Coaching services provided by The Gifted Learning Lab are not therapy and do not involve professional licensure
There's nothing wrong with you or your kid -
all the standard parenting advice you've heard just doesn't work well for gifted/2e kids and teens
Perhaps this resonates
with you...
You know your kid or teen is awesome. They’re smart, funny, creative, and caring. But they also have big, intense feelings that overwhelm them.
Your kid seems more passionate than their peers - they’re the one who storms out of the room when corrected or bursts into tears when something doesn’t go their way.
Your kid loves to learn, but they hate the feeling of not knowing something. If learning feels too hard or they make a mistake, they may cry, rip up their work, or need a break from the activity.
Your kid is hard on themselves - really hard. Even though they’re bright and talented, they call themselves stupid, say they’re the worst in the world, say they hate themselves, or wonder why they’re so different from their peers.
Once your kid is having a big feeling, it’s hard to help them out of it. You’ve tried reassuring them, reasoning with them, talking them through it, being understanding - nothing seems to help.
You’re worried your child’s perfectionism will erode their love of learning and that their big feelings will drive away friends.
You’ve read a lot of parenting books and tried to implement the strategies, but your kid seems to run on a different operating system - nothing you’ve tried has been quite right.
Sometimes you worry you’re too lenient with your child and they’ll never learn to function in the “real world.” But other times you worry you’re too strict or that your child is developing some shame about their big feelings.
it's not your fault that life feels extra tough
Parents of intense gifted/2e kid and teens often blame themselves - they assume they've been doing parenting strategies "wrong" and that's why life is so hard. They assume they haven't been consistent enough, calm enough, or disciplined enough.
I want you to know you haven't been doing standard parenting strategies the wrong way. You don't need to be more consistent with all the advice you've heard.
It's the advice that's been wrong, not you or your kid.
You need permission and practical skills to do things differently - in a way that actually aligns with your kid’s brain and that actually works and feels good for everyone in the family.
you deserve support & ease
You deserve parenting approaches that help you get through bedtime in less than 2 hours - without preparing a full bedtime meal or snapping at your kid.
You deserve strategies that help you get out the door for an outing without wishing you never suggested the trampoline park in the first place.
You deserve support that helps you know, in your bones, that you're preparing your gifted/2e kid to feel comfortable and capable in the "real world" - without crushing their spirit and spark in the meantime.
During Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid, you're immersed in two months of learning, coaching, community, and actual real-life changes - in a judgment-free zone - to help you support your intense gifted/2e kid and yourself.
how it works
Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid is a highly-interactive two-month group coaching experience with online learning modules, live group meetings, unlimited asynchronous coaching, a supportive community, & Deep Dive resources
Read below to learn more about what's included & how the program works
The Less Conflict, More Confidence Parenting Framework
10 online modules - with bite-sized videos, handouts, & bonus resources - to help you learn key gifted/2e parenting concepts & strategies in an accessible way, on your own time
The 10 modules - Each containing videos, slides, & bonus resources
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Understand Your Kid’s Brain & How to Be the Parent They Need
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Respond to Big Feelings & Intense Moments
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Stop Negotiating, Start Collaborating
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Permission to Not Follow Standard Parenting Advice (It Won’t Work Anyway)
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School & Learning Solutions for Gifted/2e Students
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Belonging & Finding Friends When You’re Not Like Other Kids
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Resilience for Kids Who Hate Mistakes
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Self-Care for Exhausted Parents
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Screen Time as a Tool
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Support Siblings with Different Needs (Even When They’re Fighting)
Plus lifetime access to the online modules so you can revisit the videos, handouts, and resources as much as you want
Live learning lab meetings
Highly interactive weekly meetings where you make a super-practical plan to try new strategies at home - so you know exactly what to say and do by the end of the call
In the first half of our weekly Learning Lab meeting, you'll make a plan to try new strategies at home. Each kid and family situation is unique, so I'll help you adapt and customize each strategy to your specific kid(s) and family dynamics.
The second half of our weekly meeting is an open Question & Answer session. This is your opportunity to get help with literally anything that stresses, confuses, or worries you - anything from, "My kid melted down last night and I'm not sure why" to "My kid always asks to eat right before bed time - what should I do?"
unlimited asynchronous coaching
Unlimited coaching feedback throughout the program so you can get the answers you need as questions or tricky situations arise
It's natural for questions to arise any time we try a new parenting technique - that's why the program includes unlimited asynchronous coaching so you can get answers to all your questions and conundrums.
