Giftedness represents exceptional intellectual, creative, or academic abilities that set individuals apart from their peers. While society celebrates the achievements of highly gifted people — from groundbreaking scientific discoveries to artistic masterpieces — the daily experiences of gifted individuals often include significant challenges. Despite the growing popular interest in giftedness and its broad scientific coverage, little consensus is accessible about gifted persons' evolution into their adult lives. While gaining a better understanding of gifted adults is necessary to validate the ways we tend to the development of gifted individuals, most empirical studies seem to focus mainly on comparing their social and emotional experiences to the general population.
Many gifted children face unique struggles that can persist into adulthood, including social isolation, perfectionism, and the pressure to constantly excel. Findings highlight that gifted children generally outperform their peers in several cognitive domains such as verbal working memory, inhibition, geometric problem solving, attention-switching, and elemental information processing, showcasing an accuracy-reaction time trade-off. However, these strengths often come with emotional and social complexities that require specialized support.
Table of Contents
- Understanding How Therapy Helps Gifted Children
- Family Therapy and Giftedness
- Supporting Gifted Adults Through Therapy
- Workplace Challenges and Underachievement
- Educational Approaches for Gifted Students
- Twice-Exceptional Learners: Unique Needs
- Evidence-Based Parenting Strategies
- Find Support Through Therapy
Understanding How Therapy Helps Gifted Children
Giftedness itself is not a mental health condition, but a meta-analysis summarizing nine studies concluded that anxiety disorders were less common in intellectually gifted youth, whereas rates of depression and suicidal ideation were comparable between gifted and non-gifted children and adolescents. However, many gifted children still benefit from therapeutic support to navigate their unique challenges.
Mental Health Considerations
Recent research reveals complex relationships between giftedness and mental health. In a large sample recent study, Williams and colleagues (2023) showed a significantly small effect size (odds ratio = 0.69 or d = −0.20) between gifted and typically developing individuals regarding anxiety disorder, but found no significant difference for depression. This suggests that while gifted individuals may have slightly lower rates of anxiety, they face similar risks for depression as their peers.
A new study by NIMH researchers demonstrated the effectiveness, feasibility, and safety of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy for severe irritability and temper outbursts in children. The positive results set the foundation to continue exploring exposure therapy as a potential treatment for childhood irritability.
Developing a Growth Mindset
Gifted children who excel in early grades sometimes struggle when academic material becomes more challenging. Most of the research on the determinants of well-being in intellectually gifted individuals seems to have focused on individual internal factors, such as personality factors, perfectionism, and emotional intelligence. If they're accustomed to everything coming easily, they may become discouraged and lose motivation when faced with difficulty.
Therapists can help gifted children:
- Develop resilience and perseverance skills
- Build a growth mindset that values effort and learning
- Learn healthy coping strategies for frustration
- Manage perfectionism and fear of failure
Building Balanced Identity
Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health found that unmedicated children with anxiety disorders show widespread overactivation in brain functioning and that treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy led to a clinically significant drop in anxiety symptoms and improved brain functioning. Therapy helps gifted children develop self-worth beyond achievements and competition.
Family Therapy and Giftedness
A child's giftedness impacts the entire family system. Parents may struggle with how to support their gifted child while maintaining balance with siblings. Family therapy provides a structured environment to address these dynamics.
Key Benefits of Family Therapy
In family therapy sessions, therapists work with families to:
- Enhance parenting strategies specific to gifted children's needs
- Address sibling dynamics, including competition or resentment
- Improve family communication about giftedness and its impacts
- Navigate educational advocacy and connect with resources
- Balance individual needs within the family system
Research indicates that family involvement is crucial for gifted children's healthy development. Family involvement is a key component in the accurate identification of giftedness, as it contributes to a more holistic understanding of the student. Parents provide crucial contextual information that teachers and diagnostic professionals should take into account.
Supporting Gifted Adults Through Therapy
Giftedness doesn't end with childhood. Many gifted adults continue to face unique challenges related to their abilities, and therapy can provide essential support throughout adulthood.
Common Challenges for Gifted Adults
High performance can only be achieved if both favorable giftedness factors and non-cognitive personality traits, as well as a nurturing environment, are present in sufficient expression. In the Talent Development Mega-Model, giftedness is understood as a dynamic concept, with giftedness in adults determined by performance and in children and adolescents determined by potential. Based on this understanding, gifted children and adolescents (defined by competency definition) would not necessarily grow up to be gifted adults unless they translate their ability into peak performance.
