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HSP News #14 - Endings, Changes and New Beginnings

Update from Barbara Allen

It’s been a while since I have updated everyone on the National Centre for High Sensitivity. I have been recovering from exhaustion the last couple of years and therefore had to take steps to limit my workload. We had been working for some time on finding funding that might help expand and underpin the work of the National Centre, however, in combination with other stresses, it became too long a haul in the end for me to be able to see it through. So I made the decision in 2019 to close the National Centre and this has now happened. The website will close shortly in the next couple of weeks, its been left up for a while in case people want to copy any information or resources. We have transferred the HSP Support Directory to the blog created for the HSP News, you will find it at: https://nchsnews.wordpress.com/hsp-support-directory/ .

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.Even though the National Centre is closing, I think the work involved so far has ensured that high sensitivity has a higher profile than it used to. Ildiko Davis has stepped up to continue the Meetup.com site that we used to promote some of our UK HSP events and she is planning to continue to write for you the HSP News too. The Growing Unlimited HSP Hampshire Meetup that I run is still continuing and I will add events to the calendar as and when I am able to. I’m currently offering a fortnightly one-hour opportunity for HSPs to commune online. Most events are happening online now as you know. There are also now many HSP colleagues who are offering HSP events and opportunities for growth and development throughout the UK, for which I am grateful, so do continue to google for these events and join in when you get a chance

In the background in recent months, I have been part of a founding group of experienced HSP professionals, the International Consultants on High Sensitivity, (members of this group are listed on Dr Aron’s website as speakers). This has developed out of a group who attended training in the USA with Dr Elaine Aron. Now that I am recovered, I am still practicing as an HSP Mentor, offering 1-1 support and also support to parents of HSCs. I am still training professionals, although I have tried to keep my practice part-time where possible. If you want to contact me, you can find me on my longstanding personal website at www.growingunlimited.co.uk. I am also still involved with various HSPs who are promoting and leading awareness of our trait ‘out there’ in the UK, Europe and USA. Sadly, due to Covid-19, the HSP Weekend Retreat Jacquelyn Strickland and I planned in Colorado, USA had to be cancelled, but we hope that one day we will be able to recommence this plan and also start planning for a joint event in the UK.

If any of you are interested in research and the science behind Sensory Processing Sensitivity, there is a new website called http://www.sensitivityresearch.com where leading researchers and scientists are listing projects and scientific articles and papers. This website has been created by Michael Pluess and his colleagues, a team of people in the UK who have been doing some important research around high sensitivity. If you are a practitioner or a researcher, you can become a member on the site, take a look, I’m sure there will be something of interest for everyone.

Do keep me updated on what you are doing and if you need any input, let me know – I’ve met hundreds of HSPs through my work in recent years and often wonder how you are doing  The best email for contacting me is hspsensitive@icloud.com.

I’m currently taking my own advice and staying in, in a little bolt-hole in Cornwall that I obtained as part of my recovery plans. It has been amazing how much difference this has made to my wellbeing and has underlined once again, just how much quiet-time and contact with nature has the power to revive, re-focus and empower. I will leave you with couple of photos of my restful space here and send you all my warmest wishes for the future. In the meantime, I do wish you all the best in pursuing an authentic work and domestic life as highly sensitive people.

Warmest wishes,
Barbara 

 

Update from Ildiko Davis

I hope all of you are weathering well the current upheaval in the world. As highly sensitive people, you probably all feel the significance of what has been and is happening around us and this stirs intense feelings in us to hold. I hope you all have the resources and support you need to get through this. We have a bumper crop of news and resources to share with you below. Hopefully, you will find positive things here to counter balance somewhat all the alarming news that seems to fill the mainstream media these days. These feel like historic times to me that show our old systems struggling to cope with the consequences of what kind of world we have created. I know what that feels like by living through the crumbling away of the socialist systems in Easter Europe before they joined the democracies in Europe. I am hoping that painful as the current process maybe, something better can come out of it eventually. I believe we can all be part of that by responding with kindness, integrity, understanding and maturity to whatever is happening to us. Our highly sensitive intuition can be a powerful ally that can guide us through the uncertainties of these times, which the logical mind finds ever so challenging.