I tried the strategy and my kid yelled "Stop talking!" What could I try next? Or, I wanted to say something validating when my kid was upset, but I couldn't think of what to say.
Because parenting is a 24/7 job, you can submit questions at any time of day. I answer questions with recorded coaching videos at least two times per week and share all videos with the group, so you can also learn from others' questions. Your feedback gets more personalized as I know you and your family better.
Real-life practice, iterations,
& wins
Between meetings, you'll try, observe, and iterate new strategies at home, with my help - until they really work for your intense gifted/2e kid(s) or teen(s) and for you
Every week, you'll leave the Learning Lab meeting with a concrete plan to try new strategies at home - so you can start seeing changes right away, without lots of extra effort or homework!
Your real-life practice is the heart of the program, where you see for yourself how the strategies from the Less Conflict, More Confidence framework resonate with your kid and make your home life more peaceful. We'll share wins every week to help you notice the small shifts towards more ease, less worry, fewer arguments, and more flexibility.
supportive community
of parents who get it
Connect with other parents of intense gifted/2e kids and teens in a small, supportive cohort
Parenting a gifted/2e kid or teen is often lonely, and many parents say that Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid is the first time they've connected with other families with similar intense lives.
It's hard to find other parents who understand the joys and exasperations of raising a bright, strong-willed, emotionally intense kid. For many parents in the program, it's the first time they've felt like they can talk openly about everything from their child's incredible talents and funny comments to aggressive outbursts and resistance to personal hygiene.
what you learn
The Less Conflict,
More Confidence
Parenting Framework
For parents with gifted and twice-exceptional kids or teens
Module 1 - Understand Your Kid’s Brain & How to Be the Parent They Need
If you’re not sure why your gifted/2e kid or teen goes from 0 to 100 about seemingly small setbacks, avoids hygiene tasks, or argues with you each time you make a request - this is the week when you finally get a clearer picture about what's hard and why. You'll also learn which standard parenting techniques are a terrible fit for your kid's particular brain, and which parenting approaches to focus on during our work together.
Module 2 - Respond to Big Emotions & Intense Moments
In this module, you'll learn VIEW, my 3-step process that helps you respond to big emotions in a way that actually defuses tension, reduces conflict, and helps you connect with your upset, overwhelmed, or emotionally stuck kid or teen - instead of feeling like enemies or ending the interaction with tears or slammed doors.
Parents consistently tell me that the VIEW strategy creates so much more peace in their home. Some kids who have consistently yelled, "I hate you!" start to blurt out "I love you!" after their parent responds in a new way using VIEW. (I know that sounds corny or exaggerated, but more than one parent has reported this exact shift!)
Module 3 - Stop Negotiating, Start Collaborating
Intense gifted/2e kids are naturally skilled negotiators. They’re wired to notice holes in your reasoning, generate solutions to your objections, and argue eloquently against your requests. This means they often negotiate and debate - whether they've been asked to do something as simple as get in the car or as challenging as turn off their iPad.
In this module, you'll learn how you can transform a stressful negotiation into a productive collaboration with your kid or teen - and believe it or not, your kid may actually be more motivated to get their shoes on, get out the door, or get in the shower - without the fighting.
Module 4 - Permission to Not Follow Standard Parenting Advice (It Won’t Work Anyway)
You know standard parenting advice doesn't work with your kids - you've experienced that first-hand - but you may not be sure what could work or what other options exist.
By the end of this module, you'll feel permission to adapt everything from your mealtime setup to your kid's bedtime rituals so you can do things your own way, not the standard way - and you'll have my support to find a unique, customized approach that brings more cooperation and calm to family tasks and activities that have felt exhausting when you tried to do them the "standard" way.
Module 5 - School & Learning Solutions for Gifted/2e Students
A lot of parents of gifted/2e kids find themselves in the role of school advocate or school liaison because schools aren't designed for kids like theirs. In this module, you'll learn common educational “fit” problems for gifted/2e students and a ton of potential solutions, such as accommodations, acceleration, assistive technology, 504 or IEP plans, and more.
