Psychiatric treatment designed for highly sensitive people.

No surprise, HSPs tend to be sensitive to medications. More than ever, treatment needs to “start low and go slow.” If we decide to use meds, it is possible to do it gently, and there are many classes to try besides just SSRIs. I work very closely with people to monitor response and side effects, and I’m open to discussing all the existential questions that can come along with altering brain chemistry. Medicine does not have to dull your beautiful sensitivity to do its job of supporting your nervous system.

Sometimes, HSPs are more amenable to supplements and herbal medicines, and we can discuss which ones could be safe and effective for you.

HSPs tend to do great in psychotherapy because they are deep feelers, nuanced thinkers, and astute observers. Almost everyone can benefit from learning about and improving boundaries, and it is especially true for HSPs who need them to protect their peace. Therapy can also help sort through experiences when your sensitivity was misinterpreted and unappreciated by those around you.

One challenge is that HSPs experience the impacts of trauma, even very subtle forms of it, more intensely than other people. A non-HSP raised in the same family may come out of the situation very differently. For HSPs, the after-effects of trauma can be processed and metabolized out of your nervous system in therapy.

For so many HSPs, attuning to life’s greater meanings and overarching purposes is a must. That might mean pursuing creative projects, forming deep relationships, and pondering existential challenges like climate change. We can identify what helps you connect to awe and a sense of belonging within something much larger, and then incorporate those experiences into daily life. This can take so many forms: creativity, spending time in nature, ancestral practices, dream analysis, reading sacred texts, tarot, witchcraft, ecstatic dance. It always delights me to find out what form spirituality takes for any individual.

HSPs want to understand the “why” of everything, especially elements of their treatment plan. I love this type of engagement and take the time to hear your concerns, hopes, questions, and non-negotiables. I aim to be your partner, sharing my knowledge, experiences, and recommendations while decisions ultimately remain with you.

The highly sensitive nervous system responds more to fluctuations in blood sugar, and there are steps we can take to ensure you’re in a steady state. Similarly, molecules like caffeine and alcohol have a bigger impact for HSPs, and we can non-judgmentally assess how they are functioning for you. HSPs are often vegetarian or vegan, and all nutritional goals can still be met.

We need to pay special attention to ways we can realistically adjust your environment, in terms of smells, sounds, textures, aesthetics, and vibe, to support your well-being. Sometimes changes need to happen at work or home, and we can strategize together how to make those transitions as easy as possible.

I prioritize sleep with all of my patients but especially with HSPs. Without enough hours of good quality sleep, nothing else matters. Sleep is the bedrock foundation of well-being, full stop. Whether you’re a champion sleeper or have always struggled to get enough, there are many gentle approaches to help ensure you get the restorative rest that your nervous system needs.

I’ve seen progressive muscle relaxation (or alternate-nostril breathing or vagal nerve activation or therapeutic tremoring) do more for some HSPs than medication. Our nervous systems are physical structures, so it makes sense that body-based techniques help center us as much or more than thinking does. The mind and body are one, so treatment tends to more than just our heads.