As Barbara have mentioned, even though the NCHS is closing, the work to raise awareness about high sensitivity and provide support for highly sensitive people will be continuing in various ways. I will continue to write the HSP News for you and include news, articles, interviews, videos and events that feel the the most important to share with HSPs. As you probably have signed up originally for the newsletter of the National Centre for High Sensitivity, of course you may not want to stay subscribed to the HSP News with all these changes. You can find a link to unsubscribe at the bottom of our issues, if you would prefer that. Please note that it will take some time to update all the details of this newsletter to reflect the changes mentioned to you. So, for this issue I have retained most of the previously used contact details and images that refer to the now closed NCHS.

I have agreed with Barbara Allen, to take over the old Meetup Group for the National Centre for High Sensitivity and renamed it Centre for High Sensitivity. It is important to point out that at the time of writing this issue, this is simply a Meetup group for HSPs, where events will be listed for highly sensitive people that are mainly organised by myself and occasionally by other HSP professionals.

There is also a new charity now called Vantage set up by Rosie Raleigh to campaign for HSPs in the UK.  Vantage campaigns to increase awareness and acceptance of high sensitivity and also offers corporate consultancy services, so that employers can help this 15-30% of their workforce feel less excluded, suffer fewer work-related health problems and perform at their best. They also run mindfulness based courses for HSPs. This is an exciting news and we wish Rosie and her team of expert advisers good luck with supporting the HSP community.

There are also some steps taken by the team of volunteers who have been supporting Barbara Allen and the work of the NCHS over the years to plan possible ways to continue the work of the NCHS in some shape and form. Perhaps this will be just a loose collaboration of HSP support professionals, so that together we can provide a range of events and support to HSPs without the bureaucracy of running an official organisation. There is also the possibility that another charity or non profit organisation will be set up with carefully thought out plans and structure to allow for sustainable ways to provide services and advocacy for highly sensitive people. We will let you know, if any of these plans will take some concrete shape. I would like to thank Barbara and everyone else involved for their work behind the scenes all these years to get us here and hopefully further ahead.

We do hope that you decide to remain readers of the HSP News and will continue to use the services and events that are listed here for your support and development as authentic and fulfilled highly sensitive people.

Warmly,
Ildiko

HSPs Working with Anxiety during the Pandemic

You may have noticed yourself that the current scary upheaval of the world has prompted a wide variety of free support and wisdom being shared generously. One of these has been by the ICHS - International Consultants on High Sensitivity, who made videos of discussions about a range of currently relevant topics for highly sensitive people. One of these is a very helpful discussion about keeping your anxiety levels under control during these challenging times, called: HSPs working with anxiety during the Epidemic.

You can also watch other supportive and insightful videos made for HSPs by the ICHS Panel and others at Alane Freund's Youtube channel or the Facebook group called ElaineAron & HighSensitivity/.

Our Meetup Groups for HSPs

Following the closing of the NCHS, Ildiko Davis, the editor of this newsletter has taken over as the organiser of the old Meetup Group for the NCHS. This Meetup group has been renamed Centre for High Sensitivity and it will be organising mainly online events for the HSP Community in the UK at https://www.meetup.com/Centre-for-High-Sensitivity/.

Barbara Allen, the Founder and ex-Director of the NCHS, will continue to run events for the HSPs organised via her Meetup group for HSPs at: https://www.meetup.com/Growing-Unlimited-Hampshire-HSPs/.  Barbara is also organising online events currently, and she will be hosting events in Hampshire again when the situation allows for that. 

Cindy Barnes, Counsellor and Author, is continuing to run two HSP Meetup Groups, that are currently holding online events for HSPs too. One is in London at https://www.meetup.com/London-HSP-Psychology/ and one in Cookham in Berkshire at https://www.meetup.com/Cookham-Highly-Sensitive-People-Community/ 

All these Meetup Groups organise currently free or low cost online events to support HSPs through the current upheaval of the world. You can find some of these in the events listing at the bottom of this newsletter. 

