Giftedness & Twice Exceptionality (2e)

At TheraThrive, we understand giftedness and twice exceptionality (2e) as part of the many ways people can experience neurodivergence. Gifted and 2e children, teens and adults may experience the world with remarkable depth, curiosity, creativity and a lot of intensity, while also navigating challenges that are easily misunderstood or overlooked.

Twice-exceptional (2e) people have areas of exceptional ability alongside one or more disabilities or neurodevelopmental differences, such as ADHD, autism, or a learning disability. Sometimes strengths can mask areas where support is needed, while challenges can also make strengths harder for others to recognize.

We offer neurodiversity-affirming support that considers the whole person, including strengths, challenges, asynchronous development, sensitivity, intensity, identity and the experience of moving through a world that may not always understand how you think, feel or learn.

Gifted Drive, Gifted Intensity

Gifted people often have a deep, inner need to make a difference. This need is so deep and so large that it can take over one’s thoughts, shape one’s values, and create a drive that does not quit. Gifted people also tend to feel intensely, so intensely that they can get lost in their feelings, or delve so deep into particular sensations that it is hard to see something else, the larger picture. This intensity can be both wonderful and extremely painful.  Likewise, perfectionism is a trait commonly associated with giftedness.

There Is a Difference

Counseling that is specifically designed for neurodivergent people, including gifted, exceptionally bright and twice exceptional children, teens or adults can be a bit different than typical counseling because the foundations beneath the problems are different.

Gifted, But Not Feeling It

Gifted and twice exceptional children, teens and adults often mask, which means they hold back or change how they appear to others in order to better fit in at school or social situations. This might not even be a conscious decision, because it can be an adaptive instinct, an unconsciously crafted tool for the purpose of getting along easier in a world where you feel different. Gifted people sometimes do this so well, or for so long, that they no longer believe they are smart, and they don’t feel smart.

Thrive In a Supportive Environment

Imagine feeling that special, competent feeling that comes with understanding and meeting the needs of your gifted child or teen (or yourself)! When we work with gifted children, teens and adults, we are careful not to make assumptions about people just because they are gifted. We see our role as working collaboratively with you, so that together we come to understand underlying problems, and explore potential needed tools, skills and solutions. Once identified, we practice these in a safe and caring environment. For children, therapy usually involves play, art, or music for processing emotions, which can help them learn to identify and express feelings in meaningful, healthy and safe ways. The guidance and supportive environment we provide is ideal for learning positive coping skills. Gifted teens and adults find counseling to be a safe and accepting place for self-expression, being real, and to learn and practice self-management techniques, communication and social skills, or whatever else is needed. Allow yourself the opportunity to talk openly with a well-informed, supportive, experienced counselor who really gets gifted. Working with gifted families is our passion, and we would love to work with you!

Insight and Perfectionism

Gifted children and adults sometimes take their perfectionist ideals to a level that is so high, it might be impossible to attain. Gifted people tend to be so hard on themselves (and perhaps similarly on others as well). In general, gifted people of all ages, can be incredibly insightful, and benefit greatly from a counselor who understands giftedness, and who strives to understand them for who they are. Everyone deserves to thrive.
Self-Understanding
Healing, a sense of freedom, relief, lightness. These are how gifted people often explain how they feel when they come to better understand themselves fully and holistically. Learning about your own traits, strengths and challenges, and aspects of giftedness, as well as breaking free from limited or unrealistic expectations, can open up your world, or your child’s or teen’s, to greater self-assuredness and freedom to be really you.

Gifted Traits

• Gifted children might exhibit difficulties in communicating unmet needs at school (or elsewhere) because they are under-challenged or misunderstood. The situation is similar for gifted adults at work (or elsewhere).
• Giftedness does not mean perfect.
• Gifted people may suffer from a depression, anxiety, ADHD, sensory processing differences, Dyslexia or other learning disability, and/or other problems typically associated with asynchronous development.
• Gifted people, like everyone, have challenges, strengths and maybe even mediocre aspects tucked in among their gifted attributes.
• Yet, if gifted people are recognized, nourished, and learn the right tools, they can flourish.

Giftedness Is Different Than Typical

Both gifted children and adults often have atypical ideas or ways of doing things. They tend to be highly passionate, very intense and extremely sensitive. At TheraThrive, we offer specialized counseling support for gifted and twice exceptional (2e) children, teens, adults, couples, and families.

When Strengths and Challenges Mask Each Other

For twice-exceptional people, strengths and challenges can sometimes mask one another. A highly capable child may compensate for ADHD, autism, dyslexia or another learning difference well enough that their support needs can be diminished or go unnoticed. In other cases, difficulties at school or in daily life may become so visible that a child's strengths are underestimated. The same patterns can continue into adulthood.

Gifted Differences

Gifted children and adults may think differently, feel differently, and notice how they differ from neurotypical peers. This can often lead to a sense of isolation or loneliness. Theorist Kazimierz Dabrowski studied traits commonly found in gifted individuals and categorized these traits into 5 types, called overexcitabilities.

Gifted Traits

Giftedness can look different from person to person. Some gifted people may experience:

• Deep curiosity and a strong drive to understand
• Rapid or complex thinking
• Intense interests and capacity for sustained focus
• Creativity and unconventional approaches to problems
• Asynchronous development
• Emotional, intellectual or sensory intensity
• Strong values or concern with fairness and justice
• Perfectionism or very high expectations of themselves
• A preference for depth in conversations and relationships
• Feeling different from peers or having difficulty finding people with shared interests
• Multipotentiality or difficulty choosing among many interests and possible paths
• Frustration when their abilities and support needs are misunderstood

Highly Gifted (HG), Exceptionally Gifted (EG) and Profoundly Gifted (PG)

We Accept Your Differences and Challenges

We understand the differences and challenges often found in highly gifted (HG), exceptionally gifted (EG) and profoundly gifted (PG) children and adults. We get your ability to focus intensely, and how deep you (or your child or teen) might follow a myriad of thoughts and feelings. You may also be highly sensitive or you may be challenged by sensory processing differences.

We Recognize Multipotentiality

We recognize multipotentiality, and realize how it can influence your life, your choices, your work or school, and your relationships. We understand overexcitabilities, and see their impact on behavior, choices, communication and spiritual connection.

We Hold Hope and Understanding

These traits might be misconstrued by others. You might find yourself stuck—perhaps overwhelmed by frustration or unable to see hope, or maybe you feel misunderstood, lonely or alien. We know the importance of connections in life on a very deep level.

We also understand the different developmental patterns found in HG-PG populations. Even if you might mask them, we see how your needs might be different. We understand, we accept, we are experienced, and we are here to help.

We will welcome you, support you in healing, and we will always hold hope.