Members of the GRO team will be presenting the following talks at the annual SE NG conference in Williamsburg VA July 22 – 24.

How to Talk to Children about their Giftedness: The Impact of Gifted Identification

Gifted children know they’re different early on. Without understanding why, they often believe they’re “broken.” Parents anguish about talking to their children about giftedness, but research suggests not knowing can carry lifelong consequences. This session will discuss the impact of gifted identification and how to talk to children about it.

A Roadmap to the Unique Physiology of the Gifted Body

The journey of the gifted individual starts with a unique physiology that drives experience and behavior. This talk provides a roadmap of how the interaction of brain, genetics, metabolism and gut sensitivities makes gifted individuals different from the norm in terms of how they think, react, respond, and behave.

Quirky Behaviors or Symptoms of Disabilities: Differentiating between Gifted and 2E

Those who live and work with gifted individuals may be perplexed by the variety of “quirky” behaviors they observe. It can be difficult to differentiate behaviors indicative of an exceptionality from characteristics associated with giftedness. The recent focus on twice exceptionality (2e) has been helpful and needs to be extended to allow a more thorough understanding of these behaviors. This presentation will explain professional /mental health (DSM-5) criteria for commonly co-occurring disorders, evaluations, and assessments.

Can That Be? Demystifying the Options of Early College and Radical Acceleration

The thought of radical acceleration, or early college, rightfully elicits concerns such as social/emotional readiness, missed rites of passage, and even social stigma. This interactive talk demystifies two options that all educators should understand, and humanizes it for parents who suspect this decision may lie in their child’s future.

The Gifted Brain: A Window to Understanding the Physiology of Giftedness

Neuroscience research supports the belief that gifted individuals have increased intellectual, emotional, sensory, and motor processing capacity. Summarizing 1,000 studies, this presentation explains the differences in brain physiology and activity that may account for gifted intensities and behaviors and provides scientific insight into how gifted individuals experience the world.

In addition, Dr. Malonai and Dr. Haase will be giving the following CE unit class for mental health professionals:

Clinical Applications for Therapist of Gifted Clients

This session is geared towards therapists, counselors, and other professionals who support gifted clients. Presenters will share ways to understand and frame clinical presentations in terms of particular gifted traits in conjunction with symptoms, behaviors, and diagnoses. Included in the discussion will be the benefits of recognizing, reframing and understanding gifted traits and how these gifted traits impact therapeutic intervention. The presenters’ own modified interventions will be described, and how these have been used successfully in therapeutic work with the gifted population will be discussed. Data from the Gifted Identity Project’s research will also be utilized to explain and support the benefits of individually modifying interventions and the approach to the therapeutic alliance.
Attendees will be able to identify three reasons why therapy of gifted clients is different from therapy of non-gifted clients.
Attendees will be able to identify three therapeutic postures that are essential in working with glifted clients.
Attendees will be able to identify three adjunct therapies and understand how they can be helpful in an integrated therapeutic approach.
Attendees will gain insight into Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration and how it can be used in treatment of gifted individuals.
Attendees will receive models for clinical Integration of gifted traits and asynchronous development, including emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual aspects.
Attendees will understand common assumptions made by therapists that can be unhelpful and even harmful in therapy.

Register today:  http://sengifted.org/conferences