Barbara Allen's message for these hard times

I am delighted to share with you a heart warming and inspiring video from Barbara Allen, the Founder and ex-Director of the NCHS, which was made while she has been caught in the lockdown away from her home. Barbara encourages highly sensitive people to share their natural wisdom and be the emotional leaders that we are capable to be in times of crisis. Barbara has been clearly demonstrating herself this in her video  Watch the video...

HSP Support Directory 

We have migrated the Directory for  HSP Support Professionals  from the NCHS website to the blog of this HSP News at: 
https://nchsnews.wordpress.com/hsp-support-directory/

This way, we can keep this resource available for you, even when the NCHS website will not be available anymore. As before, professionals who would like to be listed in this directory would need to attend Barbara Allen's CPD for Professionals Introducing the trait of High Sensitivity or some equivalent level of training about High Sensitivity and then contact Ildiko Davis who will maintain the listing.

Staying Safe and Hopeful

Triple board-certified M.D., Dr. Zach, joins Del Bigtree in an evolutionary discussion on why Coronavirus is here, what it’s trying to tell us, and how we emerge from the darkness.

We rarely share anything here not specifically made for HSPs, but I believe this is all you need to know about keeping yourself safe and finding hope in these challenging times. It is a feature length discussion, which I have watched the second time just for entertainment, because it is informative, wise beyond words and provides the spiritual uplift and direction my soul has been longing for lately. Hope it gives something along those lines for you too. This is what us, HSPs can contribute to the world when we dare to speak our truth.  Watch the discussion...

The Highly Sensitive Person in Psychotherapy

A rare online webinar with Dr. N. Elaine Aron, Dr. Art Aron and Dr Michael Pluess


Supported by a significant body of university research, the presenters will propose that high sensitivity is not a psychopathology but a complex attribute, which opens portals to greater depths of processing, emotional responsivity and empathy, as well as awareness of subtleties. When attachments have been good, the highly sensitive person may flourish; when adverse, they are more prone than others to depression, anxiety and shyness in adulthood. Therapeutic work may need to include dealing with overstimulation and setting boundaries; managing stronger emotional reactions, particularly in relation to criticism; low self-esteem; and the need to reframe even a good childhood and work history. The presenters will also consider many aspects of a highly sensitive person’s needs: how to discuss the trait with them or their families; sensitivity and gender; issues in relationships; challenges at work, and differences in sexual style. Further details...

How to Deal with the Crisis when you are a Highly Sensitive Person

Dr. Elaine Aron shares her wisdom about coping with these testing times

Sometimes we benefit greatly by happy coincidences that come our way and pave our paths towards our purpose. I feel that it was one of those happy coincidences, when Dr. Elaine Aron, the leading researcher of Sensory Processing Sensitivity (more commonly known as high sensitivity) has got a delightful HSP filmmaker couple as her new neighbours. We have three films about high sensitivity now as a result of this (see the latest below) and now the helpful neighbour, the lovely Diana Sinelnikova, helped to create a YouTube channel for Dr. Elaine Aron and some very helpful videos to support you during the epidemic and beyond.    Visit Dr. Aron's YouTube channel...

New Sensitive Films

Exciting news for all highly sensitive people: Another film titled Sensitive and in Love and a documentary called Sensitive Lovers premiered recently that talks to the larger public about high sensitivity.  This will be an important feature film and an accompanying documentary not just to HSPs, but also to everyone, who suspects that their partner could be a highly sensitive person. These films potentially could save marriages and relationships, as they will increase understanding among couples about their innate differences. These films are by the same team who made the highly acclaimed documentary: Sensitive - The Untold Story. This time however, they decided to make a feature film about the topic of HSPs and love and a separate documentary that uses scenes from the film to explain the underlying science and give useful advice. The Sensitive and in Love film  and  The Sensitive Lovers documentary was funded by donations and fully supported by Dr. Elaine Aron.

