Resources for Clinicians Who Want to Learn More About Giftedness
Web Resources
If a mental healthcare practitioner is not well versed in the characteristics associated with giftedness this can lead to misdiagnosis. Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) offers many resources and trainings. SENG also provides a concise list of common misdiagnoses and their associated gifted traits.
Check out SENG’s misdiagnosis initiative: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/69689e_b64a7557c70f4eaeae92bdb00181bc1f.pdf
Hoagies Gifted is a reliable resource with a plethora of information for gifted individuals, parents of the gifted, and educators.
Books
Bright, Talented, & Black: A Guide for Families of African American Gifted Learners
“Being gifted and talented and also African American makes children double minorities, and the issues they face can be different from those faced by most other gifted children. This book provides helpful insights and guidelines for the parenting and education of Black gifted children. In addition to the challenges that are frequently experienced by many gifted children, such as underachievement and idealism, Black gifted children often must also deal with issues like discrimination and low expectations of them. Dr. Joy Davis offers practical information based on her personal experience as a parent and a gifted education professional. Several appendices in the back of the book provide useful resources for minority gifted students, as well as reading lists that will help empower these children and their parents. This book will help both African American parents and the educators who work with these bright, talented children.”
Handbook of Giftedness in Children: Psychoeducational Theory, Research, and Best Practices
“In one comprehensive resource, this superb handbook covers everything you need to know about the subject. It brings together leading experts from the fields of psychology and education, combining theory and applied empirical research on such crucial topics as conceptualization, types of intelligence, developmental considerations, and ethical and legal concerns. Particular attention is given to social and family contexts, and evidence-based strategies and interventions offer solid guidelines on assessment, curriculum design, and encouraging and nurturing talent – from preschool through adolescence.”
Living With Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Gifted Children, Adolescents, and Adults
“Gifted children and adults are often misunderstood. Their excitement is viewed as excessive, their high energy as hyperactivity, their persistence as nagging, their imagination as not paying attention, their passion as being disruptive, their strong emotions and sensitivity as immaturity, their creativity and self-directedness as oppositional.
This resource describes these overexcitabilities and strategies for dealing with children and adults who are experiencing them, and provides essential information about Dabrowski s Theory of Positive Disintegration. Learn practical methods for nurturing sensitivity, intensity, perfectionism, and much more.”
Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults: ADHD, Bipolar, OCD, Asperger's, Depression, and Other Disorders (2nd edition)
“Gifted children and adults are frequently misdiagnosed, particularly those who are twice-exceptional (2e). This much-anticipated second edition of a best-selling book is your guide to help prevent that. Some of our brightest, most creative children and adults are misdiagnosed as having behavioral or emotional disorders such as ADD/ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or Asperger's Disorder. Many receive unneeded medications and/or inappropriate counseling. How can this happen? Physicians, psychologists, and counselors often are unaware of characteristics of gifted children and adults that mimic pathological diagnoses. James T. Webb, Edward R. Amend, Paul Beljan, Nadia E. Webb, Marianne Kuzujanakis, F. Richard Olenchak. and Jean Goerss guide parents and professionals to distinguish between behaviors that are pathological and those that are "normal" for gifted individuals.”
Bright Adults: Uniqueness and Belonging across the Lifespan
“Explore unique challenges faced by bright and gifted adults throughout their life stages, beginning with age 18. These individuals often do not see themselves for the complex adults they are. This book addresses their needs to belong, to remain authentic to their identities, to contribute to the world, and to find challenge and meaning in life when faced with issues of multipotentiality, idealism, and feelings of isolation. From decisions about college and graduate school to first jobs and career paths, from marriage and parenthood to aging and death, Fiedler provides thought-provoking insights and advice on the lives of bright and gifted adults.”
APA Handbook of Giftedness and Talent (APA Handbooks in Psychology®)
“This handbook incorporates the most recent thinking and cutting-edge research from a wide range of fields related to gifted education, including developmental and social psychology, the neurosciences, cognitive science, and education.
It consists of six sections:
History and global perspectives on the gifted field and talent development
Theories and conceptions of giftedness and talent development
Gifted identification and assessment
Gifted education
Psychological considerations in understanding the gifted (e.g., the family, social and emotional considerations, friendships and peer relations)
Special issues facing the gifted (e.g., policy and legal issues; the twice exceptional learner; underachievement and the gifted; ADHD and the gifted; suicide; perfectionism; bullying)”
Counseling the Gifted and Talented
Counseling the Gifted and Talented is a comprehensive discusses common issues the gifted present within therapy. As well as, as a useful overview of therapeutic interventions, developmental considerations, and gifted theory.
Please note: this is by no means a comprehensive list and is meant to serve as starting off point for clinicians interested in learning more about giftedness. This resources list was compiled by Madeline Stein © all images and synopsis in quotations are pulled from Amazon.com. Users can access the book’s Amazon page by clicking on the image