case examples of the trait of High Sensitivity in order to distinguish it from possible differential diagnoses. Clinicians will learn to recognize the trait in often under-represented (in the research) or marginalized populations. Participants will compile effective strategies for Highly Sensitive clients managing over-arousal or overstimulation and assess for unique symptoms of anxiety and depression.  

Alane Freund, International Consultant on High Sensitivity, will bring her considerable clinical experience and many years of study with the experts in the field. She has become a leader in the field with over one million views on her Talk at Google, Understanding the Highly Sensitive Person. She also hosts an online community for HSPs and parents raising sensitive youth. With an extensive library of online courses, Ms. Freund has taught on almost every aspect of living with high sensitivity.

Possibly as many as half of therapy clients may be highly sensitive people or have the trait of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) because HSPs love to process and make deep connections. At 20-30%, highly sensitive people, or HSPs, are too numerous for the trait to be a disorder— about one in four people. SPS is a valuable trait: Many great artists and thinkers are HSPs, generally highly conscientious and intuitive. There are also drawbacks: an HSP is easily overstimulated and more affected by a troubled past and by present stressors, and thus they benefit greatly from therapy with well-informed clinicians.

Through this two hour live online training, participants will be able to:

  • Identify Sensory Processing Sensitivity in clients/patients using the research based assessment.
  • Describe three characteristics of highly sensitive people and youth.
  • Understand effective therapeutic interventions with highly sensitive clients.
  • Implement three techniques for more effective alignment with highly sensitive clients.
Register Here

Do you or your patients have a keen imagination, rich inner life, and vivid dreams? That might be high sensitivity. Are time alone each day and deeply intimate relationships both as essential as air? Others might call HSPs too shy or overly sensitive. HSPs sometimes wonder if it’s possible to thrive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be a highly sensitive person, or HSP—20-30% of us are. It is a valuable trait. Many great artists and thinkers are HSP— generally highly conscientious and intuitive. There are also drawbacks: An HSP is easily overstimulated and more affected by a troubled past and present stressors. That makes them great candidates for psychotherapy.

 

A finely tuned nervous system and highly reactive brain are both trademarks of HSPs who thrive best in “good” environments. Brain reactivity means HSPs process deeply, have strong emotional responses, and become easily overwhelmed in a world that is not designed for their sensitive brains and hearts.

Strongly impacted by their environment and the people in it, HSPs are very susceptible to and impacted by positive interventions. We will explore the highly sensitive person’s tremendous capacity for thriving. 

Continuing Education Learning Objective:

Continuing education is offered through the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists - Marin Chapter. Please register here for the CE ticket. Once you do, you will be sent the link to purchase CEs.

  1. List and describe the four identifying characteristics of High Sensitivity (otherwise known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity). 

  2. Summarize research on the trait of high sensitivity.

  3. Utilize the research-based assessment for SPS and identify limitations of the measure for diverse populations.

  4. Demonstrate alternative strategies for identifying SPS in diverse ethnic and cultural groups.

  5. Assess the impact of differential susceptibility and vantage sensitivity on mental health in clients with Sensory Processing Sensitivity. 

  6. State symptoms and possible causes of depression and anxiety (including genetic vulnerability) that may be unique to HSPs.

  7. Demonstrate appropriate interventions for prevention of over-arousal in clients with sensory processing sensitivity. 

Reference List

  1. Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person, Elaine Aron, PhD
  2. The Highly Sensitive Person, Elaine Aron, PhD
  3. The Undervalued Self, Elaine Aron, PhD
  4. The Highly Sensitive Man, Tom Falkenstein, MA, ICHS
  5. Talks at Google: Understanding the Highly Sensitive Person, Alane Freund, MS, MA
  6. The Highly Sensitive Person’s Survival Guide, Ted Zeff, PhD
  7. Documentary Film: Sensitive the Untold Story, sensitivethemovie.com

Questions? Email us at [email protected]