Highly Sensitive People

Support for deep feelers, intuitive thinkers, and highly aware nervous systems
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If you’ve ever been told you’re “too sensitive,” “too emotional,” “too much,” or if loud noises, conflict, strong emotions, or chaotic environments feel overwhelming — you may be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).

Being highly sensitive is not a flaw. It’s a temperament trait found in about 20–30% of people. It means your brain and nervous system take in more information, process it more deeply, and respond more intensely than most.

At Health Allies Counseling in Portland, we offer specialized therapy for Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) that honors your emotional depth, your intuition, your perception, and your nervous system — so you can feel grounded, empowered, and fully yourself.

Our approach to Highly Sensitive People

What is a "highly sensitive person"

A Highly Sensitive Person has a finely tuned nervous system that processes information deeply. You may:

Feel emotions intensely
Pick up on subtle cues others miss
Become overwhelmed by bright lights, noise, or conflict
Need more downtime than others
Feel deeply moved by art, music, nature, or meaning
Have strong empathy or intuition
Feel easily stressed in chaotic or fast-paced environments
Experience anxiety when overstimulated
Feel like you “absorb” others’ feelings

At Health Allies, we understand the unique strengths and challenges of being highly sensitive — and we help you learn how to thrive with this trait, not fight against it.

How counseling helps HSPs

Many Highly Sensitive People grew up in environments where sensitivity was misunderstood, dismissed, or criticized. Counseling can support you in:

Understanding your trait and learning to work with it
Building boundaries without guilt
Managing overstimulation and emotional intensity
Healing old wounds from being told you were “too much”
Developing self-compassion and self-advocacy
Reducing anxiety and burnout
Navigating relationships with clearer communication
Living authentically without masking your sensitivity

Your depth is a strength. Therapy can help you use it well.

How we support HSPs

Our therapists draw from a variety of modalities based on your needs:

Mindfulness & Somatic Therapies

Help regulate an overstimulated nervous system and build calm, embodied awareness.

CBT & Anxiety Counseling

Reduce overthinking, rumination, and emotional overwhelm.

Attachment & Relational Therapy

Heal wounds from past relationships where your sensitivity wasn’t honored.

IFS-Informed Parts Work

Support the parts of you that feel “too much” or need protection.

EMDR & Brainspotting (Optional)

Process deep-rooted emotional experiences that contribute to sensitivity, shame, or overwhelm.

Neurodiversity-Affirming Support

Many HSPs overlap with ADHD, autism, giftedness, or trauma histories. We support all identities and experiences without pathologizing sensitivity.

Our approach is gentle, validating, and paced according to your nervous system.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I’m a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)?

Common signs include deep emotional responses, sensory sensitivity, strong intuition, empathy, and needing more downtime than others. Therapy can help you explore this trait and understand how it shows up in your life.

Is being highly sensitive the same as having anxiety?

No. Sensitivity is a temperament trait, not a disorder. But chronic overwhelm can lead to anxiety. Counseling helps separate the two and provides tools for both.

Will therapy try to make me “less sensitive”?

Absolutely not. Our approach honors your sensitivity and helps you feel grounded, confident, and resilient as you are.

Can therapy help if I get overwhelmed easily?

Yes. We offer somatic skills, grounding tools, emotional regulation strategies, and cognitive techniques specifically designed for sensitive nervous systems.

I’m exhausted from absorbing other people’s feelings. Can therapy help with that?

Definitely. We help you develop boundaries, emotional separation, and strategies to stop carrying feelings that aren’t yours.

What therapies work best for HSPs?

Most HSPs benefit from a blend of mindfulness, somatic therapy, CBT, IFS-informed approaches, and attachment-based work. Your therapist will tailor the modalities to your unique needs.

Is it common for HSPs to feel misunderstood in relationships?

Yes. Many Highly Sensitive People feel unseen or invalidated. Therapy helps you communicate clearly, advocate for your needs, and build supportive relationships.

Can I do HSP counseling even if I don’t have a diagnosis?

Yes. High sensitivity isn’t a disorder, so no diagnosis is required for counseling.

Start your healing journey

Start Your Healing Journey

You don’t need to toughen up, be less sensitive, or shrink yourself.
You need support that understands the way your nervous system works.

At Health Allies Counseling in Portland, we offer highly sensitive person counseling that helps you build resilience, confidence, and self-compassion —

while honoring your depth and intuition.

Schedule your first appointment today

at hello@healthalliescounseling.com