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The Curious Contradictions and Conundrums in the Lives of the Gifted
Platitudes. Quick fixes. Small talk. Rigid beliefs. All make you cringe. Right? Complexity, ambiguity, paradox, depth, creativity, and mystery are your favorite foods. Without them, you starve. You get cranky and sad. You feel lost. You may even start to question your reality because you see most people around you eating those platitudes with gusto.…
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Understanding Your Rainforest Mind — Guiding Gifted Adults — The Video!
I was recently asked to present for the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented’s, Conversations with CAGT. If you go to the Conversations page on their website through this link, you’ll find the archives from three+ years of talks by many of the major players in the gifted field. My talk is on gifted adults,…
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What Should Gifted (Rainforest-Minded) Adults Expect From Therapists, Consultants, and Coaches?
Are you wondering what to expect when seeking guidance from therapists, consultants, and coaches? Wonder no more! Here is your handy list: With any therapist, consultant, or coach, you ought to expect: (Note: Just to clarify. Licensed psychotherapists in the US, including myself, are typically only able to see clients in the state in which…
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Gifted Kids, Back to School, and the Emotional Needs of Boys and Girls–Five Essential Articles for Parents, Educators, and Therapists
The following are three quick guides to supporting gifted children and educators as a new school year begins. The last two articles are from the Psychotherapy Networker, a popular journal for therapists. These two articles provide essential information for all of us about the lives of children in the 21st century. Boys’ Friendships: The Clash…
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A Love Letter to My Fear — A Journaling Technique for Anyone Experiencing Fear, Anxiety, or Distress, Which Might be, Well, All of Us??
Dearest Ethel, I am anxious about living through another fire season. Anxious about staying healthy and pain-free into my old age. Fearful for the future of life on planet Earth. Worried about where the political situation in N. America is heading. Wondering if I will ever find a loving partner with whom I might share…
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This is Your Brain on Giftedness
Here is a creative challenge to tickle your imagination, taken from the just released thrilling fabulous unique guided journal written just for you. By me. Saving Your Rainforest Mind: A Guided Journal for the Curious, Creative, Smart, & Sensitive. “Draw a picture of your brain. What’s going on in there? How would you picture the…
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What Are the Signs You Are Gifted? Why Does it Matter That You Know?
The controversy continues. I started in gifted education in the later 1970’s. It is 2023. And we are still trying to understand who is gifted and why it matters. You may not like this, but I choose the anecdotal route. Have you taken my totally, completely, utterly unscientific, absolutely anecdotal quiz? Then you know. I…
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Why Smart People Need Therapies and Why it Might Take a Long Time to Heal Even When You Are a Fast Learner Everywhere Else
If you grew up in a family with abuse, neglect, alcoholism, or other trauma, you might have learned that you are not enough or that you are broken. You might often feel shame or self-hatred or you might have a very active inner critic who constantly tells you the many ways you have screwed up.…