When I first joined SENG and was placed on their therapy provider list, I began receiving calls and emails from parents all over the state of Texas. They were desperate. Their children were desperate. They had tried counselors in their area who had no knowledge or experience with the gifted
Giftedness is seen by some as a genuine gift, by others as a curse or a riddle. There are many aspects to this. First, because our society has a somewhat schizophrenic view of Giftedness, perhaps best summarized by the statement “Everyone admires Einstein, but no one like a know-it-all.” This
It is vitally important that gifted children, teens, and adults have their unique needs and profiles understood and considered during any type of diagnostic assessment and evaluation. Given my deep history with the gifted community, I am able to provide this type of assessment and consideration to best serve gifted
Being gifted and/or twice or multi-exceptional, by definition means experiencing the world neurodivergently. Giftedness can present in quantifiable or intangible ways, some of which challenge our sense of what is possible. Coming from a strengths-based perspective, our collaborative work aims to recognize uniqueness, and foster the development of new skills
As an undergraduate, I spent my summers working for the Center for Talented Youth, a program affectionately named “Nerd Camp” by the kids and staff. One day, I was chatting with a student as I escorted her from the counselor’s office back to her classroom. She informed me of the
The foundation of a gifted individual’s mental health is h/h ability to accept the reality of their giftedness and use it in gratifying ways.Among the many nges gifted individuals face, acknowledging their giftedness is often the most difficult.The excitement of using their lightning fast intellect and many extra cognitive abilities
Giftedness is often misunderstood—seen only through the lens of academic achievement or intellectual capacity. But in my life and in my work, I’ve learned that giftedness is rarely tidy. It’s complex, intense, and frequently accompanied by anxiety, emotional overwhelm, asynchronous development, and a deep sensitivity to the world’s pain. For
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
You’re intense, complex, and searching. Multitalented, creative, highly sensitive. Asynchronous, twice(+) exceptional, overexcitable. Neurodivergent. Existential in your sensibilities. You’re an outlier, and I am someone who understands that conventional norms were normed by the normal. I bring my own H+ giftedness to connect with gifted people and aid you in
I co-wrote our Gifted Together vision statement: We have formed Gifted Together to have one central location in the Seattle region where gifted and 2e individuals/families can access information, treatment, care, resources, professional referrals, training, support, and community around the issues that impact their lives. The gifted/2e life experience is