For families who are homeschooling, unschooling, or deschooling, this module will help you understand your learner's strengths and needs more deeply so you can join them in their learning journey and feel confident along the way.
Module 6 - Belonging & Finding Friends When You’re Different than Other Kids
Many intense gifted and twice-exceptional kids struggle to find "their people" or feel out of place in typical social situations. In this module, you'll learn how to recognize, honor, and celebrate your child's gifted/2e social strengths and social preferences to help them feel connected with others and find a sense of belonging. We'll also talk about how you can empower your kid to feel socially success in "the real world" without teaching them to mask and hide their needs or sacrificing their sense of self.
Module 7 - Resilience for Kids Who Hate Mistakes
If your child gets overwhelmed by setbacks and disappointments, you’re not alone! The good news is that emotionally intense gifted/2e kids can be resilient even if they hate mistakes. In this module, you'll learn how to nurture your kid's natural resilience in a way that works *with* their brain, even if right now they shy away from any activities they can't easily master.
Module 8 - Self-Care for Exhausted Parents
Parenting an emotionally intense, sensitive gifted/2e kid can be exhausting. Some of these kids wake up ready to go at full speed - they have a head full of plans they want to enact, or they feel bored and want your help thinking of something to do. Perhaps your kid has an insatiable need for novelty and starts new projects seemingly every day. They don’t forget things, so you’ve learned to monitor what you say - if you ever mention or promise something, they’re bound to ask about it later.
Our kids' intensities are often a blast, a hoot, and a delight! And as grown people with less energy, we often find it hard to keep up.
It's also exhausting parenting a kid who doesn't fit society's mold - because none of the societal support systems are designed for your kid, and people frequently misunderstand them and what it's like to be their parent.
This module takes a realistic, supportive approach to self-care as an exhausted parent - so you can find some ease, peace, and care for yourself even when you're low on energy or can't get away for a day or weekend away.
Module 9 - Screen Time as a Tool
Our society often demonizes screen time, but many gifted/2e kids get a ton of benefit from from their screen time - often using screens to learn at their own pace, explore deep interests, calm down when they're upset, connect with peers, exercise a sense of control, decompress after tiring activities, or keep them company when their parents or caregivers need time to make dinner, take a meeting, or go to the bathroom!
This module will help you feel more confident using screen time as a tool in your family - no matter what type of limits, rules (or lack of rules) you feel comfortable trying at home. You'll learn practical strategies to de-stress common challenges so screen time works better for your kid, for you, and the whole family.
Module 10 - Supporting Siblings with Different Needs (Even When They’re Fighting)
Sibling conflict can be one of the most stressful aspects of parenting an intense gifted/2e kid. It’s painful to see one of your children hurt, threaten, or criticize your other child. And it can feel impossible to meet all your children's need when their needs conflict one another - or when they both want your full attention all the time.
This module will help you understand why your kids have such a tough time with one another, and you'll learn practical strategies to reduce conflict, meet diverging needs, and build a more peaceful family dynamic over time.
Meet Dr. Danika Maddocks, your gifted/2e parent coach
Hi, I’m Dr. Danika Maddocks!
I help parents of intense gifted/2e kids let go of standard parenting advice - which doesn't help and actually makes things worse - and parent in a way that works with your kids' brain so you can both have less conflict and more calm.
I’ve sought out intense and sensitive gifted/2e kids and teens in every iteration of my career - as a teacher, therapist, assessment provider, school consultant, and now a parent coach.
I've conducted award-winning research on twice-exceptionality and I'm constantly learning new information and perspectives to understand and support gifted/2e kids, teens, and families.
As a former gifted/2e kid raising an intense gifted/2e preschooler, I often understand these dynamics from the inside out and have an intuitive grasp of families’ joys and challenges.
I love these kids' and teens' fierce integrity, creative thinking, and willingness to say what’s on their mind. I also love working with these kids’ parents, who often delight in their children and work double-time to support them despite the lack of tailored resources and relevant supports.
I know how difficult it can be raising (or being!) an intense or sensitive gifted/2e person - because most places in the world aren't designed for gifted/2e needs, interests, preferences, or natural way of doing things.
That's why I created The Gifted Learning Lab and Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid - to give more parents of gifted/2e kids the permission and the practical strategies to do life in your own unique way that actually works with your kids' bright, strong-willed brain - so the whole family can have less conflict and more calm.