Interview with Ildiko Davis

I wanted to share a link to a new podcast by one of our HSP Meetup group member, Phil Pell. He is interviewing the editor of this newsletter, Ildiko Davis, about high sensitivity (53mins). The interview covers a wide area of topics related to HSPs, so listen to it, if you want to increase your knowledge about high sensitivity and learn some tools to manage your sensitivity better.
Phil is planning to interview a wide range of interesting people in his podcast in the future, who can inspire you with different perspectives and alternative views about success and good ways to live.

Listen to the podcast..

Book for HSP Parents

I am delighted to report about the publication of Dr. Elaine Aron’s new book for highly sensitive parents: THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE PARENT - Be Brilliant in Your Role, Even When the World Overwhelms You.

Highly sensitive parents are uniquely attuned to their children, think deeply about every issue affecting their kids, and have strong emotions, both positive and negative, in response to parenting. Because of all of this, they also find parenting far more stressful than parents who are not highly sensitive. The Highly Sensitive Parent is a unique book that offers these parents strategies for handling stressors, as well as relationship issues that arise especially for this group. I am certain that it will be a valued resource for HSPs who are raising children  Read more..

Big Picture Living During a Time of Global Crisis

I am sharing here with you  an insightful article by Dr. Elaine Aron to give you some tips about coping during these challenging times as a highly sensitive person. She writes in the article: " I promise you, this will not last forever. Things always change. You can count on that, said the Buddha.  If things seem to be changing for the worse, you can count on them also changing for the better."    Read more..

HSP Meetups

If you would like information on Sensory Processing Sensitivity and meet other HSPs, do come along to some of these gently facilitated Meetups organised for highly sensitive people.
 

Andover, Hampshire (currently online)

- 26th June 5:00-6:00pm
- 9th July 5:30-6:30pm

Join and RSVP  on Meetup.com
 

Online HSP Meetup via Zoom

- 18th June 7:00-8:30pm
- 16th July 7:00-8:30pm
- 17th Sept 7:00-8:30pm
   

Cookham Rise, Berkshire (currently online)

Check this Meetup group for dates for HSP meetings and other kind of events for HSPs.

Join and RSVP on Meetup.com
 

London HSP Psychology and Social Group (currently online)

Check this Meetup group for dates for HSP meetings and other kind of events for HSPs.

Join and RSVP on Meetup.com

 

Other HSP Events

RSVP and see further details about the events at the links below.

The Highly Sensitive Person in Psychotherapy - Live webinar by Elaine Aron, Dr. Arthur Aron, Michael Pluess
25th July, Online via Zoom
Price includes a recording of the event with access for a year
Links to Details & RSVP (£60)

Online Meetup for HSP Support Professionals  -  by Ildiko  Davis
6th Aug, Online via Zoom 
Links to Details & RSVP (£5)

HSP Men Event - by Marcus James & Barbara Allen
10th Oct, Andover, Hampshire
Links to Details & RSVP (£40)

National HSP Gathering 2021- by Barbara Allen
Date TBC, UK venue TBC
Links to Details & express interest
"Community means strength that joins our strength to do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter. A circcle of healing. A circle of friends. Someplace where we can be free." - Starhawk
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If you would like to continue to receive free updates about HSP related articles and events, please subscribe to this newsletter. I hope the few simple steps this requires will be well worth it for you. We take your privacy very seriously and will not share your details with anyone. Also, our newsletters will be about 6 monthly, to save time for both of us :) Subscribe here... 

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding our newsletter, HSP events / meetups feel free to contact our team below. Click on the name to send us an e-mail.

Barbara Allen
Founder, Growing Unlimited Consultancy
& National Centre for High Sensitivity CIC

HSP Meetup Facilitator in Hampshire
NCHS Workshop Facilitator / Trainer
(top photo on right)

Ildiko Davis
NCHS Newsletter Editor
HSP Mentor, Counsellor and Focusing Practitioner
Online HSP Meetup Facilitator
(bottom photo on right )
Basics Corner - If you are new to the concept of high sensitivity, you can find links here to information that you may find easier to digest. Following the links will give you a good introduction to some important aspects of Sensory Processing Sensitivity. This information will be on all our newsletters, so newcomers can find a good place to start their information gathering.

Start to find out more: 

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