Gifted and 2e individuals starting therapy at this stage of development often report experiencing significant distress and challenges with meeting functional demands, navigating relationships, perfectionism and a declining self-esteem. Sometimes these clients were diagnosed when younger but did not receive support because they were able to compensate to meet social and academic demands. Presenting concerns are most often symptoms of anxiety, depression, social isolation, emotional distress and difficulties with executive function.

Thrive conducts a comprehensive intake to screen for potential learning differences, attention difficulties, social cognitive delays and differences, executive functioning challenges, sensory dysregulation, and traditional assessment for mood and anxiety disorders. When indicated, referrals for additional testing are provided. 

Treatment is delivered through a holistic approach to meet the client as a whole individual. Providing the client with a safe space to begin to explore their identity as a neurodivergent, gifted or 2e person. Therapy focuses on learning about their unique needs, their learner profile, processing the emotional experience of “being different,” and learning tools to support their social cognitive, social emotional and executive functioning needs to cultivate emotional and social capacity for living a fulfilling life on their own terms. 

The primary models that inform Thrive therapy with teens and adults include Internal Family Systems (IFS), Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Awareness-Based Somatic Practices such as yoga, qigong, vagal toning, guided meditations and breathwork. These somatic practices are especially useful in supporting sensory regulation for gifted and 2e individuals but must be tailored to the client’s sensory profile to ensure safety and optimal benefit. When appropriate, somatic practices are taught and practiced with a parent participating to support at-home practice.