Parent Testimonials
In the past it was hard to set consistent limits with my son because he often pushed back. I had to prepare for a 45-minute meltdown if I stuck to my limits.
During the coaching program, I learned ways I could value my son’s autonomy while maintaining my own boundaries. When I gave him more autonomy, he stopped pushing back as much. In the group, it was helpful to share struggles and hear that other parents with gifted kids experience the same struggles we do.
Now I feel less shame and guilt over parenting because I’ve realized we are already doing so much.
Mom of a gifted 5-year-old
Before this program, it was hard to deal with my son’s day-to-day intensity challenges, and I wasn’t sure how to help him with friendship challenges at school.
It was so helpful to learn specific strategies that are easy to remember in the heat of the moment (like VIEW). It was also helpful to learn how many of our challenges are shared by other families.
It was invaluable to have a thoughtful and knowledgeable person (Danika ;-)) to get ideas for specific situations. It's one thing to read or learn a theory about what will help - it's another thing entirely to have professional guidance applying the theory to specific challenges. I found the most value in the program from these weekly discussions and collaborative problem solving. I also appreciated the sense that we were "doing the work" during the lab meetings - this helped me feel certain we are doing enough and on the right path as parents.
Dad of a 2e 5-year-old
Robynn, mom of a 2e 11-year-old
I joined this program looking for strategies for middle grade kids because I have a preteen. I learned emotional communication strategies when my kid was a toddler and these were immensely helpful, but she still struggled with extreme emotions that got more intense coupled with middle school, hormones, and added complexities. I'm an empath, so all her big emotions settled into me on top of my feelings of guilt and worry as her mother.
This program led to a huge mindset shift for me. Before this program, I had my own ideas about how to build my daughter’s confidence. And this is an exaggeration - but they mostly focused on giving her coping strategies to live with and blend in with neurotypical people. And after the program, I see the situation more like - no, you don't have to do that. You can own everything about yourself, have these tools, and make life work for YOU.
My confidence has improved as a parent thanks to this program. Now I feel more confident helping my kid understand that her difference/neurodiversity is real, is beautiful, and is a strength, not a hindrance.
Mom of a 2e 8-year-old
We came to this program right after our child's neuropsychological assessment because we knew we needed more information and we knew our child needed something different. The approach we learned in this program has been that something different!
Now I know how to be more of the mom my child needs and that feels empowering for me and comforting for her. I have been using the VIEW approach and it has been very helpful. I feel calmer, and she deescalates more quickly or never escalates to begin with. Her experience has been seen and heard.
Having come fresh from an assessment, we didn’t yet have accommodations in place at our child’s school. Between Danika's suggestions and those of other parents in the group, we felt prepared when we attended our first school meeting. We were able to put accommodations in place that help our child at school and also decrease some of her intensity at home. She is getting more of what she needs during the day.
Being part of the program has been such a helpful and affirming experience. I’m so glad we didn’t wait to take the course. I feel like it saved us months of flailing, searching, and experimentation!
Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid IS for you if...
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You think your kid is funny, creative, and awesome but you're at a loss about how to support their intense feelings, challenging behaviors, school experiences, or social relationships.
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You've seen that standard parenting advice doesn't work well for your kid, teen, or family, and you want to learn a different way of parenting that will work with your kids' brain instead of against it.
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You want to learn and make brave changes alongside other thoughtful parents who understand the joys and challenges of raising a bright, passionate kid.
Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid is NOT for you if...
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You want to reign in your child’s big feelings and behaviors but you're not open to trying new perspectives and approaches as a parent right now.
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You really want your kid to fit the standard parenting models - and you don't feel comfortable exploring the ways that the standard models and standard ways of doing things don't fit your kid.
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You’re not very confident your child is bright or gifted - if that’s the case, the examples in this program won’t be a great fit. (No testing is required though.)
Program Details for the FALL 2025 cohort
Schedule
The Fall 2025 cohort will run for two months from:
September 9th through November 7th
The live Learning Lab meetings are on:
Tuesdays, 10 - 11:30am PST / 1 - 2:30pm EST
price
The price for the two-month program is
$2325 USD
You can pay over 5 months ($465/month) or 10 months ($232.50/month)
There's no extra cost to use a payment plan.
The registration fee covers two adults per household.
