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.
Web sites with information about being an HSP

Dr. Elaine Aron's web site. Dr. Aron wrote the book "The Highly Sensitive Person, and is considered the leading expert on High Sensitivity.

Jacquelyn Strickland's web site. Jacquelyn Strickland is an HSP, as well as a counselor, coach and the organizer of the annual HSP Gatherings. Her practice is based in Ft. Collins, CO.

Ted Zeff's web site. Ted Zeff is author of "The Highly Sensitive Person's Survival Guide," and "The Highly Sensitive Person's Companion." In 2010, he will be releasing a much anticipated book about Highly Sensitive Men.

Thomas Eldridge's web site. Thomas Eldridge is an HSP, and a counselor, coach, mentor and guide for HSPs. His web site contains lots of helpful information and resources for HSPs. His "HSP resource directory" is extensive.

Cliff Harwin's web site. Based in northern New Jersey, Cliff Harwin is an HSP, author and host of a group called the Highly Sensitive Person Friendship Circle.

The HSP Notes blog. Published since 2002, this is the web's oldest "all HSP focused" blog, with 100s of articles, as well as links to many HSP related resources.
Connecting with Other HSPs: Discussion groups, HSP Gatherings, etc.

The focus of our particular site is on HSPs living in the New England states, and naturally you're encouraged to join our "home" discussion group. Just click on the purple button at upper left to join! However, there are many other discussion groups out there in cyberspace. Some are very large and cater to the entire world, while others focus in on a specific interest, like "HS Children" or "HSP artists." The following are some of the more significant groups currently active:

HSPbook Discussion group on Yahoo. This is the oldest (active since 1999) as well as one of the largest HSP-only discussion groups in cyberspace, with over 1500 members and lively discussion on many different topics related to the HSP experience. Yahoo ID required.

HSPwork Discussion group on Yahoo. A "specialty" HSP discussion group specifically dedicated to the exploration of Highly Sensitive People and work, originally started to discuss Barrie Jaeger's book "Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive Person." Yahoo ID required.

HSChild Discussion group on Yahoo. Another "specialty" HSP discussion group, this one focused on Highly Sensitive Children, and parenting highly sensitive children. Very active group with 500+ members. Yahoo ID required.

There are also HSP Groups on several of the major social networking and social bookmarking sites. A social network (Facebook, MySpace) may not seem like the sort of place you'd find HSPs, but there are some fairly sizeable HSP communities on these giant web sites. Membership in a group does require you to be member of that social networking/social bookmarking site:

Highly Sensitive Person on StumbleUpon (about 1550 members)
Highly Sensitive Souls on Facebook (about 1500 members)
HSP - Highly Sensitive Person on Facebook (about 1600 members)


About the HSP Gatherings:

Jacquelyn Strickland's HSP Gathering page. News and schedules of the periodic "HSP Gatherings" around the US and overseas. If you'd like to really experience other HSPs as a "full immersion experience," consider attending an HSP Gatherings. These events typically last 3-5 days and include workshops, study groups, social activities and fellowship.

Other possibilities for HSPs to connect:

The HSP World Network. Launched in 2009, the HSP World Network is a global membership organization for Highly Sensitive People, created to facilitate connections between HSPs. The Network not only helps HSPs gather in groups, workshops and for social events, it also offers a Travel Home Stay program where HSPs can inexpensively stay with other HSPs when they are traveling.

The Highly Sensitive Person Friendship Circle. Although not exactly "here," HSP Author Cliff Harwin hosts an HSP group in northern New Jersey, which does include some members from the southern parts of New England. The group mixes face-to-face meetings in various locations with teleconferences, both formats in a supportive and HSP-friendly environment.

The Boston Nerd Fun Group. Although not specifically a group for HSPs, the group's founder-- Heather-- is an HSP and long-time member of many online HSP groups, and she tells me many people in the group are also HSPs. Group members meet to do anything from go to museums and exhibits, to attending science lectures. The group has 2000+ members who divide into smaller "interest" groups to go to various events. A typical month may have 15-20 events, each attended by anywhere from a handful to several dozen people.
Tribe Magazine: The quarterly magazine for HSPs, created by HSPs

Launched in the fall of 2009, "Tribe" is new quarterly publication for the Highly Sensitive Person. Content is as varied as HSPs, themselves, and includes poetry, photography, fiction, personal stories, how-to articles and pretty much anything else related to life as an HSP. The magazine keeps itself highly relevant, as all content is created by members of the growing worldwide HSP community.

To learn more about the magazine (highly recommended!) visit Tribe Magazine's web site. You can also go directly to the magazine's publication page, where you can order a printed copy of the magazine.

"Tribe" is not just a magazine, it's also a community for HSPs. All HSPs are invited to become part of the community-- and if you're a writer, poet or photographer, you can submit your work for consideration to be included in future copies of the magazine. I highly recommend joining the HSP Tribe Forum!