YOUR RAINFOREST MIND

I’m Paula Prober–a licensed psychotherapist and consultant in private practice in Eugene, Oregon, USA. I specialize in counseling gifted adults and youth (in the state of Oregon) and I consult with parents of gifted children and with gifted adults internationally.

Before becoming a therapist in 1992, I was a teacher in the public schools and I worked with gifted children in grades 1-8. I’ve been an adjunct instructor with University of Oregon and a guest presenter at Oregon State University and Pacific University, and a presenter at multiple conferences, podcasts, and webinars. I’ve written articles on giftedness for the Eugene Register-Guard, the Psychotherapy Networker, Advanced Development Journal, and online with psychotherapy.net, ThriveGlobal, Rebelle Society, Introvert Dear, and Highly Sensitive Refuge. My book, Your Rainforest Mind: A Guide to the Well-Being of Gifted Adults and Youth, was released in June 2016 by GHF Press. My second book, Journey Into Your Rainforest Mind: A Field Guide for Gifted Adults and Teens, Book Lovers, Overthinkers, Geeks, Sensitives, Brainiacs, Intuitives, Procrastinators, and Perfectionists was released in June 2019. My third book, Saving Your Rainforest Mind–A Guided Journal for the Curious, Creative, Smart, & Sensitive was released in July 2023.

I see counseling as a journey that supports an individual’s healing, growth and self-actualization. My philosophy is based in attachment and psychodynamic theories that hold that painful experiences in childhood greatly affect self-image, confidence, and the ability to have healthy relationships. I use a variety of counseling methods that include talk, internal family systems, journaling, guided imagery, body-centered approaches, and mindfulness. Clients can then reconnect with their creativity, self-confidence, and spirituality so that they may live fulfilling lives of meaning and purpose.

In my consultations, I help parents understand their gifted children and I provide resources and strategies for helping these kids navigate challenges such as schooling, intense emotions, perfectionism, underachieving, and more. When consulting with gifted adults, we look at identifying and appreciating the gifted traits and at ways to navigate the sensitivities, intensities, career paths, relationships, and the challenges and benefits of rainforest-mindedness.

I provide counseling for adults in the state of Oregon. I consult with clients anywhere in the world.

Because the label “gifted” is often controversial and confusing, I developed the analogy of the rainforest mind. Many very smart folks don’t identify themselves as gifted. If the analogy speaks to you, I hope that my blog posts will help you better understand the complexities of your creative, sensitive, passionate, and smart self. And that my ideas will help you live like the thriving rainforest– in balance, peace, grace, and beauty, and in support of all beings on the planet.

Find me also at twitter.com/paulaprober, and facebook.com/paula.prober.  You can also listen to me talk about rainforest minds on this podcast. And here’s a short interview on YouTube.  And another podcast! And an hour long interview about parenting and educating gifted children. And here is one more short video interview about my books.

Here is a link to a talk (video) I presented on gifted adults to an audience in the Netherlands in April 2020. (one hour)

Here is a link to a 45 minute video/podcast interview of me by Ben Koch from NuMinds Enrichment. June 2020.

Here is a link to yet another 45 minute podcast with David Greenwood of Overcoming Distractions. August 2020

This is a 45 minute interview with the Unleash Monday podcast based in Switzerland. September 2020.

Here is a short radio interview from The Lisa Show on BYU radio. November 2020. It starts after a couple of minutes of other information.

Next is an hour long podcast interview with Our Gifted Kids and Sophia Elliott based in Australia recorded in March 2022.

This is an hour long podcast interview of me from the Netherlands. July 2022. We talk about rainforest minds, a bit about gifted kids, and if you stay to the end we get up close and personal!

(The following interview is part of the Empaths, Sensitives & Intuitives Summit a free online event. For more information, please visit https://evolvedempathsummit.com. This recording is a copyright of The Shift Network. All rights reserved.)

If you’d like to get in touch with me privately or if you’d like more details about either my counseling or consulting, please fill out the contact form below. Thank you. The contact form will come directly to me in a private email. Below the contact form is a place to write a comment. That comment, then, will appear on the blog page.