What Counselors Working with Gifted & Talented Students Need to Know

Gifted and talented students are those who excel or have achieved beyond the abilities of their peers. This excellence can be in one or multiple fields, such as intellectual/academic, artistic, athletic, social, creative or leadership abilities. These children not only have a potential or specific talent in an area, but also the interest to explore and develop that talent. Counselors working with gifted and talented youngsters should be aware of their specific challenges and needs.

Development of Self

• Developing a sense of identity or self can be particularly challenging for gifted students. This development can be complicated by strained relationships with peers. Gifted students may feel or be bullied by peers, which can cause enormous stress and make it difficult to form a solid identity. These students may be labeled "conceited" or be considered "nerds" or "geeks." When these pressures boil up, some gifted young people react by purposely underachieving.

  Counselors should help students feel confident in themselves and unashamed. Gifted children should be encouraged to find like-minded or other gifted peers who will understand their abilities and to whom they can relate socially.

Vulnerability

• Many gifted students are vulnerable to emotional issues that can hinder their development. For instance, they are at risk for underachieving if they feel too much pressure to perform or conform, are understimulated by curriculum or lack goals and directions. Like their peers, gifted students can be at risk for suicide and delinquency. Counselors should assess them for depression, anxiety, isolation and other suicide risk factors.

  Like their peers, gifted students who are committing delinquent acts, such as truancy or stealing, may be acting out in response to a problem. This could be related to academics and performance, or to social or family issues.

Family

• Including the family in counseling can be important for a gifted child. Parents are critical to the recognition and development of a gifted student's talents. Family issues around this development can include too much pressure and too little encouragement. These issues can challenge families and affect child-parent and sibling relationships.

  Parents of gifted children need encouragement and counseling around how to interact with a child's school as well. Because parents often need to advocate for their gifted child, counselors should guide and support them through this process.

Education

• Gifted students often need counseling around academic, school and career choices. In high school, it is important for gifted students to be prepared to pursue their career interests but also have options and be allowed to explore several possibilities. They should be encouraged to be rigorous in their academic preparation, which will give them more choices for college. Women and minority students often underestimate their abilities and may need encouragement to set high career goals and pursue possibilities that make full use of their talents.