Sensitivity Is Often Control in Disguise

Let’s assume our friends and family can handle uncomfortable conversations

Kathleen Smith
Forge
Published in
4 min readJul 21, 2020

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Photo: SDI Productions/Getty Images

Sensitivity — what I define to my therapy clients as the ability to detect distress in others — is a foundational part of being a person. It can create stronger bonds and a more equitable society. But as a therapist, I often observe how misapplied sensitivity can weaken…

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Kathleen Smith
Forge
Writer for

Kathleen Smith is a therapist and author of the book Everything Isn’t Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down.