Launching “Soul Sanctuary” and “A Safe Space” to Empower People of Color and LGBTQ+ HSPs by Chris Hooten
Guest Post
It has been three years since I first came across the term “Highly Sensitive Person,” since then, I have finally felt like I’m on solid ground. In the time since, I’ve read countless articles, books, and information about our trait. I’ve embarked on a return to myself, which has empowered me to heal myself of many self-limiting beliefs and other traumas stemming from racism, transphobia, and other harms. Embracing my sensitivity has been instrumental in releasing the armor that has blocked me from accessing self-love, connection, and the gifts of writing. I’ve learned to embrace my intuition, cherish my depth of processing, and step into my power as a sensitive soul.
And while this has been an incredible journey, there have been times when I longed for a more profound sense of belonging within different sensitive gatherings and events. Most HSP discourses, dialogues, and spaces, in my experience, reflect only a tiny portion of the diversity of our world. As someone who exists as a Black-American, Queer, and Non-binary person, I’ve felt compelled to choose between entering spaces that affirm my culture, my gender, or my sensitive nature. I have yet to find any affirming group that welcomes all of me. The relative lack of diversity within sensitive spaces hampers our ability to welcome all of our sensitive siblings. We need everyone to usher in a world where sensitive people, from newborns to ninety-year-olds, know that they are worthy of dignity and connection, just as they are.
To ensure that HSPs who are People of Color and those who belong to the LGBTQ+ community have access to empowering spaces, I've partnered with Julie Bjelland to host two groups within the Sensitive Empowerment Community. These two groups, “The Soul Sanctuary” (for HSPs who are People of Color) and “A Safe Space” (for HSPs who are LGBTQ+), represent an opportunity to make sensitive spaces more accessible and equitable to all.
The Sensitive Empowerment Community aims to create a safe and inclusive space for all highly sensitive individuals to connect, share their experiences, and find support. This is a practice, not a place, a commitment, not a destination. I’m proud to partner with Julie because she recognizes that People of Color and LGBTQ+ individuals face unique challenges, and she sponsors scholarships and directs resources to empower us to take our place and practice our power. The Soul Sanctuary and A Safe Space are extensions of both our commitments to equity. She has provided the infrastructure and has trusted me with the intention.
With the creation of these two distinct groups, HSPs belonging to these communities can come together and share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in a safe and inclusive environment. Members of these groups will be able to engage in discussions, share resources and connect with others with similar experiences.
As the host of "A Safe Space" and "Soul Sanctuary," I ensure that each community is affirming and inclusive to all people. I take this responsibility seriously and work to welcome newcomers, answer questions, address concerns, and facilitate communication. I’m grateful for the opportunity to reserve space where people like myself are seen, believed, and supportive of one another.
We are building both groups from scratch, and we invite all People of Color and LGBTQ+ Highly Sensitive People to learn more about the Sensitive Empowerment Community, where we are working towards a stronger, more connected, and empowered world that empowers all highly sensitive individuals to thrive.
If you have any questions about "A Safe Space" (LGBTQ+ HSPs) or "Soul Sanctuary" (for HSPs who are People of Color), I’m happy to provide information and support. As a researcher of race and gender, I am very familiar with the complications and contradictions of social identity. Both groups are welcoming to people across the world, and this means we commit to holding diverse understandings of race and gender. If you are unsure what to expect, I encourage you to reach out to learn more.
We are building something great, and we’ve saved a seat just for you.
Chris Hooten, M.A. (they/them)
Chris is a non-binary and neurodivergent equity educator, writer, and inclusion advocate. As a descendant of enslaved peoples, a grandchild of sharecroppers, and a survivor of poverty, food scarcity, and housing insecurity, they are committed to building power to create a world free of these injustices. They’ve spent a third of their life as a facilitator, strategist, educator, and community builder. They draw from their high sensitivity, deep empathy, and cross-cultural pedagogy to partner with leaders, teams, and communities to build trust, confidence, and inclusion. To learn more about Chris and their work contributing to community empowerment, visit chrishootenconsulting.com.
About the Founder of the Sensitive Empowerment Community
Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is an HSP Psychotherapist, author, and educator specializing in high sensitivity. Through The Sensitive Empowerment Community, The HSP Podcast, and Blog, as well as an array of extensive resources, she's dedicated to highlighting the extraordinary value of sensitivity and equipping HSPs with essential tools to reduce mental and physical health challenges. Her Brain Training Course has transformed the lives of countless HSPs, reducing anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity. Discover how to flourish at JulieBjelland.com.
Some men have expressed frustration about my focus on women’s autism experiences, but this emphasis addresses a longstanding research gap that makes women-centered support essential.