GIFTED THERAPY SEARCH & ADVOCACY
FINDING A GIFTED-SPECIFIC THERAPIST
While InterGifted offers only gifted-specific coaching and mentoring, we understand that therapy is also a very important step on many gifted people's healing and developmental journey. For this reason, we offer a service in which we help you search for a gifted-specific therapist in your area and/or online (according to your preference) who will be able to provide the right kind of support for your unique neurocognitive profile. We are experienced in and knowledgeable about the potential risks and challenges associated with trying out therapists - especially when one needs gifted-specific or twice-/multi-exceptional support. We have developed a process whereby we can help you locate one or several viable gifted-specific therapy options for you to pursue. We research, contact therapists if necessary to verify that it's a match, and support you in learning how to advocate for your gifted-specific needs as you get started in therapy.
FINDING AN ECOLOGICAL GRIEF / CLIMATE EMERGENCY THERAPIST
As part of our efforts to support everyone (gifted and non-gifted alike) in their processing of ecological grief and heavy feelings related to the current climate emergency, we are also available to help you find a therapist who can help you process your grief or trauma about the state of the world. If you've processed your negative feelings and want support for finding your unique contribution and calling in the collective task of healing the earth, we can connect you with a knowledgeable coach. These efforts are part of the work of InterGifted's founding director Jennifer Harvey Sallin and InterGifted coach and community leader Karin Eglinton, and their initiative: I Heart Earth.
WHO IS HELPING YOU?
Jay Sloth Ezzy is trained in psychology and in supporting gifted and twice-/multi-exceptional people. They have helped gifted and twice-/multi-exceptional adults find therapy for themselves as well as for their gifted children (including gifted-knowledgeable couples, family, and career therapy) all around the world. They are also deeply passionate about supporting efforts for the restoration of our Earth, and helping gifted and non-gifted people alike find the right support for healing grief and trauma and finding their unique contribution to the collective task we share.
ABOUT THE SEARCH PROCESS
To get started, you can make your therapy search payment of 150 Swiss Francs (CHF) to us via our our paylink. Then you can email Jay via the form below or directly to support@intergifted.com to schedule your call. Calls usually last around 60 minutes, depending on your needs and situation; calls that go significantly over an hour are charged at a rate of 75 CHF per hour. In your email, make sure to include your time zone. Following your phone call with Jay, they will conduct a therapy search for a fitting therapist. This can take anywhere from several days to two weeks, and Jay will stay in contact with you during that time to let you know how the process is going and answer any questions you may have. Once you have some viable therapy options for moving forward, Jay will remain available for any follow-up questions you may have. If additional call time is needed with Jay during the first call, or for subsequent calls to discuss gifted self-advocacy in therapy or in other psychiatric treatment situations, that time is billed at the rate of 75 CHF per hour.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THERAPY, COACHING & MENTORING
Many people are unsure about whether they need therapy, coaching or mentoring. Most simply put, therapy is for when you are not in an emotionally or psychologically stable place (i.e. struggling with traumatic reactions, excessive negative emotion such as fear, anger, apathy, or shame, which are affecting your daily life and ability to fully engage in relationships). Coaching and mentoring are for when you are feeling energetic and ready to make progress and construct and refine personal, emotional, relational and professional projects (i.e. learn about your giftedness, explore more fitting career options, learn how to better relate to and communicate with others, learn to use your gifted voice and intuition, and so on).
For many people, their personal landscape is a mix of those states and goals, so it's not a clear-cut question. You can be ready to learn about your giftedness and explore new career options (in the range of courage and hope), all the while struggling with trauma reactions (in the range of shame, shut-down, anger and so on). For many, engaging in therapy for the trauma reactions while simultaneously exploring gifted coaching for the more forward-exploring aspects of their journey is the right solution. This is something that Jay can help you explore, so that you are getting the right support for the right aspects of your life.
