I completed my master’s degree training in mental health counseling with an internship at Gifted Development Center, which included weekly supervision with Linda Silverman as I provided counseling to a group of gifted adults. My professional work with gifted individuals is further informed by Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration, Steven Porgess’s Polyvagal Theory, research on neuroscience, attachment, and interpersonal neurobiology, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). IFS fosters exploration of the various parts of self while supporting the restoration of embodied connection. Giftedness- Giftedness is often misunderstood, even by gifted individuals themselves. The term “gifted” may sound like a privilege—and in many ways, it is. But the experience of being gifted rarely feels like an “easy button” in life. Instead, it often comes with emotional intensity, existential questioning, and a deep sensitivity to the world’s pain and complexity. The gifted brain is wired for depth—of feeling, of curiosity, of justice, and of connection. Yet these same qualities can leave individuals feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or pathologized in environments that don’t reflect or support their inner world. Too often, gifted individuals are misdiagnosed, misunderstood, or pressured to “tone it down.” Twice-exceptionality (2e) refers to individuals who are both gifted and live with another diagnosis or difference that impacts daily functioning—such as ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, trauma, or sensory integration challenges. These individuals often experience unique internal contradictions: high capability paired with inconsistency, profound insight alongside emotional sensitivity, and immense potential shadowed by self-doubt. Clients who are gifted or twice-exceptional may experience: •Emotional intensity and sensory sensitivity •Chronic frustration or inner conflict •Social disconnection or masking to fit in •Executive functioning challenges (e.g., task initiation, organization) •Existential depression and early questioning of life’s meaning •A sense of being “too much” or “not enough” •Low self-worth despite high ability •Feeling unseen, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood This is just a partial list of many possible experiences associated with neurodiversity. Counseling offers a place to explore the client’s unique inner landscape with compassion and curiosity. Part of the therapeutic process involves untangling confusion and reclaiming the strengths that have always been part of the client. Gifted individuals deserve to be understood as a whole person—not just as a list of traits or challenges, but as someone with deep capacity for growth, meaning, and connection. At times, Gifted and Twice Exceptional individuals may exhibit struggles similar to those with a history of complex trauma or developmental trauma. A gifted child may hold repeated experiences of interpersonal rupture, a lack of trust in self caused by feeling different from peers or sensory-processing differences, or asynchronous development leading to existential questions or awareness of dangers which outpace a child’s ability to cope. The ongoing, relational nature of consistent interpersonal rupture may lead to: •Chronic shame or self-doubt •Emotional dysregulation or numbness •Difficulty trusting others or maintaining close relationships •Deep feelings of worthlessness or identity confusion •A persistent sense of being “too much” or “not enough” •Internal conflict between different aspects of yourself While harm often occurs in relationship, healing also occurs in safe relationship. Gifted clients often feel unheard and misunderstood in therapy as their experiences are minimized, explained away, or invalidated by a neurotypical therapist who, though well-meaning, fails to truly see or hear the gifted client. Therapists working with the gifted must listen closely to the client’s experiences rather than assume understanding or prescribe solutions. In addition, therapy should prioritize the client’s agency in order to avoid further disempowerment, and the work must be grounded in safety, compassion, and connection.