Each cohort has two pay-what-you-can spots available for parents who cannot afford the full price of the program or for whom paying the full price would create hardship. You can see all the details and apply for the pay-what-you-can spots here.
The deadline to apply for a reduced-fee spot in the Fall 2025 cohort is August 1st, 2025. Recipients will be selected by random drawing, and I'll let everyone know by email whether they were selected for a reduced-fee spot or not. If you aren't selected for this cohort, you are welcome to re-apply for a reduced-fee spot in a future cohort.
value - what's included
To recap - the program is two months long and includes:
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Lifetime access to 10 online learning modules covering all key aspects of the Less Conflict, More Confidence Parenting Framework for parents of gifted/2e kids and teens
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Short, accessible learning videos
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Interactive worksheets to help you apply the concepts
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Slides covering all the key concepts
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Additional Deep Dive resources to learn more about the topics most relevant to you and your family
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9 live & recorded Learning Lab coaching calls (90 min each)
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Unlimited asynchronous coaching
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Private online community with your cohort (up to 20 families)
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Extra 6 months access to your cohort's Learning Lab recordings
Click here to review more details about what's included and how the program works
waitlist
Thanks for your interest in the program!
The next cohort will start in September, 2025. If you're interested in the program, you can get on the waitlist (below) to get early access to registration. I plan to open registration during the summer.
If you want to chat with me about whether the program is a good fit, I offer free 20-minute Fit Chats - sign up for a Fit Chat here.
Have more questions about Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid and whether it's a good fit for you and your family?
You may find it helpful to read the Frequently Asked Questions below. You're also welcome to schedule a free 20-minute Fit Chat with me to talk about your kid(s) or teen(s) and your questions, to help you get more clarity about whether the program would be a good fit for you right now.
If you prefer to email your questions, you can reach me at danika@giftedlearninglab.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this program appropriate if I have a young child or teen?
A: This program is designed for parents of intense gifted kids ages 2-18. The key principles you’ll learn are relevant throughout the lifespan - so if you’re a grown-up gifted kid, you may even use some of them to support yourself. I have a background in child development and I've helped parents with kids ages 2-18, so I’ll help you understand how to adapt the strategies for different ages. You can continue to use the strategies for years to come.
Q: Does my child or teen need to be officially identified as gifted for me to participate in the coaching program?
A: Your child does not have to be officially identified as gifted, as long as you strongly suspect your child is cognitively gifted or advanced. If you have any questions about whether the learning lab is a good fit, please contact me directly at danika@giftedlearninglab.com to set up a time to chat.
Q: I've already read a lot of books and articles and listened to a lot of podcasts about gifted kids, intense kids, or parenting. What's different about this program?
A: (1) Everything is designed specifically for parents of intense gifted and twice-exceptional kids. Perhaps you've had this experience - you hear or read about a parenting idea that seems great, but when you try it with your child it falls flat, backfires, or seems to create more difficulty. This experience is super common for parents of intense gifted/2e kids, and it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your execution (or your kids!). You need strategies and problem-solving help tailored to intense gifted/2e kids like yours. In Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid, all of the information and strategies have helped other families with intense gifted and 2e kids. I’ve been working directly with these kids and their families for over 20 years as a teacher, tutor, therapist, psychologist, and now a parent coach, so I have a lot of experiences to draw from and adapt. I also was an intense gifted/2e kid and now I’m raising one, so I get personal practice adapting strategies in real time! 🙃 I designed Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid so more parents can get access to the ideas and strategies they actually need (2) You get a lot more hands-on support and guidance. A parenting strategy or idea is only helpful if you can figure out how to apply it to your child and your family. As you know, I write about parenting strategies and ideas every week in Gifted Lab Notes. Some weeks, you might feel confident using the ideas from Gifted Lab Notes right away. Other weeks, you might wonder how the idea would work with your child...or whether you'd need to adapt it. You might wonder if the idea could help with your biggest concerns...or if you need a different approach for that particular situation. Take a complex child + other family members + ever-changing stressors - that's why even smart, intentional parents often feel stuck when they try a new parenting approach with their intense gifted/2e kid - or when they have to decide which strategy to try in the first place! I designed Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid to be highly interactive, so you'll get lots of help applying and adapting the strategies we discuss.