WHAT GIFTED-SPECIFIC THERAPY ADDRESSES
(You may find it insightful to compare this list with the list on our coaching & mentoring page)
- Healing from physical and psychological trauma, as well as complex trauma as a gifted person
- Healing from gifted-specific trauma and other childhood or emotional adult wounds
- Recovering from abusive relationships, including abusive parenting, sexual, emotional,or physical abuse, psychiatric abuse, religious, spiritual or ideological abuse, social injustice and violence, domestic violence, and workplace or school bullying
- (Re)learning to trust after trust has been broken
- Treating states of apathy and depression, including existential depression
- Healing from break-ups, divorce, separation or other relational rupture
- Intensive couples- or family-oriented work to resolve long-standing conflicts
- Learning basic functional strategies for gifted-specific, and twice- or multi-exceptional challenges
- Gaining basic self-awareness and self-reflection skills
HELPFUL READING
To further explore these questions, you may benefit from reading:
- Supporting Gifted People: Guidelines for Therapists & Coaches (and Advice for Gifted Clients), by Jennifer Harvey Sallin
- Philosophical Coaching for Gifted People (on the differences between therapy, mentoring and coaching for gifted people), by Miriam van der Valk
- Coaching vs. Therapy - A Perspective, by Vicki Hart, John Blattner & Staci Leipsic
- Our Gifted Coaching & Mentoring Page and our FAQs
EMAIL US & GET STARTED
After you've made your 150 CHF therapy search payment (see above), email Jay Sloth Ezzy at support@intergifted.com to schedule your call.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
For the first few years after learning I was gifted, determining my level of giftedness seemed like something unnecessary to pursue. It was enough to know why I was different. But after talking to Jen, I discovered that identifying my level was actually a necessary key for unlocking the ways in which I mask my giftedness, not only from others, but also from myself. Thanks to Jen’s insights, I’m making meaningful progress in understanding my gifted needs and nature. If you’d like to move to the next level of connecting with your gifted self, I recommend Jen as an excellent guide!
V.W. - USA
Marc - USA
Mary Ann - USA
I’m doing a formal coaching trajectory with Willem Kuipers around work-related issues. It’s fantastic! His (academic) knowledge of giftedness is enormous, which helps a lot in understanding myself in context, plus understanding the context itself better. Because of this specific knowledge Willem is able to exactly explain why things work the way they do, and that’s based on thorough research combined with the right kind of intuition. Besides this, he is a gentle and sensitive person who very carefully phrases his thoughts and suggestions. Willem has also developed practical tools about personal preferences and career parameters that are very helpful. His way of coaching has very little to do with the regular Human Resources approach, and is an adventurous journey into learning about all aspects of giftedness that are useful for you in your given situation. For me, it all really works very well.”
Lucine - The Netherlands
J.D. - UK
Connecting with Karin was life-changing. It’s been great to hear that I’m not crazy and that most of the things that happen to me are shared by others. Finding my identity is sometimes confusing and pushes me to confront some things I’ve never confronted. It’s great to do this with someone supporting me, at my pace. I love the fact that Karin is just there when you need it, with a tailored coaching method, not pushing me with a pre-established way of working. Every time we finish a session I have a smile and I feel peaceful, back on track. It’s been a great process and I’m excited for what’s coming. If you are looking for a coach, I can’t recommend Karin enough.
Chris - Chile
The work I do with Karin has helped me articulate who I am and has in a way, given me permission to step in to that identity. On top of being incredibly knowledgeable as a gifted coach, she is gracious and kind which creates a space where I feel safe, and seen. I’m incredibly grateful that I get the opportunity to work with Karin and would highly, highly recommend her.
