Supporting the Highly Sensitive Parent:
Understanding the Challenges and Strengths of HSPs in the Perinatal Period
(Approved for the Psychotherapy/Mental Health Track Advanced Training as well as CE for maintaining PMH-C)
Clock Hours: 3
Asynchronous Recorded Webinar
Target Audience: behavioral health and social workers who serve in the role of counseling/therapy.
Content Description
This Advanced level course will help one to understand the HSP trait, how it manifests in clients, how to differentiate High Sensitivity from clinical diagnoses, and how to effectively support and treat HSP clients in their practice.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
1. Consider the 3 elements of the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) trait as it presents in diverse populations.
2. Consider 3 ways this trait impacts perinatal mental health.
3. Analyze the relationship between the HSP Trait and 3 common perinatal diagnoses.
4. Formulate a comprehensive treatment plan for HSP individuals including at least 3 objectives.
5. Produce 2 evidence-based interventions to reduce symptomology and distress in perinatal clients.
Presenter Name and Qualifications:
Amy Lajiness , LCSW, PMH-C
Amy is a trainer at Nurturing Mamas Network, a psychotherapist and mother of two young boys who is passionate about supporting parents as they adjust to the physical, mental, emotional, and relational changes that a new little one can bring. Amy has completed Advanced Perinatal Mental Health training and Certification through Postpartum Support International (PSI), is a Certified HSP-Knowledgeable Therapist, and is also Certified as an Ecotherapist, empowering her to bring nature-based mindfulness skills to parents. Amy has a private practice in San Diego, Inner Nature Therapy, and is the creator of Highly Sensitive Parenthood, an online resource center for Highly Sensitive (HSP) parents and children.
In this recorded asynchronous distance course, attendees will watch a recorded video from a webinar held on 12/08/2025. **Please Note: To meet continuing education requirements, full participation is required. the platform monitors viewing time, and skipping or fast-forwarding through content will be recorded as incomplete, which will restrict access to subsequent modules. Please view all sections in full before moving forward.** Course completion requirements: behavioral health and social workers must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for ce credit. Behavioral Health and social workers must pass the posttest with 80% in 3 attempts to be eligible for ce credit. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 2 business days of course completion.
Nurturing Mamas Network has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7232. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Nurturing Mamas Network is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Nurturing Mamas Network, provider #2686, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Workers Board (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 11/14/2025- 11/14/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits.
If a participant or potential participant would like to express a concern about his/her experience with Nurturing Mamas Network, he/she may call or e-mail Felicia Hurst at felicia@nurturingmamasnetwork.com. Although we do not guarantee a particular outcome, the individual can expect us to consider the complaint, make any necessary decisions and respond within 30 days.
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00:00–00:30 Introduction & Learning Objectives – Overview of goals, outline of session Lecture
00:30–01:00 Core Content Part 1 – Presentation of foundational concepts Lecture + Case Example
01:00–01:30 Core Content Part 2 – Applied strategies and interventions Lecture + Group Discussion
01:30–02:00 Experiential/Practice – Role-play, mindfulness, skill application Experiential Activity
02:00-02:10 Break
02:10–02:30 Integration – Clinical implications, case applications Reflection + Discussion
02:30–03:00 Q&A / Closing – Wrap-up, open discussion Group Discussion
03:00–03:05 Evaluations Completed – Non-CE time Non-CE Activity
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Aron, E. N., Aron, A., Nardone, N., & Zhou, S. (2019). Sensory processing sensitivity and the subjective experience of parenting: An exploratory study. Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 68(4), 420–435.
Aron, E. (2022, December 12). 2021 research on HSPs. The Highly Sensitive Person. https://hsperson.com/2021-research-on-hsps/
Aron, E. (2020). The Highly Sensitive Parent: Be brilliant in your role, even when the world overwhelms you. Citadel Press.
Bas, S., Kaandorp, M., de Kleijn, Z. P., Braaksma, W. J., Bakx, A. W., & Greven, C. U. (2021). Experiences of adults high in the personality trait sensory processing sensitivity: A qualitative study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(21), 4912.
Cloostermans, S. (2023, August 7). Postpartum mental health 101: Postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, & more. A Therapist’s Advice. https://atherapistsadvice.com/2023/08/07/postpartum-mental-health-101-postpartum-depression-postpartum-anxiety-more/
David, S., Brown, L. L., Heemskerk, A. M., Aron, E., Leemans, A., & Aron, A. (2022). Sensory processing sensitivity and axonal microarchitecture: identifying brain structural characteristics for behavior.Brain Structure and Function, 227(8), 2769-2785.
Greven, C. U., Lionetti, F., Booth, C., Aron, E. N., Fox, E., Schendan, H. E., Pluess, M., Bruining, H., Acevedo, B., Bijttebier, P., & Homberg, J. (2019). Sensory Processing Sensitivity in the context of Environmental Sensitivity: A critical review and development of research agenda. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 98, 287–305.
Hoffmann, A., Marhenke, R., & Sachse, P. (2022). Sensory processing sensitivity predicts performance in an emotional antisaccade paradigm. Acta psychologica, 222, 103463.
Holzer, J.M., Dale, G, & Baird, J. (2024) People with sensory processing sensitivity connect strongly to nature across five dimensions. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy 20, 1, 2341493.
Jagiellowicz, J., Aron, A., & Aron, E. N. (2016). Relationship between the temperament trait of sensory processing sensitivity and emotional reactivity. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 44(2), 185-199.
Kenemore, J., Chavez, J., & Benham, G. (2023). The pathway from sensory processing sensitivity to physical health: Stress as a mediator. Stress and Health, 39(5), 1148-1156.
Machingura, T., Kaur, G., Lloyd, C., Mickan, S., Shum, D., Rathbone, E., & Green, H. (2020). An exploration of sensory processing patterns and their association with demographic factors in healthy adults. Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 48(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOT-12-2018-0025
Malewska, K., Chomicki, M., & Nowak, P. (2024). Intuition in decision-making in the context of highly sensitive persons. Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology. Organization & Management / Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Śląskiej. Seria Organizacji i Zarządzanie, (205).
Pluess, M., Aron, E., Kähkönen, J. E., Lionetti, F., Yuanyuan, H., Tillman, T., Greven, C., & Aron, A. (2024). Evolution of the concept of sensitivity and its measurement: The Highly Sensitive Person Scale – Revised. PsyArXiv. https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/w7bqu
Pluess, M., & Boniwell, I. (2015). Sensory-processing sensitivity predicts treatment response to a school-based depression prevention program: Evidence of vantage sensitivity. Personality and Individual Differences, 82, 40–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.03.011
Tabak, B. A., Gupta, D., Sunahara, C. S., Alvi, T., Wallmark, Z., Lee, J., & Chmielewski, M. (2022). Environmental sensitivity predicts interpersonal sensitivity above and beyond Big Five personality traits. Journal of Research in Personality, 98, 104210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2022.104210
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Operating Systems: windows xp or higher, macos9 or higher, android 4.0 or higher
Internet browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, google chrome, firefox 10.0 or higher
Broadband Internet connection: cable, high speed dsl & any other medium that is internet accessible.
Please note: Access to this course will terminate 30 days after purchasing through the above.