Q: The program seems like a big commitment - is it worth doing this now?
A: I designed the program to be highly interactive and supportive. There's 2.5 hours of live meeting times with me and your small cohort each week, and I know that's a substantial time commitment. Yet - many participants say that this program has actually saved them time. Our Learning Lab meetings provide the critical information you need about the week's topic, so you can start to make changes right away without additional research or reading. I help you understand what underlies your child's intensity, and I help you shift your parenting in small ways to create more connection and ease. Most parents I work with are in one of two spots, and both groups find that the program saves them time (1) Some parents have known their kid is gifted or 2e for some time, and they've done a lot of research to understand giftedness, autism, ADHD, or their child's other exceptionalities. Despite understanding their kid's brain, they still struggle with daily parenting interactions. They know their parenting approach isn't working, but they can't find clear guidance about what would work with their kid. These parents appreciate the concrete parenting strategies and all the help adapting techniques to their particular situation. They save time by finally learning strategies that work for daily interactions. They spend less time in trial-and-error, and less time responding to meltdowns, arguments, power struggles, and other conflict at home. (2) Other parents have recently learned that their child is gifted or 2e, and they feel overwhelmed by everything there is to learn about their child's brain and needs. Many of these parents have also been craving a new approach to parenting, but they haven't known where to start. These parents appreciate that the program provides a simple, clear framework to understand their child's new diagnosis and what their child needs to thrive. They save months of time spent researching and searching for clear information. They also appreciate the concrete parenting strategies and the way I tie the strategies to gifted/2e needs.
Q: What if I can't attend all the Learning Lab meetings and Office Hours live? Will I still get a lot out of the program?
A: All of our live meetings are recorded, and you have access to these recordings for 6 months. If you watch a recording and have a question, you can ask questions at any time during the program in our private Mighty Networks forum and I’ll reply with a video. Participating asynchronously won’t be quite as immersive as participating live, but through Mighty Networks you can get a lot of asynchronous support and coaching from me and interact with other families in your cohort as well. (You also get two private coaching calls during the program, which you'll schedule at a time that works for you.) Some parents in past cohorts were not able to attend the Tuesday meetings, but watched the videos each week and attended the Friday Office Hours as much as possible. The Office Hours meeting is fully interactive and gives you time to ask and discuss questions in real time with me and other families. Parents who missed the Office Hours meetings said it was still very helpful to watch the recordings. You’re welcome to join from work, from your parked car, while watching your younger child (I’d recommend headphones), or while your kid uses a screen. If you can figure out a creative way to join, you are welcome to join however works for you!
Q: Is there a payment plan?
A: Yes, you can pay the fee in 5 monthly payments instead of a single payment. There are no additional fees to use a payment plan.
Q: Do you have experience with...
A: ..queer, nonbinary, and trans kids and teens? Teens with long-standing mental health challenges? Single-parent families? Kids with sensory sensitivities? Kids with chronic health conditions? Kids with significant anxiety, depression, panic attacks, somatic symptoms? Kids who use medication for ADHD, anxiety, or mood? Preschoolers and kindergarteners? Public schools? Private schools? Homeschooling? The answer (to all these, at least) is yes! I've been working with gifted/2e kids and their families in a lot of capacities over the last 20 years, and my private practice is focused on these types of families. I used to teach middle school and I learn a ton from my teen clients. I have an intense gifted 4 year old at home and I run a free discussion group for parents of bright kids ages 1-5, so I've learned a lot about gifted/2e intensity in this age group (in addition to my training in general child development). I love to research and do deep learning dives on all things related to gifted/2e kids, so that includes neurodiversity in general, LGBTQIA+ identities, anxiety and depression, burnout, family stress, sensory sensitivities, chronic health conditions, school issues of all types, and more. If you'd like to know whether I have experience with some specific aspect of your child's experience or your parenting concerns, feel free to email or schedule a chat! It makes sense you'd want to know that before we work together.
Q: Is this program therapy?
A: No, this group coaching program is not therapy and is not a substitute for therapy or a professional relationship with a licensed mental health professional. During group coaching lab meetings, you'll reflect privately on your own experiences, strengths, and challenges - but we won't spend time exploring any participant's personal psychology in depth with the group or with me. If you or your child are already participating in therapy services, this group coaching program can be a great complement to your personal therapy work because it will give you a gifted-specific framework to understand your child and improve your family dynamics. If at any point during the group coaching program you realize that your own or your child's anxiety, sadness, history of trauma and stress, or other mental health challenges are affecting your ability to use the new information and strategies you're learning, I'd encourage you to seek out therapy services to get additional personalized support.
