FF101: Sensitivity (Part I)
This is topic I care alot about. It's personal, and it's highly relevant to an overly represented group of clients in therapy.
For starters, read the new blog post in recommendation #1 below, and explore the rest.
If missed the last 6 on the topic of Emotions, here it is:
⭕️ New From My Desk: Pay Careful Attention To a Highly Sensitive Person's Inner Life
This post has two purposes: One for your clients, and one for you.
In the general population, Elaine Aron estimate that 1 out of every 5 persons is a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). This sensitive trait is not exclusive to humans and can be found in animals as well. However, while it is about 20% of the general population that inhibit this quality of personality, In clinical practice, she reckons the actual occurrence rate is closer to 50%.
As a crude estimate, I collated the cases I’ve seen in the last few weeks. Out of 36 people, at least 13 (36%) of them match the working definitions of HSP. That’s not quite half of the people at my practice, but certainly more than 20%.
📕 Read: The Highly Sensitive Person
While this book by Elaine Aron is date, it is a key text in this area.
📕 Read: Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person
The subtitle says, "Improving Outcomes for That Minority of People Who Are the Majority of Clients."
This is a useful book for thinking from the lens of HSP with relevant clients.
🎥 Watch: Sensitive, the documentary
I was surprised to see Alanis Morissette in this. Her story about how her father came to her as an adult, about how he struggled to raise her was deeply moving.
This is also a good primer to HSP.
⏸ Words Worth Contemplating:
When legendary comedian Dave Chappelle was giving his speech for being honored the Mark Twain Prize, with his mother in the audience, he shared the following story:
A griot is someone in Africa who carries the stories orally… When a griot dies, it is as if a whole library has been burned down.
My Mom told me that I should be a griot… And she told me this:
”Son, sometimes you have to be a lion so that you can be a lamb that you really are.
Reflection:
Think of the people in your caseload who are highly sensitive individuals. Does their lifestyles nurture their needs? How are they taking care of their inner-lives.
Our nature is designed to be nurtured and informed by our needs.
Think of your own inner-life. Are a HSP? If so, did this trait move you to want to help others?
BIG HUGS TO NEW PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THEIR FRONTIER!
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