Gifted adults often struggle with:
- Managing expectations: Reconciling their potential with their current life circumstances
- Underachievement patterns: The perennial question of why students fail to achieve at a level commensurate with their abilities has long perplexed researchers and educators. Existing research on the factors that may cause the underachievement gifted phenomenon has shown scattered findings. Despite the complexity of the literature in this area, a systematic review serves as a valuable tool for identifying and categorizing the factors contributing to the underachievement of gifted students.
- Relationship difficulties: Challenges connecting with others due to different thinking patterns
- Workplace frustration: Boredom, resentment, or difficulty with authority
Workplace Challenges and Underachievement
Many gifted adults encounter significant workplace challenges that can lead to underachievement and frustration. The abilities of gifted employees are extremely valuable in a knowledge-based economy. However, research on the functioning of gifted adults in the workplace is relatively scarce. This study shows that gifted employees stand out because of their high cognitive abilities, strong willpower, and creative drive. They are eager to solve complex problems and would like to allocate nearly 85% of their time to non-routine tasks. However, in reality, many feel bored and experience a big gap between their intrinsic capabilities and the current requirements of their job (~ 80%).
Understanding Workplace Difficulties
Gifted employees often face:
- Chronic boredom with routine tasks
- Frustration with slower-paced work environments
- Difficulty accepting direction from less capable supervisors
- Challenges with organizational politics
- Imposter syndrome despite high abilities
Studies have found that gifted people are more likely to suffer from the fear of failure than their non-gifted peers. This fear can lead to a condition known as imposter syndrome, in which you doubt your own abilities and feel like you are constantly pretending to be something you are not. The fear of failure can be debilitating and lead to low self-esteem and underachievement.
Therapeutic Strategies for Workplace Success
Therapy can help gifted adults:
- Find meaningful work that matches their abilities
- Develop strategies for managing boredom and routine tasks
- Build professional relationships effectively
- Navigate organizational hierarchies
- Create boundaries between work and personal fulfillment
Educational Approaches for Gifted Students
Research suggests that academically, students in this population are often unchallenged, reporting frequent boredom due to a lack of challenge. Appropriate educational programming is essential for gifted children's development and well-being.
Current Educational Standards
It's critical that all teachers can recognize a high-ability student who may need more depth and complexity in instruction or be referred for further assessment and services. However, few general teacher preparation programs provide instruction on the needs of gifted and talented students and, as a result, the majority of teachers in classrooms today are not trained to meet the learning needs of these students.
The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) has developed comprehensive programming standards focusing on:
- Student learning and development outcomes
- Evidence-based assessment practices
- Differentiated curriculum and instruction
- Supportive learning environments
- Comprehensive programming options
- Professional development for educators
Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
Gifted children may be entitled to IEPs that address their unique educational needs. The major focus of IEPs for gifted students must be placed on individual strengths rather than weaknesses. These flexible plans can include:
- Acceleration to higher grade levels for specific subjects
- Enrichment activities and independent projects
- Mentorship opportunities
- Specialized programming in areas of strength
- Social-emotional support services
Twice-Exceptional Learners: Unique Needs
Twice-exceptional (2e) students are gifted individuals who also have learning disabilities or other challenges. The current study examined the underidentification of students with disabilities for gifted education programs, otherwise referred to as twice-exceptional students. We estimated that approximately 17% to 18% more students with disabilities should have been identified for a gifted education program as having statistically similar achievement scores to those students without disabilities in gifted education programs. Alternatively stated, students with disabilities should make up 10.8% of gifted programs, or about 1 in 9 students in gifted programs should be twice-exceptional.
Understanding Twice-Exceptionality
Within this uneven structure, several studies identified consistent areas of strength, particularly in abstract reasoning, reflective thinking, verbal abilities, and creative problem solving. These abilities often coexisted with rapid learning and a clear preference for complex, self-directed, and intellectually demanding tasks, reflecting high levels of epistemic curiosity and intrinsic motivation for cognitive challenge.
