Therapy for intellectually gifted people

Intellectual giftedness and psychic suffering

Giftedness is not a disorder and yet many gifted children and adults describe it as a source of suffering.

When there is a high sensitivity and a sense of being out of step with others, when there is a different cognitive functioning and special creativity, there might also be intellectual giftedness.

Psychological assessment and intellectual giftedness

Psychological assessment is the way to detect intellectual giftedness. It includes among other tests the WAIS-IV, for people over 16 years of age, the WISC-V, for children and adolescents above 6 years old and the WPPSI-IV for younger children.

When intellectual giftedness is a source of suffering, a psychological assessment is necessary, but not sufficient.

Therapy for intellectually gifted people

Therapy for gifted adults

In adults, giftedness becomes an asset, a strength, thanks to a form of therapy that is adapted to gifted adults. This kind of therapy takes into consideration the personality traits that are specific to intellectual giftedness. It is also a therapy that explores the unconscious, to bring a long-term well-being and not just short-term effects. Sometimes it is also very important for gifted adults to meet other gifted people, for example through membership in an association. This allows to have a place where they feel less different from other people.

Therapy for gifted children

Therapy may also bring a lot to gifted children. For them, the question of the most adapted education often arises, whether it means skipping a class or being a student in a small class.