Ten+ years into my HSS/HSP research, I still get messages from people saying ‘Finally, someone gets it.’
Half of all highly sensitive people also score high in sensation seeking. They need recovery time after social events while simultaneously craving novel experiences. They process deeply but get bored easily.
Standard personality assessments don’t account for this combination. Most assume sensitivity means preferring low-stimulation environments. The research shows otherwise.
The Sensation-Seeking HSP: Thriving in the Chaos addresses this gap through a seven-week professional course for therapists, counselors, coaches, educators, or anyone in a helping profession.
The format includes weekly one-hour live sessions plus self-paced modules covering neuroscience, developmental work, practical strategies, and reflection-based interactions with Dr. Cooper and fellow participants.
For helping professionals who are HSS/HSP themselves, this professional education provides both core development in an underserved area and personal insight into sustainable practice methods.
Our labor of love – Sensitive Men Rising – is finally available for all to view for free!! Donations are highly encouraged to support the work of the Foundation for the Study of Highly Sensitive Persons and recoup the costs of creating this timeless film for the world.
Will Harper, myself, and all of the production team would like to express our thanks for all of your kind support since we started this project in 2019!! We know that SMR will now be out in the world communicating a very different message about what men can be and what the world needs from us – to be whole human beings FREE to live in our fullness, to love from our hearts, and to realize our potential to lead, inspire, and lift each other up!!
For too long, sensitive men have been told to toughen up, to stay quiet, to disappear into the background. But in Sensitive Men Rising, they rise—with science, with soul, and with unapologetic truth.
Three compelling episodes
Grounded in research, story, and heart
Offered freely to the global community
Are we finally ready to hear what sensitive men have to say?
Episode 1: The Call to Rise
How does sensitivity redefine strength in men—and why does it matter now more than ever?
Hosted by acclaimed narrator and HSP advocate Peter Coyote, this powerful opening episode sets the stage for a new conversation about masculinity, sensitivity, and transformation. With deeply personal insights from Alanis Morissette, a mother raising two highly sensitive sons, we witness how this often-misunderstood trait touches every part of life—from parenting to purpose.
Through science-backed commentary, poetic storytelling, and raw reflections from everyday men, scholars, therapists, and teachers, Sensitive Men Rising begins its journey. Together, they ask the questions that matter:
Can sensitive men lead? Can they thrive?
And more importantly—can we finally hear them?
This is the moment sensitivity rises from the shadows.
It’s not weakness. It’s awareness. It’s compassion.
And it may just be the antidote our chaotic world is searching for.
Episode 2: The Science of Sensitivity
What if sensitivity in boys and men wasn’t a weakness… but a hardwired gift?
In this revelatory second episode, we step into the heart of the science. Dr. Elaine Aron, pioneer of the Sensory Processing Sensitivity trait, joins fellow researchers to explore what makes sensitive boys and men biologically distinct—and emotionally powerful.
The episode features Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, the world’s most celebrated psychology podcaster and a return guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show. A leading voice on self-actualization, Scott shares how his own sensitivity made him a deep processor of thought, feeling, and meaning—a trait he now champions as essential to growth, creativity, and human connection.
We also meet the young highly sensitive prodigy, Soborno Isaac Bari who expounds on empathy and social responsibility, along with mothers, teachers, therapist, and sensitive men whose short, moving stories reveal what it’s really like to grow up with a highly attuned nervous system in a noisy, demanding world.
And in a closing moment that’s both vulnerable and powerful, Alanis Morissette opens up about the challenges of raising sensitive boys—and the resilience it takes to protect their emotional truth.
Episode 3: The Future of Sensitivity
What happens when sensitive men are no longer silenced—but step forward to lead?
The final episode of Sensitive Men Rising weaves everything together—science, soul, and social responsibility—to reveal a new model of leadership grounded in emotional intelligence, perceptiveness, and care.
From boardrooms to classrooms, the film explores how sensitivity may be the most overlooked asset in business, education, and global culture. With insights from Dr. Tracy Cooper, Ph.D., experts in psychology and leadership discuss why highly sensitive men may be especially suited to guide the next generation—not in spite of their deep awareness, but because of it.
