Therapy for Highly Sensitive People (HSP) in San Francisco + Marin county, CA

Therapy with me is a collaborative and compassionate process. I work with adults and teens who identify as highly sensitive, introspective, or creative. Many of my clients struggle with feeling overstimulated, anxious, or disconnected from themselves or others. Our sessions are designed to help you understand your emotional patterns, heal from past trauma, and reconnect with your authentic self.

I integrate approaches such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), art therapy, somatic awareness, and, when appropriate, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Each session is personalized. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach. My goal is to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered to make meaningful changes at your own pace.

If you find yourself stuck in patterns of overthinking, self-doubt, people-pleasing, or emotional overwhelm, therapy can be a supportive and effective next step. Many of my clients come to therapy because they feel anxious in social settings, struggle with imposter syndrome, or notice that past experiences continue to shape their current relationships and sense of self.

You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Sometimes, the most powerful work begins when you’re simply curious about why you feel the way you do and ready to experience life with more ease, clarity, and confidence.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based form of trauma therapy that helps people process and reconsolidate distressing memories and reduce the emotional charge these experiences continue to have in the present. Instead of talking through every detail of a painful experience, EMDR helps the brain reprocess those memories so they no longer feel as activating in the present.

This approach is especially helpful for clients with trauma histories, social anxiety, or chronic self-doubt. Many highly sensitive people (HSPs) find EMDR particularly supportive because it works gently with the nervous system and doesn’t require rehashing painful stories. Over time, clients often report feeling calmer, more grounded, and better able to handle stress and triggers.

Masking refers to the tendency to hide or suppress parts of yourself, be it your emotions, needs, humor, or authentic personality, in order to fit in, avoid judgment, or stay safe. It’s common among HSPs, trauma survivors, and those with social anxiety or imposter syndrome.

In therapy, we explore where these protective patterns came from and how they’ve helped you survive in the past. We also work to gently unlearn them, so you can show up more authentically in relationships and feel comfortable being yourself without the fear of being “too much” or “not enough.” 

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) combines the therapeutic effects of ketamine, a fast-acting medication shown to support neuroplasticity and emotional healing, with psychotherapy in a safe, supportive setting.

Clients who engage in KAP often experience breakthroughs in processing long-held emotional pain, trauma, or patterns of depression that have felt resistant to traditional talk therapy. During sessions, you’ll have support before, during, and after your experience to help integrate insights into daily life.

KAP can be especially beneficial for clients experiencing chronic depression, anxiety, or emotional blocks. All KAP sessions are conducted in partnership with a medical provider with attention to eligibility, safety and integration of the experience.

You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from art therapy. Art therapy uses forms of creative expression like drawing, painting, collage, or other mediums, as a way to access emotions and experiences that may be hard to put into words.

Art therapy helps clients externalize complex feelings, reduce anxiety, and gain insight into unconscious thoughts and patterns. For highly sensitive people and trauma survivors, it can offer a grounding, nonverbal way to explore healing at a pace that feels safe and empowering.

A Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is someone with a finely tuned nervous system who processes information and emotions deeply. About 15–20% of people fall into this category, a trait identified by psychologist Dr. Elaine Aron.

HSPs often notice subtleties in their environment, feel deeply affected by others’ moods, and need time to recharge after social or sensory stimulation. In therapy, we work on understanding your sensitivity as a strength, developing tools to regulate overstimulation, set boundaries, and embrace your sensitivity in order to engage meaningfully in your relationships, work, and interests.

You may benefit from trauma-informed therapy if you:

• Experience difficulty regulating your emotions

• Feel detached or numb

• Experience an exaggerated startle response or experience hypervigilance

• Have experienced relationship patterns rooted in fear or shame

• Struggle with physical tension, exhaustion, or burnout

• Struggle with intrusive memories or avoidance of reminders

Therapy provides a safe space to process these experiences at your own pace. Through approaches like EMDR, somatic awareness, and mindful grounding, you can reestablish a sense of safety, self-trust, and empowerment.

Yes! This is one of my specialties. Many of my clients struggle with social anxiety, especially those who are highly sensitive, introverted, or creative. We work on understanding the root of these fears, often tied to early experiences of judgment, rejection, or perfectionism.

If you experience imposter syndrome, therapy can help you uncover the underlying beliefs that fuel self-doubt and comparison. Over time, we’ll replace those patterns with self-compassion and authenticity, helping you feel more confident in both professional and personal settings.

Our first session is about connection and understanding. You’ll have space to share what’s bringing you to therapy, what you’ve tried so far, and what you’d like to change. I’ll ask some gentle questions to learn about your background and goals, and we’ll begin to outline a plan that feels right for you.

Most clients begin with weekly sessions, which provide enough consistency to create meaningful change towards your initial goals. As therapy progresses and you feel more grounded, we may shift to biweekly sessions.

The length of therapy depends on your goals, history, and pace of healing. Some people see noticeable shifts in a few months, while others choose longer-term therapy for ongoing personal growth and self-understanding.

Yes. I offer secure online therapy sessions for clients located anywhere in California, North Carolina, and Florida. Many clients appreciate the flexibility and privacy of virtual sessions, especially highly sensitive people who feel more comfortable processing in their own space or have busy work schedules..

Online therapy can be just as effective as in-person sessions, and I use HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms to ensure your confidentiality and comfort.

Getting started is simple.

1. Schedule a free 20-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit.

2. If you decide to move forward, I’ll send a secure intake packet to complete before your first session.

3. We’ll meet for a 60-minute session to begin exploring what’s bringing you to therapy and how I can help.

From there, we’ll create a plan that fits your needs and goals at a pace that honors your sensitivity and your process.

My areas of focus include:

• Anxiety, panic, and overthinking

• Social anxiety and imposter syndrome

• Trauma and complex PTSD

• Highly Sensitive People (HSPs)

• Burnout and emotional exhaustion

• Creative blocks (artists, writers, musicians)

• Life transitions and identity exploration

• Integration of psychedelic or ketamine experiences

Each of these challenges is approached with compassion, curiosity, and evidence-based care.

That’s completely normal, especially for HSPs or those who’ve felt misunderstood in past therapeutic or relational settings. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start.

Therapy is a space where it’s safe to not know, to explore, and to take things one step at a time. My approach is gentle, supportive, and rooted in building trust. Over time, you’ll likely find yourself feeling more grounded, self-aware, and confident in navigating life’s challenges.