Q: What if I have some issues with the terms "gifted" or "twice-exceptional"?
A: You don’t have to be completely comfortable with the labels “gifted” or “twice-exceptional” to benefit from this program, as long as you see your child as bright or as intellectually/academically advanced. During this program, you’ll get a chance to understand giftedness in a new way and learn more about what giftedness means for your child. The term “gifted” has a complicated and problematic history. Historically, IQ testing and gifted programs have been used to support eugenics, racial stereotypes, and inequities. Yet some children from all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic situations are unusually bright and advanced. My view of giftedness is this: giftedness isn’t about being better, it’s about being different. And I believe it’s important to acknowledge when a child is bright or gifted because we have to understand a child accurately to support them well. For gifted kids, knowing they’re gifted helps us make a better fit between their environments and their unique characteristics. If you don’t believe that gifted or high-ability children sometimes think and process the world differently than typically developing children, this program probably won’t be a good match.
Q: What if I have some issues with the word "intense"?
A: If the descriptions at the top of this page resonate with you, this program will probably be a good fit even if you don't love the word "intense" or if you prefer other words to describe your kid - like passionate, energetic, sensitive, assertive, independent, strong-willed, or curious. I chose the word "intense" because it resonates with many parents whose gifted kids feel deeply, think deeply, and notice things that others don't. I think "intense" can be a useful shorthand, but it doesn't capture all the nuance and individuality of a child's strong feelings, thoughts, or behaviors. In this program, we'll look at "intensity" in a new way that highlight your child's strengths and helps you identify successful strategies to support them.
Q: My intense gifted child is autistic, has ADHD, or has a learning disability like dyslexia. Is this program designed for families like ours?
A: Absolutely! I have a special interest in twice-exceptionality and Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid was designed with twice-exceptional kids in mind. I strive to make all the approaches and strategies neurodiversity-affirming and appropriate for twice-exceptional kids. We also spend significant time helping you adapt the principles and strategies to your specific child's neurotype, personality, interests, and other characteristics. I have a lot of experience supporting families of intense gifted kids who are autistic, have ADHD, and have learning disabilities or sensory sensitivities - as well as supporting the kids themselves. I am continually learning about neurodiversity-affirming approaches to parenting and coaching as well as the lived experiences of neurodiverse folks of all kinds. If you're interested in the program and want to learn more about supporting your twice-exceptional kid, I would love to have you!
Q: My intense gifted kid is a PDAer (has persistent drive for autonomy / pathological demand avoidance). Or, I've noticed that they have a lot of PDA characteristics. Is this program a good fit for families whose kid is PDA?
A: Yes! I've been learning a ton about PDA over the last two years and my own kid has PDA characteristics, so I understand many of the constraints inherent in parenting a PDA kid. As I learn more about internalized PDA, I recognize my own internal PDA experiences as well, so I bring a lot of compassion and intuition to my work supporting PDAers and their families. In July 2024, I did a webinar called "Supporting Gifted and Twice-Exceptional PDAers" for PDA North America. Every cohort of Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid has had at least one family with a PDAer, and often multiple. Every week, we talk about how to adapt the new approaches and ideas to support kids with PDA characteristics specifically. In my experience, most intense gifted/2e kids benefit from PDA-informed approaches, so these are highlighted throughout the program. In terms of specific training, I've completed the PDA North American Certification Program - Level 1, the Therapists and PDA Masterclass from At Peace Parents, and PDA: Not What You Think It Is! from Dr. Donna Henderson and Neurodivergent Insights.
Q: What's the refund policy?
A: This is an all-in investment. There are no refunds after live meetings have begun. You’ll be learning a new framework to help you understand your child better, feel calmer as a parent, and bolster your support systems. The 8-week group coaching experience walks you through this framework and gives you the tools you need to make real, lasting changes in your parenting and your family. This is vulnerable, exciting work. I want you to be fully invested in the process so you can get the most out of what the learning lab has to offer. With this policy, you’ll know that your labmates are as invested in the process as you are.