2e: When Giftedness and Mental Health Challenges Overlap

Many twice-exceptional (2e) children feel different, like they just don’t fit in, and can be more susceptible to mental health challenges.

In this Voices of Compassion podcast episode, we talk with Christine Pearston, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist at CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services, who suggests we start by looking at the whole child — strengths, interests and challenges alike.

Twice-exceptional children may feel isolated from their peers because of their giftedness and their neurodiversity, whether it be autism, learning differences, ADHD, anxiety or otherwise.

Some live with the constant feeling that they are not living up to their ‘gifted’ potential, or feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. With this in mind, how can parents, caregivers and educators effectively support 2e children?

All Voices of Compassion podcast episodes are available on-demand to stream or download. Listen to 2e: When Giftedness and Mental Health Challenges Overlap online at podcasts.chconline.org. You can also subscribe to Voices of Compassion on Apple podcasts, Spotify and other podcast apps.