Although many authors have recommended counseling for the gifted (Colangelo, 1991; Kerr, 1986; Silverman, 1993b), little research has been done to find out what types of counseling services parents, teachers, and counseling professionals believe to be most beneficial to the development of gifted and talented individuals (Myers & Pace, 1986; Passow, 1991; Shore, Cornell, Robinson, & Ward, 1991). In this study 335 parents, school personnel, and related counseling professionals were surveyed to determine their perceptions of the specialized counseling needs of gifted children and adolescents as part of a needs assessment for a proposed university-based counseling center. Results indicated that all groups of respondents believed that gifted and talented youth have important social, emotional, family and talent and career development needs that can best be met by differentiated counseling services; and that such services are not readily available to gifted youth. Implications of the study for the development of counseling services and the training of counseling professionals are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barton, J.M., & Starnes, W.T. (1989). Identifying distinguishing characteristics of gifted and talented/learning disabled students. Roeper Review , 12(1), 23-28.
2.
Betts, G.T. (1985). The autonomous learner model for the gifted and talented. Fort Collins, CO: Alps .
3.
Bloom, B. S. (Ed.)(1985). Developing talent in young people. New York: Ballentine Books.
4.
Boodoo, G.M., Bradley, C.L., Frontera, R.L., Pitts, J.R., & Wright, L.B. (1989). A survey of procedures used for identifying gifted learning disabled children. Gifted Child Quarterly, 33, 110-114.
5.
Borg, W.R., Gall, J.P., & Gall, M.D. (1993). Applying educational research: A practical guide . New York: Longman.
6.
Borland, J.H. (1989). Planning and implementing programs for the gifted . New York: Teachers College Press .
Clasen, D.R., & Clasen, R.E. (1995). Underachievement of highly able students and the peer society. Gifted and Talented International, 10,67-76.
9.
Colangelo, N. (1988). Families of gifted children: The next ten years . Roeper Review, 11, 16-54.
10.
Colangelo, N. (1991). Counseling gifted students. In N. Colangelo & G. A. Davis (Eds.), Handbook of gifted education (pp. 273-284). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
11.
Colangelo, N., Kerr, B., Christensen, P., & Maxey, J. (1993). A comparison of gifted underachievers and gifted high achievers. Gifted Child Quarterly, 37, 155-160.
12.
Compton, M.F. ( 1982). The gifted underachiever in middle school. Roeper Review, 4(4), 23-25.
13.
Cross, T.L., Coleman, L.J., & Terhaar-Yonkers, M. (1991). The social cognition of gifted adolescents in schools: Managing the stigma of giftedness. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 15, 44-55.
14.
Dauber, S.L., & Benbow, C.P. (1990). Aspects of personality and peer relations of extremely talented adolescents. Gifted Child Quarterly, 34, 10-15.
15.
Deiulio, J.M. (1984). Attitudes of school counselors and psychologists toward gifted children. Journal for the Education of the Gifted , 7, 164-169.
16.
Dettman, D.F., & Colangelo, N. (1980). A functional model for counseling parents of gifted students. Gifted Child Quarterly, 24, 158-161.
17.
Dowdall, C.B., & Colangelo, N. (1982). Underachieving gifted students: Review and implications . Gifted Child Quarterly, 26, 179-180.
18.
Falk, C.R. (1987, September). Children's perceptions of the effects of divorce on school life. Paper presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, New York.
19.
Feldhusen, J.F. (1995). Talent identification and development in education , 2nd ed. Sarasota, FL: Center for Creative Learning.
20.
Feldhusen, J.F., & Baska, L.K. (1989). Identification and assessment of the gifted. In J. F. Feldhusen, J. Van Tassel-Baska, & K. Seeley (Eds.), Excellence in educating the gifted (pp. 84-101). Denver : Love.
21.
Feldhusen, J.F., & Jarwan, F.A. (1993). Identification of gifted and talented youth for educational programs. In K. A. Heller, F. J. Monks, & A. H. Passow (Eds.), International Handbook of Research and Development of Giftedness and Talent (pp. 233-251). Oxford, England: Pergamon.
22.
Feldhusen, J.F., & Moon, S.M. (1995). The educational continuum and delivery of services . In J. L. Genshaft, M. Birely, & C. L. Hollinger (Eds.), Serving gifted and talented students: A resource for school personnel (pp. 103-121). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
23.
Feldhusen, J.F., Hoover, S.M., & Sayler, M.F. (1990). Identifying and educating gifted students at the secondary level. Monroe, NY: Trillium Press.
