If you are reading this page, you probably already know what a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is, and you probably are one. "HSP" is a concept explained by Dr. Elaine Aron in her 1996 book "The Highly Sensitive Person." If you identify as a Myers-Briggs INFJ, INFP, or ISFP, an empath, an Indigo, or an "intuitive" there's a very good chance you're also an HSP.

If you'd like to learn more, we highly recommend that you visit Elaine Aron's web site and take her sensitivity self-test: http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm

This group was created to help greater San Francisco Bay Area HSPs connect with each other for friendship and support. I cannot say enough positive things about the importance of HSPs connecting and making friends with their peers. Although the idea of "a group" may sound daunting to an HSP (after all, about 75% of HSPs are introverts!), the benefits of spending time with others who "get it" far outweigh the "scary moments" that go with thinking "I'm not sure I can handle being in a group!"

This group was named "San Francisco Bay Area" HSPs in the hope of not only reaching as many HSPs in a wider area as possible, but also in the hope of making meetup venues somewhat "mobile," so they might be in Fremont one time, Cupertino next time, San Francisco another time. Anyone from any of these cities is welcome (not an exhaustive list): Alameda, Belmont, Berkeley, Boulder Creek, Brentwood, Brisbane, Burlingame, Campbell, Capitola, Concord, Cupertino, Daly City, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Martinez, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Milpitas, Moraga, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Newark, Oakland, Orinda, Palo Alto, Pittsbur, Pleasanton, Redwood City, Richmond, Salinas, San Bruno, Can Carlos, San Francisco, San Leandro, San Mateo, San Ramon, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Seaside, South San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Union City and Walnut Creek.

It is our hope that this group be about connection, fellowship and friendship with other members of our "tribe." For any number of reasons, many HSPs say they often feel socially isolated, and we'd like to help offer a "safe venue" to overcome that.

Please understand that this is a social and friendship group, NOT a therapy or mental health support group.

Right now, the SF HSP group is in its "formative" stage, and we're just now hosting our first few meetups. As more members join and we get a better sense of what people are interested in, we expect a variety of events to become part of our schedule. You are highly encouraged to suggest new meetups to the group yourself,and they will be announced right away.