PRESENTATION TOPICS

An overview of the population needs and characteristics; a review of the current literature and resources; a framework that helps direct the counselor’s assessment, process and interventions.

Explaining the common defensive posture of risk avoidance in highly sensitive, gifted children. Why do brilliant children shy away from challenge even when skill or potential seem apparent? This talk is designed to breakdown the missed variables that play into why a child seems to avoid risk and what the risk represents.

Looking at the developmental factors and variables that play into a gifted student’s difficulty with higher education. Why do some students thrive and others flounder? This talk is for parents, educators, and gifted students to help them understand the pitfalls and vulnerabilities that must be addressed before a gifted student engages in life after high school.

An overview of the counseling and diagnostic process in working with this special population. Clinicians learn to differentiate between what is “gifted” and what is “pathology” and how the

two constructs may interface. Relevant DSM-V diagnoses, testing and assessment are discussed with relevance to this population.

Discussion of the 12 systems that impact the identity formation and how each of those systems interact with the construct of gifted. Through assessing the relationship between those variables, interventions are then tailored. This presentation allows participants to explore and develop clinical and educational interventions that enrich the gifted person’s development.

It is difficult to prescribe clinical advice without understanding the nature of the issue (frequency, intensity, root cause) and even more difficult to provide a quick fix to an issue that has created such distress. In some cases, the dysregulation indicates that a child’s prefrontal cortex has shut down and the child cannot control their amygdala, thus they are unable to manage their emotional reactions. Attempts at that point to get them to “behave” will be met with failure. The most important thing is to make sure the child is safe in these situations and get professional help to determine the underlying cause.

Strategies and a model for counseling this unique population; a demonstration of the model designed specifically for the gifted and talented.

Learn the early indicators and characteristics of possible learning problems that will go untreated or undiagnosed in gifted children.

For counselors, educators, parents and direct service professionals that work closely with the gifted population, a pragmatic view and concrete methods of intervention for addressing underachievement in gifted adolescents.

Early warning signs of underachievement and its causes; guidelines and ideas for parents and educators to alleviate the problem.

A discussion of some of the unique concerns for gifted children and their teachers and a list of resources that can help. Topics: What it means to a child to be gifted; needs of gifted children in educational, social-emotional and developmental areas; a parental support system.