24.
Fine, M.J., & Pitts, R. (1980). Intervention with underachieving gifted children: Rationale and strategies. Gifted Child Quarterly, 24, 51-55.
25.
Ford, D.Y. (1995). Counseling gifted African American students: Promoting achievement, identity, and social and emotional well-being. Storrs, CT: National Research Center for the Gifted and Talented.
26.
Ford, D.Y., & Harris, J. (1995). Exploring university counselors' perceptions of distinctions between gifted black and gifted white students. Journal of Counseling and Development, 73, 443-450.
27.
Ford, M. (1989). Students' perceptions of affective issues impacting their social emotional development and school performance of gifted/talented youngsters. Roeper Review, 11 (3), 131-134.
28.
Fox, L.H. (1983). Gifted students with reading problems: An empirical study. In L. H. Fox (Ed.), Learning-disabled gifted children (pp. 117-139). Baltimore: University Park Press.
29.
Frederickson, R.H. (1986). Preparing gifted and talented students for the world of work. Journal of Counseling and Development, 64, 556-557.
30.
Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences . New York: Basic Books.
31.
Gelbrich, J.A., & Hare, E.K. (1989). The effects of single parenthood on school achievement in a gifted population. Gifted Child Quarterly, 33, 115-117.
32.
Genshaft, J.L., Greenbaum, S., & Borovsky, S. (1995). Stress and the gifted. In J. L. Genshaft, M. Birely, & C. L. Hollinger (Eds.). Serving gifted and talented students: A resource for school personnel (pp. 257-268). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
33.
Goetz, J.P., & LeCompte, M.D. ( 1984). Ethnography and qualitative design in educational research. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
34.
Gross, U.M. (1989). The pursuit of excellence or the search for intimacy? The forced-choice dilemma of gifted youth. Roeper Review, 11, 189-194.
35.
Hackney, H. (1981). The gifted child, the family, and the school. Gifted Child Quarterly, 25, 51-54.
36.
Hafenstein, N.L. (1985, September). Pyschological intensities in your gifted children. Paper presented at the Esther Katz Rosen Symposium on the Psychological Development of Gifted Children, Lawrence, KS.
37.
Hoge, R.D., & Renzulli, J.S. (1991). Self-concept and the gifted child. Storrs, CT: National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.
38.
Hoge, R.D., & Renzulli, J.S. (1993). Exploring the link between giftedness and self-concept. Review of Educational Research , 63, 449-465.
39.
Hollinger, C.L. (1995). Counseling gifted young women about educational and career choices. In J. L. Genshaft, M. Birely, & C. L. Hollinger (Eds.). Serving gifted and talented students: A resource for school personnel (pp. 337-350). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
40.
Hollingworth, L.S. (1926). Gifted children: Their nature and nurture. New York: Macmillan.
41.
Janos, P.M., & Robinson, N.M. (1985). Psychosocial development in intellectually gifted children. In F. D. Horowitz, & M. O'Brien (Eds.), The gifted and talented: Developmental perspectives (pp. 149-195). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association .
42.
Keirouz, K.S. (1990). Concerns of parents of gifted children: A research review. Gifted Child Quarterly, 34, 56-63.
43.
Kelly, K.R. (1992). Career maturity of young gifted adolescents: A replication study. Journal for the Education of the Gifted , 16, 36-45.
44.
Kelly, K.R. (1994). Career planning and counseling for highly able students. In J. B. Hansen and S. M. Hoover (Eds.), Talent development theories and practice (pp. 281-296). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
45.
Kelly, K.R., & Cobb, S.J. (1991). A profile of the career development characteristics of young gifted adolescents: Examining gender and multicultural differences . Roeper Review, 13, 168-175.
46.
Kelly, K.R., & Colangelo, N. (1990). Effects of academic ability and gender on career development. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 13, 168-175.
47.
Kerr, B. (1991). Handbook for counseling the gifted and talented . Alexandria, VA: AACD.
48.
Kerr, B.A. (1986). Career counseling for the gifted: Assessments and interventions. Journal of Counseling and Development, 64, 602-604.
49.
Kerr, B.A. (1988). The college plans of academically talented students . Journal of Counseling and Development, 67, 42-49.
50.
Kerr, B., & Colangelo, N. (1988). The college plans of academically talented students . Journal of Counseling and Development, 67, 42-49.
51.
King, J.P., & Lonquist, M.D. (1995, April). A review of writing on action research. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.
52.
