Created 2008/08/04 Modified 2009/11/17
The Boston and New England Highly Sensitive Person Group
A discussion, support and social group for HSPs in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island and Vermont.
October 2008 East Coast HSP Gathering >>
The 2008 East Coast HSP Gathering
October 2-6, 2008
at Menla Mountain Retreat Center, Phoenicia, New York
A Gathering of Highly Sensitive Persons from around the US, Canada and beyond!
First Gathering in the East in three years!
The event took place at the Menla Mountain Retreat and Conference Center in Phoenicia (about 2 hours north of New York City), and was attended by approximately 30 HSPs from around the US, as well as from Canada. The retreat center sits on 320 private acres in the heart of Catskill Park, and typifies the kind of "HSP Friendly" venue chosen for HSP Gatherings. The venue is just 225 miles from Boston, 150 miles from Hartford.
Workshop presenters and activities at the 2008 East Coast Gathering:
Jacquelyn Strickland: Presented workshops on "Deeper HSP Dialogue through the Conversation Cafe method" and "The Myers Briggs Personality Inventory for HSPs."
Sarah O'Doherty: Workshop on Using Energy Medicine for HSP Self-Care and Wellness
Elaine Aron presented recent work on "HSPs and Self-Esteem" to the group on Sunday afternoon via teleconference, followed by a Q&A session.
Non-workshop activities included Creativity Night, Music and Dance Night and Art Night, as well as plenty of general free time to simply socialize and get to know other participants. One day was set aside as "free" time, for participants to enjoy hiking and trips to nearby towns.
Next HSP Gathering: Although not in our immediate area, plans are currently in the works for an HSP Gathering to be held in April 2010 at Black Mountain, North Carolina. If you're interested in learning more about current and future HSP Gatherings, do visit Jacquelyn Strickland's web site for more information!
I don't like groups-- why should I go to an HSP Gathering?
Gatherings are about learning, about going on a retreat, and about fellowship with other HSPs. We spend Thursday through Monday together, engaged in a mixture of workshops, social time, and just "quiet time" to reflect on the ongoing experience. I cannot overstate the "value" of going to an HSP Gathering. I say this from the perspective of what I have personally gained from going to seven previous Gatherings... as well as from the perspective of watching 100s of HSPs experience major life transformations as a result of attending.
You might say "yeah, but it's a GROUP!" True. It is. And many HSPs have had negative experiences with groups. But I can also assure you that a group of HSPs is like NO other group you'll ever be part of. The level of emotional safety, validation and inclusion is-- literally-- "mind altering" for attendees... I have watched the MOST retiring and introverted of HSPs virtually "become extraverts," in a matter of 48 hours, as they discover that they are among people where they can be "100% themselves," without having to worry about someone thinking they are "odd" or "too sensitive."
If you are skeptical, or just want to get a better sense of how a Gathering really works, I encourage you to read Gathering attendee Marcia Norris' words on "Why HSPs Need To Gather" or read the online photojournals from a couple of previous Gatherings.