As the world searches for more mindful leaders, better fathers, and emotionally present men, this episode asks a final, urgent question:
What kind of world could we build… if we finally made space for the sensitive ones?
Join me Nov. 1st for Growing Forward for High Sensation Seeking Highly Sensitive People! What does it mean to “grow forward” and what can we learn about developing resilience as a necessary capacity that helps us navigate our dual traits?
Why Attend?
Learn how to embrace your unique blend of high sensation seeking and high sensitivity—and thrive in a world that doesn’t always understand you. This year, our focus is on resilience: not just as a trait, but as a skill you can cultivate to navigate adversity and unlock your full potential.
Discover how your adventurous spirit can be a source of strength and growth. Explore questions like:
What do our adventures teach us about ourselves?
Is it just about the thrill, or do we gain deeper self-understanding by pushing our limits?
Where does your next zone of growth lie?
With special co-hosts this year Annet van Duinen and Randy Grasser of The Living Adventurers this online Zoom workshop is a must-attend for all HSS/HSPs (Wild Sensitives) looking for community, skill-building, and expert advice and guidance.
A 7-Week Online Professional course designed to increase awareness of the 50% of HSPs who are also high in sensation seeking.
Are you, or someone you work with, a Highly Sensitive Person and a Sensation Seeker? If so, you’re not alone – and you’re not a contradiction. In fact, 50% of Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) are also high in Sensation Seeking (HSS) – a unique combination that can be as challenging as it is exhilarating.
Join Dr. Tracy Cooper, international consultant, author, and professor, for a 7-week online professional course beginning September 1st, 2025 and explore how to thrive, not just survive, with these dynamic traits.
A one-of-a-kind course tailored for personal and professional development. Whether you support HSP/HSS individuals or are one yourself, this course blends science, lived experience, and practical application to help you thrive in an often overwhelming world.
Meet Your Instructor: Dr. Tracy Cooper Dr. Tracy Cooper is a leading voice for high sensation seeking highly sensitive people (HSS-HSPs), highly sensitive people (HSPs), highly sensitive men, and with a mission to educate, mentor, and facilitate transformations in the lives of those seeking a conscious path to self-actualization and a creative realization of what it means to be human and alive at this moment. Dr. Cooper is the co-producer of the documentary film Sensitive Men Rising, the first film for highly sensitive men that seeks to open doorways to understanding and acceptance of this beautiful temperament trait in 30% of the world’s population.
An author of three publications, including Thrive: The Highly Sensitive Person and Career; Thrill: The High Sensation Seeking Highly Sensitive Person; and Empowering the Sensitive Male Soul, Dr. Cooper advocates for self-authorship, a conscious and creative leadership forging transformational reVisioning of self where we become creators of culture rather than mere consumers, curators of diverse narratives from across the globe, and mentors for those so desperately in need of guidance, encouragement, and healing. Dr. Cooper has had work published in the journal Current Research in the Behavioral Sciences, The New York Times, Psychology Today, and numerous podcasts and articles.
Enroll before June 30th and receive 20% off the full course feeusing code EARLYBIRD20
Do you crave adventure, yet experience life with exceptional depth and sensitivity? If so, this online workshop is crafted just for you!
Join us for a dynamic day of self-discovery, connection, and personal growth, inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. Tracy Cooper—author of Thrill: The High Sensation Seeking Highly Sensitive Person. This year, Dr. Cooper is joined by co-hosts Annet van Duinen and Randy Grasser of The Living Adventurers, whose core values include:
Growth through adventure
Lifelong learning
Empowering sensitivity
Resilience through adversity
Authenticity
What Awaits You
Expert Guidance: Benefit from research-based insights and extensive experience—Dr. Cooper and Annet are both international consultants on high sensitivity.
Interactive Breakouts: Participate in small group sessions designed for meaningful discussion and connection.
Safe Community: Share your experiences and interact with fellow HSS/HSPs in a supportive, understanding environment.
Open Q&A: Ask your hosts anything about high sensation seeking and high sensitivity.
Lasting Connections: Meet like-minded individuals who truly “get” you.
Why Attend?
