West Coast 2002 Breakout Sessions

Walker Creek Ranch
Descriptions of the BREAKOUT GROUP TOPICS and FACILITATORS:

Gathering of Highly Sensitive Men
Sensitive males in this culture must deal with a unique set of problems. This is a chance for sensitive men to talk together. Possible topics for discussion include: Attitudes towards HSM and stereotypes (Our own prejudices about "soft men."), finding a partner, work issues, sexual orientation, success through aggression, toughness, and insensitivity in war and business; and coping strategies to deal with being a highly sensitive man.

Spencer Koffman, MFT is a licensed psychotherapist with a private practice in San Francisco. He specializes in working with highly sensitive men and women.

Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory
"What you are is God's gift to you...what you become is your gift to God" and "Gifts Differing" describes my philosophy in utilizing the MBTI as a gift for understanding ourselves and how we operate in the world. We'll discuss this in light of our sensitivity, and gain tips on manifesting our gifts in the world!

Jacquelyn Strickland is a licensed professional counselor in Ft. Collins, Colorado who left her heart in San Francisco while living near Golden Gate Park in the 1970s. She works exclusively with HSPs and also offers Women Outdoors wilderness experiences in the mountains of Colorado.

Note: Myers-Briggs Inventory has an additional $25 materials fee, payable with your registration.

Coping Skills and the HSP
We will discuss ways to think about, respond to, and contend with challenges and situations that wear us down.

Marcia Norris is an artist and designer working as a Web Producer for a Petaluma, CA software company. She has worked with Elaine Aron over the past six years to produce the Comfort Zone newsletter and HSPerson.com.

Self-Expression Through Art
Among all the talking and listening about your trait, take some time to capture and process all the new information and create a visual record of your experience. This session is primarily hands-on, but art experience is not required.

Marcia Norris is an artist and designer working as a Web Producer for a Petaluma, CA software company. She has worked with Elaine Aron over the past six years to produce the Comfort Zone newsletter and HSPerson.com.

Art Expression: please bring what you can of drawing paper, crayons or colored pencils, pastels or pens, a handful of magazines with pictures, scissors and gluestick.

Sensitivity in the Workplace
Are HSP sensitivities a liability or an asset in work? In this seminar we¹ll explore those circumstances that make our sensitivities a hindrance or a benefit in the workplace. Sometimes we sacrifice one sensitivity for another, and pay the price. We'll discuss environmental conditions, workplace bullies, stress that follows us home or choosing jobs for the wrong reasons. Then we'll flip the picture and see how we can make our sensitivities an asset so that we can work and grow in a way that is healing and creative.

Barrie Jaeger, Ph.D. is a writer and speaker on the meaning of work and our need for a calling and works extensively on the issues of HSPs and work. She writes articles on work for the Comfort Zone and is writing a book on work for HSPs.

In Retrospect: How I've Grown as an HSP Since Last Year's Gathering
There seems to be a difference in well-being between HSPs who live in awareness and are educated about the concept, and those who are just discovering their HSPness. Come and hear how veteran HSPs have grown, and dealt with their sensitivity, what they've learned, and what they are up to.

Speakers will be a panel of HSPs who attended last year's gathering. Facilitator: TBA

Close Relationships with HSPs from a Non-HSP Perspective
Learn how HSPs and non-HSPs can view each other, and complement and enrich each other rather than derogate and argue. Art will share a bit of his experience as a beginning to the discussion of issues.

Arthur Aron, a non-HSP, has shared his life for thirty years with an HSP (Elaine). Art is a published author and on faculty at SUNY.

Temperaments: Looking at the Lifespan
Explore eight inherited temperament traits, including several aspects of sensitivity, but also some independent of it. The goal will be to see how these other traits influence the expression of your sensitivity and your experiences, from childhood until the present.

Jan Kristal is an M.A. and HSP and temperament counselor. Jan has written for Comfort Zone.

Dreams
This session will discuss ways to understand and work with your dreams. Group members will have the chance to work on their own dreams if they wish.

Jay Lewis earned his doctorate from UC Santa Cruz, in the History of Consciousness program. He is a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Santa Cruz, CA.

Spiritual Paths
Discuss the various spiritual paths and forms of Eastern and Western meditation, including the esoteric/Christian traditions (Tarot, Quabalah, alchemy), as well as whatever group members wish to share.

Jay Lewis earned his doctorate from UC Santa Cruz, in the History of Consciousness program. He is a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Santa Cruz, CA