Highly Sensitive Society

value for money

advanced education

I hold a PhD in Psychology. A PhD in Psychology requires at least 9 years of university (4 yr BA and 5+ yrs for a PhD). My fees reflect the education and research knowledge that I have acquired.

ongoing scientific expertise

I conduct scientific research into highly sensitive people, and have been doing so for almost 20 years. I’m one of a very small group of HSP scientists who also takes clients. For example, I also served as an Expert Advisor to International Consultants on High Sensitivity (ICHS) and for Vantage: A Charity Campaigning for HSPs, answering any questions these mental-health providers may have had about the scientific basis of HSP. I am also a contributor to www.sensitivityresearch.com, a site ran by university scientists to publish and communicate the research on high sensitivity.

excellent reviews

I’m not quite sure why that is. It may be because I ensure we have good chemistry by doing a thorough complimentary session before we start working together. It may be because I only take on a few clients, so I can spend quality time on each client. It may be due to my extensive scientific knowledge of high sensitivity. I actually think a lot of it has to do with me being very highly sensitive, so I recognize tiny details like a change in voice tone and facial expression. Since I am very highly sensitive myself, I also know when something important to an HSP comes up in our discussions. Then, because I am very good at seeing the relationships between ideas you share, I am able to very quickly figure out the patterns that are stopping you from feeling well. Finally, I have a wide variety of strategies to deal with the patterns, either based on my education, on my lived experience of being a very high scoring HSP as well as a High Sensation Seeker, or from the time I spend searching for solutions in both the scientific and therapeutic literatures.

PERSONAL SERVICE

I have a very small, exclusive practice. This allows me to dedicate time to find the best resources and techniques to help my clients, as well as to continue academic publishing and keeping up with the academic literature.What this means is I have to time to work very hard to support each client. I will speak with you in a complimentary (free) consultation to make sure that you and I have a connection before you even start your sessions with me. I also see only a few clients a day and build in substantial breaks between clients. This allows me to approach each client’s session feeling calm and organized. Scientific research has shown that the connection between a provider and client is the biggest factor influencing whether a mental health provider can successfully help a client. So, you will know before you start that I have the time, the background and the personality style to help you.

Since I have large chunks of non-client time, my brain can devote the time needed to thinking about your problems in depth, the way HSPs like to be thought of. Remembering what information or resources I’ve come across and how it might help someone I know is in my blood. It is the first thing my mother has done each day of her adult life, so I learned it from birth. Almost as soon as she gets up, she calls one of her family or friends and says, “I just noticed this …….. in the …….. and I thought it might help you with your ……”.

resources geared specifically to you

I also spend a great deal of time providing personalized services to my clients . Mental-health practitioners are often called upon to serve many clients, so they don’t have time to provide this level of service. It doesn’t happen after every session, but I tend to email my clients resources after every few sessions. I’m very highly sensitive myself, so I don’t just email the first resource I come across. I can spend 3-5 hours searching through resources to find the perfect resource for a client. I almost always share something that I have already tried out myself, so that adds to the time it takes to review resources for clients. So, if we spend 50 min together in a session, I’m spending at least another 30-40 min outside of the session finding resources that are specific to you.

there is not much that can surprise me

First of all, I’m an HSP. As high an HSP as one can be, actually. I score around 25-26 on the HSP self-test, depending on the day. Second of all, I’m also a High Sensation Seeker (HSS). So, no matter what your level of sensitivity, or whether you are an HSS as well as an HSP, I understand. I was so affected by being an HSP that I actually gave up a career in order to devote 11 years of university to finding out everything I could about highly sensitive people.

In addition, I have a breadth of work experience, education and lived experience which advises my practice. For example, I have a Diploma in Business Administration and worked as a management consultant for Capgemini (formerly Ernst & Young) Management Consultants. Thus, I’ve had lots of practice solving complicated problems and using my analytical skills to help corporate clients. I’ve also been an educator. Along with my Bachelor in Education, I have additional certificates in Special Education and courses in Educational Consulting. Finally, I have medical writing ( mostly psychiatry and neurology) experience. As a medical writer, I designed courses doctors attended in order to get Continuing Education Credits. I also reported on new research in the medical field by attending conferences for medical specialists. Additionally, I’ve lived in the biggest metropolises (New York City area) and the smallest towns (1,200 people) and in a number of countries around the world e.g. Canada, USA, Vietnam. I’ve studied in small local universities (Wilfrid Laurier U) and the Ivy League (Smith College, Columbia U), so there aren’t too many cultures I don’t have experience with.