Common combinations include:
- Giftedness with ADHD — showing both high ability and attention challenges
- Giftedness with dyslexia — excelling conceptually while struggling with reading
- Giftedness with autism spectrum disorder — demonstrating exceptional abilities alongside social communication differences
Supporting 2e Students
Twice-exceptional children may exhibit characteristics that include: experiencing high levels of frustration and anxiety; may appear to lack motivation; may resist taking academic or intellectual risks. Experiencing difficulty in focusing, especially during lectures, reviewing material they have already mastered, or during long bouts of inactivity.
Effective support strategies include:
- Comprehensive assessment to identify both strengths and challenges
- Dual programming addressing giftedness and disabilities simultaneously
- Strengths-based approaches that leverage abilities
- Assistive technologies and accommodations
- Social-emotional support for frustration and self-esteem
Evidence-Based Parenting Strategies
Parents play a crucial role in nurturing gifted children's development. Research-supported strategies help children thrive while maintaining emotional balance.
Creating Optimal Home Environments
Parents can support their gifted children by:
Embracing challenge and growth:
- Expose children to appropriately challenging activities
- Encourage trying new things, even when difficult
- Celebrate effort and progress, not just achievement
- Model resilience and learning from mistakes
Maintaining balance:
- Avoid overscheduling with too many activities
- Provide unstructured time for exploration
- Support diverse interests beyond areas of giftedness
- Prioritize play and social connections
Building emotional intelligence:
- Teach that happiness and relationships matter as much as achievement
- Help children understand and manage intense emotions
- Discuss what giftedness means in age-appropriate ways
- Normalize both successes and struggles
Educational Advocacy
The groups identified include Native American students, economically disadvantaged students, English learners, and students with disabilities who have historically been underrepresented in gifted programs. Parents should:
- Learn about gifted education options in their district
- Document their child's abilities and needs
- Collaborate with teachers and administrators
- Connect with parent advocacy groups
- Seek additional assessments when needed
Find Support Through Therapy
Whether you're a parent of a gifted child, a gifted adult facing challenges, or a family navigating the complexities of giftedness, professional support can make a significant difference. A therapist experienced in working with gifted individuals understands the unique dynamics involved and can provide targeted strategies for success.
How Therapy Can Help
Licensed therapists specializing in giftedness can assist with:
- Developing coping strategies for intensity and sensitivity
- Managing perfectionism and fear of failure
- Building social skills and peer relationships
- Navigating educational and career decisions
- Supporting family dynamics and communication
- Addressing co-existing conditions in 2e individuals
If giftedness feels overwhelming to you or your family, find a qualified therapist who understands the unique needs of gifted individuals. With appropriate support, gifted children and adults can thrive while maintaining emotional well-being and healthy relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I know if my child is gifted and needs additional support? A: Gifted children often show advanced abilities in one or more areas compared to peers, intense curiosity, rapid learning, and heightened sensitivity. If your child seems bored at school, asks complex questions, or shows emotional intensity, consider having them evaluated by a professional familiar with giftedness.
Q: Can adults be identified as gifted if they weren't recognized as children? A: Yes, many gifted adults weren't identified during childhood, especially those who are twice-exceptional or from underrepresented populations. Adult giftedness can be assessed through comprehensive evaluation, and many adults find this identification helpful for understanding lifelong patterns and challenges.
Q: What's the difference between being bright and being gifted? A: While bright children learn quickly and perform well academically, gifted children often show qualitatively different thinking patterns, including the ability to make complex connections, intense focus areas, asynchronous development, and heightened sensitivities that extend beyond academic performance.
Q: How can I help my gifted child who refuses to do homework or is underachieving? A: Underachievement in gifted children often stems from boredom, perfectionism, or lack of challenge. Work with teachers to ensure appropriately challenging material, address any underlying anxieties about failure, and help your child connect learning to their interests. Professional support may be beneficial.
Q: Do gifted people have more mental health problems? A: Research shows mixed results, with recent studies suggesting gifted individuals may have slightly lower rates of anxiety but similar rates of depression compared to the general population. However, they may face unique stressors related to their giftedness that benefit from specialized therapeutic approaches.
Q: How can I find appropriate educational services for my twice-exceptional child? A: Start by requesting comprehensive evaluations that assess both strengths and challenges. Work with your school's special education and gifted education teams to develop an appropriate plan. Many 2e students benefit from a combination of gifted programming with accommodations for their learning differences.
References:
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