We Need Help: Is Counseling The Answer?

If you feel that your gifted child is having problems with excessive perfectionism, underachievement, isolation, depression, and so on, please speak to a school counselor and/or consider seeking private family and individual counseling and therapy.  Group and individual career counseling is also essential to gifted children starting in the middle school years (Greene, 2002).  Schools should provide school psychologists and counselors who are trained to understand the often unique issues associated with giftedness.  Some such issues are social isolation and asynchrony or the disparity between intellectual ability and physical ability (Rimm, 2002; Silverman, 2002).  Moon (2002) states that the main areas where gifted children need differentiated counseling are stress management, peer relationships, social adjustment, and emotional adjustment.  Reis and Moon (2002) state that Van Tassel-Baska (1998) recommends three types of counseling.  They are academic planning, psychosocial counseling, and career and life planning.  If these areas cannot be addressed through your child’s school, please consider private, professional counseling to adequately support your child. Even though most gifted youth seem well-adjusted, preventative counseling for stress stemming from giftedness is still suggested to promote healthy emotional and social adjustment (Moon, 2002).  Local options include but are not limited to the following:

Dr. Teresa Paine 304-324-0999

Nasreen R Dar 304-425-9471

Twyla M. Hersman 304-451-0144

Reach Family Resource Center 304-431-4929

Sunrise Counseling Service 304-425-3430

Pathways Psychological Center 304-327-5744

Sylvia A. Wright 304-425-3430


If finances are an issue consider the following:

1. Southern Highland Community Mental Health Center where fees are based on income.  The crisis numbers are 888-615-0122 or 304-425-0122.  The regular phone number is 304-425-9541 with the email info@shcmhc.com.

2. Providing your gifted child with a caring mentor.  Stormont, Stebbins, and Holliday (2001) state that mentoring has been found to support gifted children and to build their interests in certain areas.  One way to expose your child to a mentoring relationship is through the Wade Center.  The Wade Center is a free after-school and summer school/camp facility offered Monday through Thursday for area youth.  Wade's website is www.wadecenter.com and their phone number is 304-323-3777.  

   

Congratulations on being the parent or guardian of a gifted child!  It is my sincere hope that this blog is a helpful resource as you continue on your journey providing your beloved, gifted child with all the support, resources, and guidance he/she richly deserves.
Thank you!
Kathi G. Stogner