Therapy for Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) & Empaths
Dr. Christine Henry is a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience. She provides online therapy for highly sensitive people (HSPs), empaths, and deep feelers who struggle with emotional overwhelm, people pleasing, boundaries, and burnout. Available throughout Texas and PSYPACT states.
Have You Spent Your Life Being Told You're Too Sensitive?
"You're overthinking it."
"Why do you take everything so personally?"
"Just say no. It's not that difficult."
"Why are you always so tired?"
Maybe you've spent years trying to toughen up, stop overthinking, or not let things bother you so much.
But you still notice things other people miss, feel deeply affected by other people's emotions, and need more downtime than those around you.
And you're tired of feeling like there's something wrong with you for being this way.
What Does It Mean to Be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)?
Highly sensitive people tend to process experiences deeply, notice things others miss, and become overwhelmed more easily by sensory or emotional demands.
You might pick up on subtle changes in someone's mood, feel exhausted after a busy day, or need more time alone to recharge.
Being highly sensitive can also mean experiencing joy, connection, music, nature, and relationships more deeply.
Being sensitive isn't something you need to fix. But understanding your sensitivity can help you figure out what you need rather than constantly pushing yourself to keep up with everyone else.
The world isn't always accommodating of highly sensitive people. But that doesn't mean you have to keep pushing yourself to fit into it. We can work on creating a life that better supports your needs.
Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
You feel things deeply. Even a small criticism or perceived rejection can stay with you for days.
You struggle to say no. You worry about disappointing people and often put their comfort ahead of your own.
Your surroundings can overwhelm you. Loud restaurants, bright lights, strong smells, or uncomfortable clothing can be exhausting.
You replay conversations in your head. You analyze what happened, what someone meant, or what you could have done differently.
You need time to recover. Even enjoyable social activities can leave you needing a day to yourself.
You feel misunderstood. You've spent years being told you're too emotional, too sensitive, or making a big deal out of nothing.
Not all of these experiences are part of being highly sensitive itself. Some may come from years of having your needs dismissed or feeling responsible for other people's emotions.
Are you tired of people not believing you and seeking support with new strategies? Schedule a free 20-minute video consultation with me to see how I can help. We will meet over video and discuss the goals you have and see if I would be a good match for your needs Fill out a contact form, and I'll email you to set it up. (no phone call required).
How Can Therapy Help Highly Sensitive People?
My goal isn't to help you become less sensitive. It's to help you understand yourself better and figure out what works for you.
In therapy, we might explore:
Understanding your needs. Recognizing what overwhelms you, what helps you recharge, and how to make everyday life more manageable.
Setting boundaries. Learning to say no, ask for what you need, and stop feeling responsible for everyone else's happiness.
Managing emotional overwhelm. Understanding your reactions, recognizing when you're reaching your limits, and finding ways to support yourself.
Exploring relationship patterns. Looking at how family experiences, past relationships, and years of feeling misunderstood may still affect you today.
Letting go of unrealistic expectations. Understanding perfectionism, people pleasing, and why you might expect so much more from yourself than from others.
Building healthier relationships. Finding ways to connect with people without constantly sacrificing your own needs.
We can also work on changing the way you talk to yourself, especially if you've spent years believing you're too sensitive, too emotional, or too much.
What's It Like to Sit With Me?
Therapy shouldn't be another place where you feel like you have to ignore your own needs to make someone else comfortable.
Want to keep the lights low? Go for it. Need to grab a snack or let your dog out because the sound of their paw licking is driving you nuts? I totally get it.
I'm pretty conversational and direct, and I like to bring some humor into our sessions. You don't have to organize your thoughts or worry about being too emotional.
And if I say something that doesn't sit right with you, I want to know. We can talk about it. You don't have to worry about hurting my feelings.
Ready to Make Some Changes?
If you've spent years trying to be less sensitive, worrying about everyone else's feelings, or pushing yourself past your limits, maybe it's time to try something different.
We can work on understanding your needs, setting boundaries, and making life a little easier without trying to change who you are.
I offer a free 20 minute video consultation so we can talk about what you're looking for and whether we'd be a good fit. Just fill out my contact form, and I'll email you to set it up. No phone call needed.
Contact me for a Free 20-minute Consultation to see how I can help. (No phone call needed).
HSP Therapy available in Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Texas, Indianapolis, Columbus, Ohio and several other cities. See therapy locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I pay close attention to sensory needs, pacing, and how deeply you process information. Many highly sensitive people feel rushed or dismissed in other therapy spaces. Here, we slow things down, make space for reflection, and focus on approaches that fit the way your nervous system works.
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Yes. If you're constantly monitoring how other people feel, worrying about upsetting them, or putting their needs ahead of your own, we can explore where those patterns came from.
You can care deeply about people without feeling responsible for keeping everyone happy.
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Not exactly, although there can be a lot of overlap. Sensory sensitivities, emotional overwhelm, and needing time alone to recharge can be part of several different experiences.
Some people identify as HSP only. Others identify as HSP and autistic, ADHD, or AuDHD. Some adults who have identified as highly sensitive for years later discover they're autistic or have ADHD.
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Sometimes crying or shutting down is how your body responds when things become too much. Sensory overload, stress, exhaustion, and past experiences can all contribute.
In therapy, we can work on understanding these reactions, recognizing when you're reaching your limits, and figuring out what helps.
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I don’t bill insurance directly, but I can provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance company to see if they’ll reimburse you for out-of-network services. Many of my clients prefer private pay because it keeps their diagnosis and records fully private, avoids session limits, and lets us work at a pace that actually supports long-term healing rather than insurance timelines.
How Does Being Highly Sensitive Affect Emotions and Relationships?
Being highly sensitive can mean noticing subtle changes in other people's moods, feeling deeply affected by conflict, or becoming overwhelmed by sensory and emotional demands. While sensitivity can contribute to empathy and connection, it can also make it harder to recognize your own needs, especially if you've spent years putting others first.
Understanding these patterns can help you develop boundaries, recognize what belongs to you emotionally, and find ways to care for yourself without having to become less sensitive.
The articles below explore high sensitivity, empathy, people-pleasing, and how these experiences can overlap with ADHD and autism.
Understanding High Sensitivity
High Sensitivity Is Not Autism — Erin Bulluss & Rachel Samson (2025)
Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Overstimulation in Daily Life — Weyn and colleagues (2025)
Emotional Sensitivity, People-Pleasing & Boundaries
Why Highly Sensitive People Overgive — Sharon Martin (2026)
How Highly Sensitive People Can Set Better Boundaries — Mary Kate Roohan (2025)
Feeling Other People's Emotions & Sensations
Some people feel deeply affected by others' emotions, while others experience physical sensations when observing someone else's experiences. These aren't necessarily the same thing, and not all highly sensitive people experience them.
Pain Empathy — The Synesthesia Tree
The Lived Experience of Mirror-Touch Synaesthesia: A Qualitative Investigation of Empathy and Social Life — University of Sussex research
Explore More Resources
Are you still figuring out what being highly sensitive means for you? Or maybe you're not ready to start therapy and would rather explore things on your own first.
I've put together a collection of neurodivergence resources where you can learn more about ADHD, autism, sensory differences, emotional regulation, relationships, and finding accommodations that work for you.
There's no rush to figure everything out. Sometimes reading about other people's experiences is a helpful place to start.
