Mind Matters

You might say Deb Douglas is an advocate for self-advocacy. Deb has committed her career to helping educators, school administrators, and parents teach their gifted and twice-exceptional kids the importance of self-advocacy. Now she’s sharing her knowledge on Episode 8 of Mind Matters. Deb Douglas has a Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, and is the architect of the GT Carpe Diem Workshop, a system designed to empower gifted and high-potential children to self-advocate. She’s a past president of the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted. Host Emily Kircher-Morris has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education, and specializes in the area of giftedness throughout the lifespan. She founded the non-profit organization The Gifted Support Network, is the owner of Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center, and is the mother of three gifted children.

On episode 7, Emily talks with Garrett Hartman, LPC about the transition to adulthood for gifted people and their neurotypical counterparts. How can parents help? What should the education system do to prepare kids for a changing landscape? Adulting - on this episode of Mind Matters. Garrett Hartman is a counselor and the Director of Training and Development at the Center for Identity Potential in Chicago. Garrett works to help simultaneous development of clients and their families to affect overall positive change throughout the family system. Host Emily Kircher-Morris has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education, and specializes in the area of giftedness throughout the lifespan. She founded the non-profit organization The Gifted Support Network, is the owner of Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center, and is the mother of three gifted children.

On episode six of Mind Matters, Emily talks with Lisa Van Gemert, the “Gifted Guru,” about perfectionism. We clear up some common misperceptions and discuss strategies to deal with the challenges perfectionism presents. Lisa Van Gemert has written numerous published articles on social psychology and pedagogy, and is the author of Perfectionism: A Practical Guide to Managing Never Good Enough. She is a co-founder of The Gifted Guild, a professional community for educators of the gifted. Host Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education, and specializes in the area of giftedness throughout the lifespan. She founded the non-profit organization The Gifted Support Network, is the owner of Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center, and is the mother of three gifted children.

In this episode, Dr. Steve Coxon, Executive Director of the Center for Access and Achievement at Maryville University in St. Louis discusses the 'creativity crisis' and STEM. We also discuss ways to promote creativity and challenge gifted people. Steve holds his PhD in Gifted Education Policy, Planning, and Leadership from The College of William and Mary. Host Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education, and specializes in the area of giftedness throughout the lifespan. She founded the non-profit organization The Gifted Support Network, is the owner of Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center, and is the mother of three gifted children.

Mind Matters examines recent mass shootings perpetrated by gifted or highly intelligent individuals. Noted author and expert Dr. James Delisle, Ph.D., helps us dig deeper into the backgrounds and motivations of the perpetrators of Newtown, Columbine, and other notable mass shootings, and we discuss the inspiring activism of the kids of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Dr. James Delisle, Ph.D., was a professor of education at Kent State University (Ohio) for 25 years and was selected by faculty and students there as a "Distinguished Professor", the University's most prestigious teaching award. Host Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education, and specializes in the area of giftedness throughout the lifespan. She founded the non-profit organization The Gifted Support Network, is the owner of Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center, and is the mother of three gifted children. Special thanks: CNN, NBC News, ABC News, The New York Times, CBS Ne

In this episode of Mind Matters, Emily discusses the impact of bullying on the learning ability and environment of gifted and 2e young people. Her guest is Cathy Risberg, M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, who owns Minds that Soar, and consults with parents, students, teachers, and administrators to identify and provide strength-based strategies to help all students, especially those who are gifted and twice-exceptional (2e), reach their full potential. Host Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education, and specializes in the area of giftedness throughout the lifespan. She founded the non-profit organization The Gifted Support Network, is the owner of Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center, and is the mother of three gifted children.

Host Emily Kircher-Morris delves into the world of video games. Does gaming affect gifted kids differently? What is special about the relationship between giftedness and gaming? We talk with Mark Talaga, M.A., LPC, and Brandon Tessers, LPC, from the Center for Identity Potential. Mark Talaga is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned his Masters at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Mark specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults.  Brandon Tessers is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. He has particular interest in working with individuals and families struggling with issues related to technology and video games.

Host Emily Kircher-Morris and Kate Bachtel, board president of SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted), and the owner of SoulSpark in Boulder CO, discuss new approaches to educating the gifted, from a parent's perspective and as an educator. Kate Bachtel received a Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Educational Equity and Cultural Diversity from the University of Colorado-Boulder. She has a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in gifted from the University of Denver. She is the owner of SoulSpark Learning of Boulder, CO, an organization dedicated to establishing inspiring, diverse, inclusive and sustainable learning communities where children and educators thrive. Related Links: SoulSpark Learning, SENG, Facebook, 6 Seconds