about danika & the Gifted Learning Lab

You know your gifted/2e kid needs something different, but you're not sure what.

You adore your bright, passionate kid, and you're amazed by their intellect, creativity, and insight. You have a thoughtful approach to parenting and you've built a good relationship with your child.

Yet despite your care and your child's awesome qualities, your child is regularly overwhelmed by big feelings or behaviors, and you feel unsure about how to help.

Advice from parenting books, podcasts, friends, and the internet doesn't seem to work with your bright, intense kid. Or the strategies you've learned feel wrong somehow, like they undermine your connection with your child instead of strengthening it.

You've come to the right place. I'm Dr. Danika Maddocks, and I've designed an approach for parents of intense gifted and twice-exceptional kids like yours.

The Gifted Learning Lab approach helps you understand your kid in a new way and adapt effective strategies to their unique characteristics and your strengths as a parent.

My unique approach is rooted in research, clinical expertise, and life experience.

What makes me a helpful coach if you want to understand & nurture your gifted or twice-exceptional kid?

I understand gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) kids.

I've always been drawn to bright, passionate kids who struggle or are misunderstood because of their behaviors, big emotions, or learning differences. I love these kids' fierce integrity, emotional honesty, and willingness to say what’s on their mind. I love working with their parents too, who often delight in their children and work double-time to support them despite the lack of tailored resources and relevant supports.

As a former gifted kid raising an intense gifted preschooler, I understand the issues from the inside out and have an intuitive grasp of gifted families’ experiences. I've conducted award-winning research on giftedness and twice-exceptionality, and I've supported gifted/2e kids and their families for over 12 years as a teacher, therapist, assessment provider, psychologist, school consultant, and now a parent coach.

I know that parenting a gifted kid can be lonely.

It's hard to find other parents who understand your joys and challenges. It's difficult to find resources that are relevant for your child and your situation. And it sometimes feels impossible to find teachers, therapists, or other providers who understand your kid and what you need.

I created the Gifted Learning Lab so you can find the information, support, and resources you need.

I truly believe that raising an intense gifted kid can be a delight. And it really helps if you, their parent, have the right information and support!

I’ve talked to hundreds of parents who want to support their gifted/2e kid in new ways but can't find relevant guidance from someone who understands complex gifted or 2e kids like theirs.

Through the Gifted Learning Lab's free resources or parent coaching program, I hope you can find the information you need, find new ways to thrive with your unique gifted kid, and connect with other parents who get it.

To get more support, check out:

Free weekly emails, Gifted Lab Notes

Research and writing in the Lab Library

Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid, my 8-week group coaching program