Learn how to embrace your unique blend of high sensation seeking and high sensitivity—and thrive in a world that doesn’t always understand you. This year, our focus is on resilience: not just as a trait, but as a skill you can cultivate to navigate adversity and unlock your full potential.
Discover how your adventurous spirit can be a source of strength and growth.
Explore questions like:
What do our adventures teach us about ourselves?
Is it just about the thrill, or do we gain deeper self-understanding by pushing our limits?
Where does your next zone of growth lie?
Bring Your Curiosity and Passion
Come with your curiosity, your adventurous spirit, and your passion for life. Together, let’s explore what it truly means to “grow forward” as high sensation seeking, highly sensitive people!
Mark your calendars and join us for a transformative experience. We can’t wait to connect with you!
🌟 Are you a High Sensation Seeking Highly Sensitive Person? 🌟 Do you crave adventure AND feel life deeply? You’re not alone—and this workshop is for YOU!
✨ Join us for the 2025 HSS/HSP Workshop: Growing Forward! ✨ Theme: Resilience as a Pathway to Growth and Flourishing 🗓️ Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 ⏰ Time: 10am–1pm PDT 🌐 Location: Online (Zoom) 🎟️ Reserve your spot now!
What to Expect:
Breakthrough insights from Dr. Tracy Cooper, author of Thrill: The High Sensation Seeking Highly Sensitive Person
Special co-hosts: Annet van Duinen & Randy Grasser of The Living Adventurers
Interactive small group sessions & live Q&A
A safe, supportive community of fellow HSS/HSPs
Tools to help you thrive and build resilience in a world that doesn’t always understand you
Why Attend? Discover how your adventurous spirit and deep sensitivity are your superpowers! Learn to harness resilience, embrace your unique gifts, and connect with others who truly get you. This is your chance to grow, heal, and flourish—together.
🧭 Bring your curiosity, your wild heart, and your passion for life! Let’s explore what it means to “grow forward” as high sensation seeking, highly sensitive people.
Another interesting study examining Sensory Processing Sensitivity (known in popular culture as the highly sensitive person or HSP)! This one was a bachelor’s level thesis from rijkuniversiteit groningen in the Netherlands specifically looking at SPS and student mental health and how self concept clarity may be a mediating factor in this relationship. A total of 317 Dutch university students took an online survey utilizing validated measures of SPS, SCCC, and Student Mental Health.
Results seem to show that the less self concept clarity students have, combined with sensory processing sensitivity, the greater the propensity for mental health concerns among HSP students. The author suggested that interventions in the form of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) or self compassion training may help self concept clarity among HSP students.
Self Concept Clarity basically states that those with high SCC know their strengths and weaknesses, understand the nature of their personalities, and where they stand on important values and attitudes. In short, they know themselves well and feel a healthy sense of self-esteem and are self-efficacious. We know that many HSPs tend to know themselves well only around midlife, which can be highly problematic for HSPs and, say, career choice (see my book Thrive: The Highly Sensitive Person and Career for much more), but also in “adulting” or facing the real world of work and relationships that almost demands of them self concept clarity.
The good news is that HSPs tend to respond more readily to interventions than less sensitive people and will do far better in positive and supportive environments (college being an overall positive and supportive environment). The college experience can also be one of coming to know ourselves through exposure to new and varied people then we may have encountered before. New ideas and concepts may also transform our worldviews and perspectives in support of developing a more clear self concept. Lastly, the growth trajectory typical of many college students can be quite steep with dramatic changes to growth and development that will serve them well throughout life.
You can help encourage the young people in your life (adults too) towards greater self concept clarity through positive associations and interactions with them, supporting their efforts – especially when they entail a stretch into challenging territory, and mentoring those in our orbits of influence if we have been fortunate enough to have developed a health sense of self concept clarity ourselves.
This is a productive study from this student in the Netherlands and it is encouraging to see scholarly work advancing highly sensitive people!
Big thanks to Walt’s Waltz and Susan Crooks for inviting me to speak in Greenville, SC this past Thursday and Friday!! Our discussions around highly sensitive men, HSS/HSPs, and HSPs were made all the more poignant and real by the simple fact of being face to face with other people. This may seem trivial but in our modern world of screens, monitors, and calls it’s sadly becoming increasingly rare to be in the presence of other warm, breathing people alive with curiosity! I thank you for that!
