I believe sensitivity is a gift.
However, when left unattended, it can make life feel more stressful - and over time, ongoing stress can leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves, our relationships and our bodies.
Tending to sensitivity and chronic stress
Sometimes the stressors in our lives are obvious, and at other times they are very subtle. Especially when we are sensitive by nature, stressors can take a toll over time. For those of us who are highly sensitive and also have “type-A” tendencies, we are often able to survive on ambition for years, until our 20’s and 30’s when stressors accumulate, or something tips us overboard.
In our work together I invite you to notice your real, present moment experience because whether or not the stressors are visible, the impact often is.
I’ve listed here some ways that ongoing stress can manifest.
I trust that there is adaptive wisdom in these experiences, and they may no longer be serving you. Together we’ll explore what’s here now: be it emotion, thought, belief, intuition, impulse and/or sensation - welcoming all parts with curiosity and without judgement, as they are usually here for a reason.
Our work together
-
Perhaps you feel disconnected from yourself - the endless cycle of self-doubt, trying to do everything “right” or searching and longing for the person you know you are deep down - we will gently get to know the circumstances and protective layers that might be inhibiting your natural joy and authenticity. We can explore together with compassion and without judgement what is here now - including your unique strengths, gifts and self-care practices - as we dive deeper into the layers of your being, all in service of reconnecting with your true self.
-
Relationships are essential to survival, a sense of self and vitality. They can bring joy, love, nurturing and vibrancy; they can also bring pain, loss, sorrow and grief. Whether it’s with romantic partners, family members, friends, colleagues, community in general or society at-large - how you feel in relationships matters. Through mindfulness, collaborative insight and via real-time in session, together we’ll notice your experience in connection with others, identify your values, needs and boundaries, reframe limiting beliefs, address relevant sociocultural factors, and discover what it means to cultivate safe, fulfilling relationships.
-
You may know intimately that too much ongoing stress creates a fearful, disconnected or distressing relationship with your body. This may feel like excess tension, trouble relaxing, holding your breath or feeling stuck/numb. Reconnecting with your body, mindfully and at your own pace, offers one way to cultivate your inner sense of safety, agency and presence. By tapping into your innate resilience and existing resources, along with following Sensorimotor Psychotherapy’s trauma-informed approach, we can gently begin to notice, process and restore what might be holding you back so that you may reclaim your breath, embodiment, vitality and wellbeing.
Offerings and office location
I offer individual holistic psychotherapy for women in California, both in-person and virtually from my office in San Francisco. My office is located on Sacramento Street at Presidio in Presidio Heights. It is easily accessible by public transportation and by car. Free two-hour parking is available throughout the adjacent residential neighborhood. For clients who cannot make our sessions in-person, I offer video sessions.
Fees and insurance
My current session fee is $220 per 50-minute session. I do not accept insurance, but I can provide you with a monthly statement to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. Please be sure to ask your insurance company about coverage for an “out-of-network” provider. I also have a limited number of sliding scale spots based on financial need (please inquire).
HSP FAQs
-
Dr. Elaine Aron coined the term Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) in the 1990s. Being highly sensitive is an innate trait, not a diagnosis. Highly sensitive people may be extra observant and notice the subtleties around them, other people’s emotions, the energy of a room, as well as process deeply and more intensely feel the impact of cultural and global circumstances. At this time, it’s expected that 15-20% of the population (in addition to being identified in 100+ other species!) is highly sensitive. This speaks to natural biodiversity, and like with all things - there are strengths and challenges that come with being sensitive. You can read more at www.hsperson.com
-
Many of my clients don’t realize that they’re highly sensitive until they’re in therapy. Some of us know early on, and some of us learned how to disconnect from ourselves that we actually feel de-sensitized… and it’s not until we slow down and start paying attention that we notice how sensitive we truly are. There’s a quiz available on www.hsperson.com to determine if you’re highly sensitive, but I truly believe like everything it’s a spectrum. Embrace what resonates with you, and leave the rest!
-
It means you’re human! This is very typical of my clients and probably so many of us depending on the circumstances. Different situations, spaces, seasons, people and environments, along with our intersecting identities, can shift how we feel and show up at different times. It’s natural. What I’m interested in is - how can we embrace all of who you are in a way that feels easeful and supports you to live a full, vibrant life?