Sensitive Feelers and Empath Group
Register Now!APISA Sensitive Feelers and Empath Group
A compassionate space for all Asian Pacific Islander South Asian adults (21+) to share their Sensitivity and Empath experiences, receive support, and learn skills.
WHO
Open to all Asian Pacific Islander South Asian adults (21+) anywhere in the US
COST
$300 for all 8 sessions; sliding scale & payment plans available
WHAT
Support group, self-exploration tools and skills development and building/sharing of resources
TIME
TBD
WHERE
Zoom link to be sent upon signup
WHEN
Possible start date in May 2023.
GROUP GOALS
Group members will have a deeper understanding of their sensitivity, uncover their unique strengths, gain new tools to care for themselves, and start developing a community with other Sensitive Feelers & Empath
WEEK 1
Being Sensitive within the APISA Community
- What does it mean to be sensitive?
- How do others view sensitivity?
- What were some cultural messages around being sensitive?
WEEK 2
Getting to know your sensitivity
- Self-Assessment
- Tuning in to the body: Physical sensations and emotions
- Introduction to WOT
WEEK 3
Care of your sensitive self in a cultural context
- Follow up on reactions/reflections
- Sharing ways to cope with overarousal
- Learn Shielding against energies / Umbrella Walk
WEEK 4
Discover your strengths & weaknesses/struggles
- Different Flavors of Sensitivity
- How has culture shaped how we see these/our flavor of being a Sensitive Feeler/Empath
- Inventory of assets and weaknesses for sensitive feelers
WEEK 5
Reframe your past experiences & Self-compassion
- Explore past experiences
- Self-confidence and how we understand this event in light of our sensitivity
- 'Perfect Ally'
WEEK 6
Sensitivity & Relationships
- What are the impacts of being highly sensitive on your close relationships?
- Communication of needs and getting people to understand within the APISA cultural lens
- Mindful Communication Exercise
WEEK 7
Empaths and Sensitive Feelers in the Social World
- Exploring shyness & the cultural notions around it
- Analyzing our flops
- Philosophy to share
WEEK 8
Celebrating your sensitivity
- Celebrating our sensitive perception
- Personal Reactions/Experiences of the Group
- Resources and closure
This support group was formerly called “The Highly Sensitive Person” Group. It has been one of our most popular and successful groups, offering group members a space to share their experiences and learn to navigate their sensitivity, including how their sensitivity intersects with their Asian/Asian American identities. However, it has come to our attention that the term “Highly Sensitive Person” (or HSP) that was first coined by Psychologist Elaine Aron has been used by some professionals to foster stigma against the autistic community, associating the term with an ableist sentiment. Here at YCC, inclusivity and diversity are our core values, and we have relied on individual participants’ self-identification of HSP regardless of having other identities/diagnoses or no diagnosis. After much consideration, we have decided to step away from using the term HSP while still upholding a space where empathic and sensitive experiences can still be discussed. We will continue to provide a welcoming space for all those who identify as an empath or sensitive feeler or simply want to process their experiences of sensitivity.