One thing I have learned over the years as a clinical psychologist, advocate, and parent is how often gifted people are misunderstood. It’s astonishing, really. Gifted children are frequently overlooked, languish in classrooms that cannot accommodate their learning needs, and are viewed with suspicion by peers who don’t “get” their differences. Many are ostracized or bullied. And sadly, the most adaptable of the bunch may learn to “fit in” by downplaying their abilities or giving up on school completely. The social and emotional aspects of giftedness, including heightened sensitivity and intensity, are strengths that enhance gifted children’s and adults’ empathy, depth of understanding, and drive to learn new things. However, this can also amplify emotional struggles, as they grapple with anxiety, existential depression, and an alienating sense of differentness. Gifted children often require additional counseling, school, and family support to help them feel more comfortable with who they are and navigate a world not quite built for them. Boredom in school increases gifted children’s sense of alienation, leaves them apathetic and frustrated, and deprives them of developing essential executive functioning skills, such as organizational, planning, and time management skills. Those who are twice-exceptional (gifted with a co-existing condition, such as ADHD or a learning disability) struggle even more. School personnel often require supplementary education to understand how to support gifted students’ cognitive abilities and appreciate the potential damage that can accrue when their cognitive needs are ignored. Gifted adults face similar constraints. Often reeling from the stigma and social challenges of childhood, they may lack confidence in their careers or social interactions. Many still feel like outliers and struggle to find like-minded peers, sometimes assuming that there is something wrong with them. Some have internalized the pressure to perform at an exceptional level and develop perfectionistic tendencies. Many also face the challenges inherent in multi-potentiality, where they struggle to choose which career path would be most meaningful for them. Parents of gifted children (who are often gifted, themselves) manage a balancing act of supporting their child’s needs, advocating within the schools, and educating others who don’t understand. Many families encounter financial hardship, as private school education or homeschooling are necessary. Other adults they encounter often think it’s easy to raise a gifted child. Some assume these children are high achievers, pushed by hovering parents, and often do not understand how gifted children can be incredibly bright, but have social or other learning deficits. Parents of gifted children end up explaining and educating the public. Many feel overwhelmed. As a Clinical Psychologist, in practice for over 40 years, I bring my experience as a clinician to my work, along with my passion for addressing the unmet social/emotional challenges and parenting struggles these children, teens, and families face. I am also an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, offer parenting consultations, workshops for parent groups and schools, clinical supervision, and I am authorized through PSYPACT to provide psychotherapy through telehealth in over 40 US states. I have specialized in working with gifted teens, their families, and gifted adults for the past 20 years, with a particular interest in guiding parents along this journey. My experience as a parent has been humbling and has deepened my personal understanding of giftedness and enhanced my work as a psychologist and parenting consultant. I also served as co-chair of a gifted parents advocacy group when my children were in school and navigated the resistance to providing necessary accommodations for gifted students within the education field. Despite many caring and well-meaning teachers, most had limited resources and faced pushback from administration. Once my kids graduated from high school, I wanted to continue my advocacy work through writing and the occasional workshop. I have been writing about cognitive and musical giftedness, twice-exceptionality, parent advocacy, giftedness in the schools, and the social/emotional aspects of giftedness for over a decade. In addition to my long-standing blog, Gifted Challenges, I have written widely for online and newsletter publications, professional articles, several book chapters, and my book, The Gifted Parenting Journey: A Guide to Self-discovery and Support for Families of Gifted Children. I also write about mental health, wellness, parenting, giftedness, and neurodiversity on my Substack, A Psychologist’s Perspective, and for Wise & Well on Medium. As someone who has both personal and extensive professional experience within the field of giftedness, I am grateful to be included as part of the SENG community.