B.Y. - Australia
Even though I have only had a handful of sessions with Karin, I can already feel the shift in my self perception. I have had numerous interactions with different types of helping professionals but none has come close to knowing the real me like Karin has done in such a few sessions. She sees me, she hears me and she has remained totally unfazed by me. For the first time I have found someone whose brain and heart are working as one. Her intuition is spot on. I don’t feel judged and I don’t feel that I’m too much for her. I don’t have to dumb myself down and act like I don’t know stuff in order to not offend the ‘professional’. She is helping me reframe the way that I see myself. I am slowly beginning to accept my giftedness. Karin is acting as the bridge that I am using to cross to the other side. I am in the throes of a positive disintegration but with her holding my hand, I am no longer terrified. Our work is not yet done but I do know that I will make it across …. and more.
Londi - UK
I have had two inspiring coaching sessions with Jen. I chose to be coached by her because of the click and her specific expertise. Being able to talk with someone with the same level and thinking speed as well as with the same humor, is important as a highly gifted individual. During the deep discussion we had about personality types, I felt understood, challenged and supported to take my possibilities to the next level. I got valuable information to help me understand how things work in my head, based on my personality type. Since talking with Jen, I understand better why I fare better in some situations than others, and where my focus should be. I am ready to explore different opportunities for myself work and study wise. Jen also helped me explore where my existential depression stems from and how to prevent or deal with it, when it arises again. Thank you Jen, for your great insights and support!
K. - USA
Jen is truly compassionate, understanding, generous and accommodating – and seems to ‘get’ exactly what you are thinking, feeling and fearing. She’s very accessible and approachable, in spite of being busy and is so authentic that you feel, continually, that she is on your side and identifies with and shares your challenges. I strongly recommend that you contact Jen directly if you feel the need for a consummately professional and highly competent advice and support: she’ll direct you to the best coach to work with, if she isn’t the best option or if she can’t fit you in.
G. - South Africa
Ellen - US
Karin works with me in the form of an informal conversation in a safe atmosphere. She picks me up from where I’m in my actual developmental state. I feel encouraged to try new steps, gain other point of views – expansion of consciousness. I learned to realize and acknowledge that I’m really gifted. She helps me to develop my authentic self. I learn about myself, how I’m functioning, about healthy boundaries that help me, as an empathic, overexcitable person to be in the outer world, without self-betrayal. I feel answered, legitimized and alive. Thank you Karin for your loving support.
I.E. - Germany
Jen has it down to a fine art form. The quality of her mind-to-mind interactions is so brilliantly resonant and fluid that she gets to the ‘magic point’ in a way that is fast, congruent, and rings true. I have found her work effective because she embodies it as a living process.
Richard - US
I’m twice-exceptional – gifted and autistic. I spent most of my life feeling ashamed of the way my mind worked and trying so hard to make it fit into the mould of what people expected of me. At the age of forty, I found InterGifted and started coaching with Jen. She understood me more in just a couple conversations than anyone had in my whole life, even my closest friends and family. In coaching with Jen, I finally understood that I am a meta-thinker, and that this makes my mental process very different than the norm (even more different than I already thought, considering my autism). I have known about my autism much longer than I have known about my giftedness, so now I have a lot of knowledge to integrate. But I feel very hopeful for the first time in a long time, as now I can evaluate my true potential and build upon it, rather than continuing to try to be something I’m not or fulfill others’ ideas of my potential. I am reaching a level of self-acceptance and hope through coaching that I never thought was possible for me. Thank you Jen!
H.W. - Australia
The InterGifted coaches have been an amazing resource of support for me over the last year. When I found InterGifted, I was struggling with past trauma, and career and relational problems. Jen connected me with two of the coaches who specialize in healing from trauma and career and relationships, respectively. They have both been so supportive and helpful in guiding me toward a better understanding of myself and my past, and giving me more awareness of what kind of life I want to create for myself now and for my future. Every time I have needed them, they have be there for me, through in-person sessions and often by email. Through their coaching, I have come to better understand how my giftedness affected my trauma, how to take better care of myself, what my true values are, how to better communicate with my family, and how much there really is to live for. Thank you all so much!
Alyse - USA