Become a Member

Author: Steven Pfeiffer

Picture of Steven Pfeiffer

Steven Pfeiffer

Steven Pfeiffer is a professor in the Psychological Services in Education program in the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems at Florida State University. Prior to attaining tenure at FSU, Dr. Pfeiffer was at Duke University, where he served as Executive Director of Duke’s internationally renowned Talent Identification Program for gifted students (TIP). Professor Pfeiffer is lead author of a new scale to identify multiple types of giftedness, the Gifted Rating Scales. He also coauthored the Devereux Scales of Mental Disorders and the Devereux Behavior Rating Scale-School Form and he recently co-edited a popular book for parents of young gifted children entitled Gifts: Recognizing and Nurturing Children’s Abilities. Dr. Pfeiffer maintains a private practice where he works with children, adolescents and families.
Misdiagnosis
Steven Pfeiffer

Helping Them Climb: Optimizing Favorable Outcomes When Counseling the gifted

This article integrates child psychotherapy research and four evidence-based counseling principles for gifted students: use empirically supported interventions, emphasize the therapeutic alliance and clinical expertise, involve families, and progress-monitor outcomes. It advocates a strength-based focus and illustrates practice with a dialectical behavior therapy clinical case.

Read More »
Steven Pfeiffer February 11, 2021
Intelligence
Steven Pfeiffer

Raising a Well-Adjusted Gifted Child:The Value of Promoting Social Intelligence

Clinical cases show intellectually gifted children can lack age-appropriate social skills. Parents can teach social intelligence through clear rules, modeling, empathy conversations and coaching. Early intervention and specific techniques—setting limits, teaching etiquette, tolerance, and how to handle teasing—improve peer relations and reduce behavioral problems.

Read More »
Steven Pfeiffer September 14, 2011
Intelligence
Steven Pfeiffer

Encouraging Emotional Intelligence

Gifted children can face significant mental health and social-emotional challenges. Encouraging social intelligence—teaching courtesy, empathy, cooperation, and problem-solving—helps gifted youth navigate peer relations and stress. Parents can model behavior, set clear expectations, teach social skills, and seek professional help when warning signs appear.

Read More »
Steven Pfeiffer September 14, 2011
Education & Homeschooling
Steven Pfeiffer

Early Career Planning For Gifted Youth: An All-Too-Often Neglected Art

Gifted youth often show early career interests; many begin considering futures by age nine or ten. Effective career planning pairs cognitive abilities with personal interests, values, and passions. Early conversations, assessments, and exposure to varied coursework and mentorship help gifted adolescents identify fitting career paths.

Read More »
Steven Pfeiffer September 14, 2011
Twice-Exceptionality/Nontraditional
Steven Pfeiffer

ADHD

Expert guidance on ADHD emphasizes early onset and the need for assessment across multiple settings. Parents should consult pediatricians, teachers, and school psychologists. Behavioral interventions, token systems, and self-management, tailored to each child, can reduce symptoms though ADHD often persists long-term.

Read More »
Steven Pfeiffer September 13, 2011