Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Therapy: Understanding Sensitivity in Counseling
A Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is someone whose nervous system processes information more deeply and intensely. This trait is inborn and has been identified across many species, suggesting it offers evolutionary advantages.
Highly sensitive people tend to:
Notice subtle changes in their environment
Process emotions deeply
Experience heightened sensory awareness
Become overstimulated more easily
This doesn’t mean something is “wrong.” It means the nervous system is highly responsive
Setting Realistic Intentions for the New Year
New Year’s resolutions are often intended to support growth and well-being, yet for many people they lead to increased pressure, guilt, or self-criticism. From a mental health perspective, this reaction makes sense. The way resolutions are commonly framed can unintentionally activate perfectionism, comparison, and nervous system stress rather than support meaningful change.
This article explores why traditional New Year’s resolutions often backfire and how shifting toward intention-setting can be a more supportive, values-aligned approach to change.