A few reflections in hindsight. One, people are curious and interested in learning more about what it means to be highly sensitive in a literal sense (what is the trait itself and the so-what factor). Both of the wonderful groups I met with, BOLD Leadership Network and our public event at the University Center of Greenville, proved to be receptive and interested audiences whom I felt instantly comfortable sharing everything I have learned about HS men, HSS/HSPs, HSPs, and numerous topical areas of interest to various members of each group.
I realized as well that people are very interested if they happen to have a highly sensitive son and would like to not only know more about high sensitivity but how they might help their hs sons navigate areas like school, athletics, interpersonal dynamics, and self-care. This is an area we need much more on in the way of resources and also outreach! It’s not enough to create books, articles, podcasts, and films/videos. Parents want to speak with other live humans who they can connect with and feel like their concerns are valid and that they aren’t alone in attempting to understand how to best support their highly sensitive sons.
Education and outreach is another prominent topic of great interest, especially for BOLD Leadership Network as they work to provide program offerings supporting academic achievement for African-American students in the Greenville, SC area. They’ve had some encouraging success and props to Edward Anderson and Damon Qualls for creating and carrying out this BOLD initiative to develop leaders and build their community!! It was amazing to meet, connect, and share what I know about highly sensitive men, HSS/HSM, and talk a bit about human motivation, educational persistence to graduation, and see the eyes light up in realization that being highly sensitive is actually empowering in very pragmatic ways!! I look forward to how we might partner again in the future to support highly sensitive students and leaders as the real influence of Sensitive Men Rising begins to to build momentum and impact in the world.
Lastly, I am left with an appreciation of the sheer level of human effort that we HSPs put into bettering our communities, easing suffering, building and nourishing connections, and doing so with warmth (real human warmth), charm, tenacity, creativity, and S.T.Y.L.E. (Men with STYLE Podcast)! In the darkness of our times it’s easy to forget the many people who sustain the light and continue to do our part to bring vision, strength, and shared humanity to the world!
The efforts to have our voices heard, our wisdom listened to, or our visions realized is an ever-ongoing one that is not tied to any movement, not susceptible to the whims of culture, and not based in the profit motive. The leadership and guidance we provide is an ethical and moral one with greater good in mind for all, fuller realizations of our possibilities as human beings, and to go there together shoulder to shoulder and hearts leading the way!
It’s no surprise to me that becoming a resilient, adaptable leader who can effectively embody “psychological flexibility” is part and parcel of what describes highly sensitive people!! That’s on a surface level. On a deeper dive it’s not likely that all highly sensitive people possess the level of evolved skill sets to bring these qualities to bear on a regular or consistent basis.
Allow me to explain. It’s one thing to have an innate toolkit containing deeper processing, keen sensitivity to subtleties, empathy, and emotional responsiveness, but quite another to have developed those aspects of ourselves as active parts of how we function in our everyday lives, especially for leaders.
Developing psychological flexibility entails a high level of self-awareness, cognitive and creative adaptability (one might say a curiosity about the problem and possible solutions), and a willingness to externally reflect rationality in the face of chaos. Many HSPs may still be on the journey to developing those qualities or skill sets. Many more have no desire to lead in a traditional sense, preferring instead to quietly tend their own inner gardens of reflection, contemplation, and calm.
High sensation seeking highly sensitive people (HSS/HSPs) may defy the above in that HSS/HSPs are geared toward seeking out new and novel stimuli, bringing our capacities for creativity to bear, and using the multiple inputs of problem-solving as grist for reflection and processing. HSS/HSPs differ markedly from HSPs lower in sensation seeking through a ready willingness to engage in the new and novel, perhaps even to take on the challenging and difficult. It’s through the repeated exposures to challenging circumstances and situations that HSS/HSPs may potentially enjoy personality growth and development fostering greater self-actualization over a lifetime.
As we now know, HSS/HSPs are up to half of the total HSP population and more discussions need to take place on crucial topics like psychological flexibility and resilience. Luckily for anyone who is interested we have an upcoming HSS/HSP workshop focusing on developing just these capacities!! Join us Nov. 1st!