Kitano, M.K. (1990). Intellectual abilities and psychological intensities in young children: Implications for the gifted. Roeper Review , 13(1), 5-10.
Lovecky, D.V. (1992). Exploring social and emotional aspects of giftedness in children. Roeper Review, 15(1), 18-25.
56.
Madaus, G.F., Scriven, M., & Stufflebeam, D.L. (1983). Evaluation models: Viewpoints on educational and human services evaluation (pp. 23-43). Boston : Kluwcr-Nijhoff.
57.
Maker, J. (1996). Identification of gifted minority students: A national problem, needed changes, and a promising solution. Gifted Child Quarterly, 40, 41-50.
58.
McMann, M., & Oliver, R. (1988). Problems in families with gifted children: Implications for counselors. Journal of Counseling and Development, 66, 275-278.
59.
Meckstroth, E.A. (1991). Guiding parents of gifted children: The role of counselors and teachers. In R. M. Milgram (Ed.), Counseling gifted and talented children: A guide for teachers, counselors, and parents (pp. 95-120). Norwood, NJ : Ablex.
60.
Mendaglio, S. (1993). Counseling gifted learning disabled: Individual and group counseling techniques. In L. K. Silverman (Ed.), Counseling the gifted and talented (pp- 131-150). Denver: Love.
61.
Milgram, R.M. (1991). Counseling gifted and talented children: A guide for teachers, counselors, and parents. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
62.
Moon, S.M., & Dillon, D.R. (1995). Multiple exceptionalities: A case studyJournal for the Education of the Gifted, 18, 111-130.
63.
Moon, S.M., Jurich, J.A., & Feldhusen, J.F. (in press). Families of gifted children: Cradles of development. In R. Friedman (Ed.), Talent in context: Historical and social perspectives. Washington, DC: APA.
64.
Moon, S.M., Nelson, R.S., & Piercy, F.P. (1993). Family therapy with a highly gifted adolescent . Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 4, 1-16.
65.
Montgomery, J.L., & Benbow, C.P. (1992). Factors that influence the career aspirations of mathematically precocious females. In N. Colangelo, S. G. Assouline, & D. L. Ambroson (Eds.), Talent development: Proceedings from the 1991 Henry B. and Jocelyn Wallace National Research Symposium on Talent Develoment (pp. 384-386). Unionville, NY: Trillium Press.
66.
Myers, R.S., & Pace, T.M. (1986). Counseling gifted and talented students: Historical perspectives and contemporary issues. Journal of Counseling and Development, 64, 548-550.
67.
Nielsen, M.E., Hammond. A. E., Higgins, L.D., & Williams, R.A. (1994). Gifted children with disabilities . Gifted Child Today, 16(5), 29-36.
68.
Olszewski, P., Kulieke, M., & Buescher, T. (1987). The influence of the family environment on the development of talent: A literature review. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 11, 6-28.
69.
Passow, A.H. (1991). A neglected component of nurturing giftedness: Affective development. European Journal for High Ability, 2, 5-11.
70.
Peterson, J.S., & Colangelo, N. (1996). Gifted achievers and underachievers: A comparison of patterns found in school files. Journal of Counseling and Development, 74, 399-407.
71.
Pirozzo, R. (1982). Gifted underachievers. Roeper Review, 4(4), 18-21.
72.
Plucker, J.A. (1996). Gifted Asian-American students: Identification, curriculular, and counseling concerns. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 19, 315-443.
73.
Porter, G., & Meyers, J. (1995). Family consultation as an approach to providing psychoeducational services to gifted children. In J. L. Genshaft, M. Birely, & C. L. Hollinger (Eds.). Serving gifted and talented students: A resource for school personnel (pp. 303-322). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
74.
Post-Kammer, P., & Perrone, P. (1983). Career perceptions of talented individuals: A follow-up study. The Vocational Guidance Quarterly, 31, 203-211.
75.
Proctor, T.B., Feldhusen, J.F., & Black, K.N. (1988). Guidelines for early admission to elementary school . Psychology in the Schools, 25, 41-43.
76.
Renzulli, J.S., & Reis, S.M. (1985). The schoolwide enrichment model: A plan for comprehensive educational excellence. Mansfield Center, CT: Creative Learning Press.
77.
Rimm, S.B. (1995a). Impact of family patterns upon the development of giftedness. In J. L. Genshaft, M. Bireley, & C. L. Hollinger (Eds.). Serving gifted and talented students: A resource for school personnel (pp. 243-256). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
78.
