Gifted Children and Adults—Neglected Areas of Practice

Working with gifted and talented children and their families and with gifted adults is a neglected area of practice for psychologists. Clinical and educational practice usually focuses on disadvantaged persons and obvious psychopathology. Many are unaware that talented and gifted children are at risk for underachievement, peer relationship issues, power struggles, perfectionism, existential depression, and other problems, and that bright adults often have job difficulties, problems with peers, spouses or children, and existential depression that stem from giftedness. This article will discuss ways in which psychotherapy can assist with gifted individuals.