Emotional Intensity and Gifted
Presenter: Christine Fonseca
MCGT Professional Series
November 15 and December 13, 2024
11:00am - 1:00pm Central Time via Zoom
Co-Sponsored by the Minnesota Dept of Education and Cottonwood Center
This 2-part series provides an in-depth exploration of giftedness and emotional intensity. The series is designed for professionals (psychologists, therapists, counselors, and learning coaches) working with gifted individuals as well as GT Coordinators, school counselors, school psychologists, social workers, and teachers of gifted.
Fee:
$100 For 2 Sessions
$70 for MCGT Professional Members and MCGT Sponsors
Not a MCGT Professional member? Join online now!
$35 for Undergraduate or Graduate Students
Part I:
Redefining Normal: Harnessing the Power of Emotional Intensity in Gifted Children
November 15, 2024; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm CT via Zoom
(Vimeo recording available to registrants)
Gifted individuals live naturally intense lives. Often misunderstood both by themselves and by the world, many high-ability children and adults try to hide their intensities—usually with little success. Rather than trying to change or deny a gifted child’s intensities, embrace them. Turn their extreme emotions into the “superpower” you have all been yearning for, the passion needed to embody everything it means to be gifted.
Using reflection exercises and small group discussion, participants will explore the current research related to giftedness, emotional intensity, and the intersection between intensity and mental health concerns. By the end of the session, participants will learn several evidence-based strategies to appropriately identify mental health needs related to giftedness and intensities.
Objectives:
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Understand what emotional intensity is and how it impacts gifted children
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Explore the recent controversy around Dabrowski’s OEs and gifted identification
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Examine the intersection of emotional intensity, giftedness, and twice-exceptionality
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Determine the needs and treatment objectives of gifted students experiencing intense levels of emotions
Part II:
When Emotional Intensity Overwhelms the Body: Using Somatic Practices to Improve Outcomes for Gifted Children and Emotional Intensity
December 13, 2024; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm CT via Zoom
(Vimeo recording available to registrants)
Gifted individuals often struggle with their behavior and emotional regulation related to emotional intensity. This becomes even more intense when the gifted child is twice-exceptional. In this workshop, participants will learn to utilize practices and strategies from somatic experiencing, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and polyvagal theory to address difficulties often resulting from emotional intensity and comorbid conditions (including ADHD, Autism, and mental health disorders).
Using small group discussion, scenarios, and demonstrations, participants will explore strategies utilized in IFS, polyvagal theory and somatic experiencing to assist gifted children with awareness, regulation and rewiring emotionally intense experiences, reframing from disembodied to embodied acceptance of everything it means to be emotionally intense. By the end of the session, participants will learn several evidence-based strategies ready to use in your work with gifted people.
Objectives:
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Understand how to utilize specific somatic strategies with gifted and twice-exceptional children
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Practice several specific somatic strategies
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Examine ways to incorporate somatic experiences into current practice
All sessions will be via Zoom and recorded for access outside of the scheduled presentation time.
Four hours of CEUs have been approved through the MN Board of Psychology (log# 202510.120) and will be available for educators from Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). CEU documentation will be sent directly to participants.
Presenter: Christine Fonseca is a licensed educational psychologist, critically acclaimed author, and a nationally recognized speaker on topics related to educational psychology, mental health, and giftedness. Using her experience consulting and coaching, Christine brings her expertise to Psychology Today, authoring the parenting blog Parenting for A New Generation. She has written articles for Parents.com, Johnson & Johnson, and Justine Magazine. Her most popular titles include Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students and I’m Not Just Gifted.
Questions? Email info@mcgt.net