Rimm, S.B. (1995b). Underachievement syndrome in gifted students . In J. L. Genshaft, M. Birely, & C. L. Hollinger (Eds.). Serving gifted and talented students: A resource for school personnel (pp. 173-200). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
79.
Rimm, S.B. (1995c). Why bright kids get poor grades and what you can do about it. New York: Crown .
80.
Rimm, S.B., & Lowe, B. (1988). Family environments of underachieving gifted children . Gifted Child Quarterly, 32, 353-359.
81.
Roberts, S.M., & Lovett, S.B. ( 1994). Examining the "F" in gifted: Academically gifted adolescents' physiological and affective responses to scholastic failure. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 17, 241-259.
82.
Robinson, A. (1986). The identification of gifted children. What does research tell us? In K. A: Heller & J. F. Feldhusen (Eds.), Identifying and nurturing the gifted: An international perspective (pp. 103-109). Toronto: Hans Huber.
83.
Robinson, N.M., & Noble, K.D. (1991). Social-emotional development and adjustment of gifted children. In M. C. Wang, M. C. Reynolds, & H. J. Walberg (Eds.), Handbook of special education: Research and practice (Vol. 2, pp. 57-76). New York: Pergamon Press.
84.
Schiff, M.M., Kaufman, A.S., & Kaufman, N.L. (1981). Scatter analysis of WISC-R profiles for learning disabled children with superior intelligence. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 14, 400-403.
85.
Schroer, A.C.P., & Dorn, F.J. (1986). Enhancing the career and personal development of gifted college students. Journal of Counseling and Development , 64, 567-571.
86.
Shore, B.M., Cornell, D.G., Robinson, A., & Ward, S. (1991). Recommended practices in gifted education. New York: Teachers College Press.
87.
Silverman, L.K. (1989). The highly gifted. In J. F. Feldhusen, J. Van Tassel-Baska, & K. Seeley (Eds.), Excellence in educating the gifted (pp. 71-83). Denver: Love.
88.
Silverman, L.K. (1991). Preventive counseling for the gifted. Understanding Our Gifted, 3(4), 1, 11-13.
89.
Silverman, L. K. (Ed.) (1993a). Counseling the gifted and talented. Denver: Love Publishing Co.
90.
Silverman, L.K. (1993b). Counseling Families. In L. K. Silverman (Ed.), Counseling the gifted and talented (pp. 151-178). Denver: Love.
91.
Silverman, L.K. (1993c). Social development, leadership, & gender issues. In L. K. Silverman (Ed.), Counseling the gifted and talented (pp. 291-328). Denver: Love.
92.
Silverman, L.K. (1995). Highly gifted children. In J. L. Genshaft, M. Birely, & C. L. Hollinger (Eds.). Serving gifted and talented students: A resource for school personnel (pp. 217-240). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
93.
Silverman, L.K.( 1994). The moral sensitivity of gifted children and the evolution of society. Roeper Review, 17(2), 110-116.
94.
Silverman, L.K., & Kearney, K. (1989). Parents of the extraordinarily gifted. Advanced Development, 1, 41-56.
95.
Sowa, C.J., McIntire, J., May, K., & Bland, L. (1994). Social and emotional adjustment themes across gifted children. Roeper Review, 17(2), 95-98.
96.
Suter, D.P., & Wolf, J.S. (1987). Issues in the identification and programming of the gifted/learning disabled child. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 10, 227-237.
97.
Swiatek, M.A. (1995). An empirical investigation of the social coping strategies used by gifted adolescents. Gifted Child Quarterly , 39, 154-161.
98.
Tannenbaum, A.J. (1983). Gifted children: Psychological and educational perspective. New York: Macmillan .
99.
Van Tassel-Baska, J. (1990). A practical guide to counseling the gifted in a school setting. Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.
100.
Waldroo, P.B. (1990). A structure for affective education for young gifted children. Early Child Development and Care, 63, 119-129.
101.
Webb, J.T., & DeVries, A.R. (1993). Training manual for facilitators of SENG model group discussions. Dayton, OH: OhioPsychology Press.
Wieczerkowski, W., & Prado, T.M. (1991). Parental fears and expectations from the point of view of a counseling center for the gifted. European Journal of High Ability, 2, 56-72.
104.
Wiener, J.L. (1968). Attitudes of psychologists and pscyhometrists toward gifted children and programs for the gifted. Exceptional Children, 34, 354.
105.
Zuccone, C.F., & Amerikaner, M. (1986). Counseling gifted underachievers: A family systems approach. Journal of Counseling and Development , 64, 590-592.
