Intelligent, individualized support for your whole self
Treating highly intelligent clients struggling with life’s demands
On-line across Florida, Virginia, and PsyPact states
You think differently than others and it feels like a burden rather than the benefit you know it can be.
If you find yourself talking around other therapists who can’t keep up with you, don’t understand why so many people frustrate you, and want a deeper dive into your thoughts, feelings, and actions, this is the place for you.
Knowing you have a high intelligence, being a “nerd,” and thinking more broadly, quickly, and/or efficiently than others means you know you are “different” and that comes with struggles of its own.
Maybe you get easily frustrated with people who can’t keep up with you, causing friction in relationships. Perhaps you “dumb yourself down” to avoid sounding pretentious, but end up feeling bored or misunderstood. Worse, you are incredibly successful, people think you are “brilliant” but you know you “just work really hard” and the fact things come easily to you shows you are “lazy” or “an imposter.”
Having a high IQ means you ARE different from a large percentage of the population in some meaningful ways. Wanting deeper connections, interesting conversations, and to use your smarts to their full potential are all common desires for those rocking a higher than average IQ. Being smart doesn’t make you better than others overall, just at some things, and knowing how to comfortably talk about the way you think and use that to your highest purpose is a valuable goal.
Is working with me right for you?
As someone who understands the benefits and struggles of a higher than average IQ, my aim is to help you feel more comfortable to dive deeper into your mind and tackle complex topics. Ultimately, for you to feel more at peace with a brain that sometimes overthinks and complicates the world while also appreciating how it allows you to live a richer, more satisfying life.
Together we are going to honestly acknowledge the problems and struggles inherent in being “gifted”. We will also assess the competing struggles you may be facing: ADHD+, learning disabilities, and bullying to name a few. We will work together to develop skills and goals related to your unique needs and treat your related symptoms (anxiety, depression, etc) without letting your intelligence get in the way of deeply connecting to your emotions, body, and non-intelligence related needs.
WHAT WE’LL DO TOGETHER
You think differently than others, so you deserve a different approach to therapy
How I work with highly intelligent clients
Help you understand the unique ways your intelligence presents itself
Work with you to understand the ways your intelligence seems to work against you
Clarify the ways your intelligence serves you
Develop a deeper understanding of ways to use those strengths to improve communication, relationships, values clarification ,and goal achievement
Therapy with an understanding of your intelligence can help you
Engage your whole self which has important information you may have been dismissing
Escape indecision paralysis
Reduce imposter syndrome and increase internalized confidence
Stop getting stuck in the “worst case scenario spiral” and learn to acknowledge your brain’s survival skills, creativity, and then move forward more joyfully.
Common questions about counseling for Smart yet Struggling clients
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Many people with High IQ’s have deep rooted imposter syndrome. Some are smart, but struggle(d) with undiagnosed learning disabilities and/or ADHD+ (executive functioning issues). They grew up thinking “I’m smart, but can’t do the things everyone else can do so easily like get to class on time or basic math.” Others came from homes with high anxiety, trauma, or immature/unskillful parents who did not know how to nurture their brains. Even without all of these interferences, being high in IQ, higher than a lot of people, is stressful and comes with its own specific needs. Very intelligent people are often in their heads a lot, overwhelmed by certain sounds or people, obsessively interested in certain topics, or just a little weird (often in really cool ways). As someone in that camp, I know how hard it can be as a kid to feel misunderstood, excited about things others “don’t get,” and not wanting to change the way I think and talk to make friends - and I know many ways to overcome these challenges. A lot of my clients are super smart, work very hard, all the while managing anxiety, imposter syndrome, and the pain of the past. Understanding your brain is vital no matter your IQ or your history. Having a “big brain” just means there is a bit more to explore to really understand yourself and others. I enjoy helping people discover how to uncover those unique corners of the mind that can make being brilliant more joyful.
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My first response is often: “then you should be impressed by how well you fool people!” But seriously, even if you are a hard worker and people mistake that for intelligence, why does that make you uncomfortable? Whether you are actually super smart or somehow use the intelligence you have to figure things out and succeed, we can find a way to change the questions you ask yourself and allay the fears that come up due to your way of thinking.
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Many smart, successful, “high functioning” people struggle with anxiety, worry, fears, and “imposter syndrome.” Often, these feelings and thoughts are due to events in their past, such as bullying in their childhood, abandonment by a loved one, or emotional neglect from a parent. These persistent, but non-life threatening harms are often referred to as “Little t trauma.” They can cause a lot of harm over time, leading to self-doubt and a lack of skills to manage the intensity of a demanding adult life. For others, they have “Big T trauma” - life-threatening or perceived life-threatening events such as abuse, sexual assault, witnessing abuse of a loved one, witnessing death or being at threat of bodily harm. Even one event of such a thing can lead to lasting harm and anxious reactions. Regardless of the cause, anxiety and PTSD can be healed, allowing you to reclaim peace and joy in your life.