Gifted, Talented & Creative Adults: Resource Guide
Understanding your giftedness is a journey of deep insight, emotional complexity, and powerful potential. Whether you're navigating identity, perfectionism, purpose, or intensity, these resources offer guidance, affirmation, and practical tools.
Gifted, Talented & Creative Adults
Book Resource
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The Gifted Adult: A Revolutionary Guide for Liberating Everyday Genius
This classic text is a roadmap for high-ability adults who struggle with feeling "too much" or "not enough." Jacobsen helps readers identify and harness their gifted traits—like idealism, drive, and creativity—while overcoming overwhelm, self-doubt, and burnout. Ideal for those questioning whether they're gifted or trying to reframe perfectionism as strength.
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Your Rainforest Mind: A Guide to the Well-Being of Gifted Adults and Teens
Prober uses the metaphor of the "rainforest mind" to describe bright, sensitive, creative individuals. Her compassionate stories and tools help gifted adults embrace their emotional intensity, complex thoughts, and yearning for meaning. Especially great for therapists and clients who identify as emotionally intense, empathic, or misunderstood.
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Living with Intensity
This groundbreaking book explains the concept of "overexcitabilities"—heightened emotional, sensory, intellectual, and imaginative experiences—in gifted individuals. Offers research-backed insights and developmental tools for personal growth.
Excellent for exploring giftedness across the lifespan and emotional development.
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Searching for Meaning: Idealism, Bright Minds, Disillusionment, and Hope
Webb, a pioneer in gifted psychology, explores existential depression, disillusionment, and the quest for purpose among bright individuals. Provides coping strategies and philosophical insight.
Recommended for clients facing burnout, disconnection, or questioning life direction.
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The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder and Genius
A powerful look at how brain differences—like ADHD, anxiety, or dyslexia—can coexist with extraordinary creative and intellectual ability. Validates twice-exceptionality (2e) and reframes difference as potential.
A must-read for 2e adults or anyone redefining “neurodivergence.”
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The Creative’s Guide to Starting a Business: How to turn your talent into a career
Perfect for gifted creatives ready to channel their ideas into real-world ventures. This book blends inspiration with concrete business advice tailored to people who think differently.
Great for multipotentialites and gifted adults pursuing entrepreneurial paths.
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Gifted Grownups: The Mixed Blessings of Extraordinary Potential
A rich collection of interviews with over 100 gifted adults, revealing the inner worlds, challenges, and triumphs of high-ability individuals across various walks of life.
For readers seeking stories that reflect their own intensity, identity, and struggles.
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Bright Adults: Uniqueness and Belonging Across the Lifespan
Addresses the lifelong needs of gifted adults—from relationships to work to identity—using a strengths-based, inclusive approach.
Useful for counselors, coaches, and clients alike seeking practical guidance.
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Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams
A classic for "multipotentialites"—gifted adults who resist narrow specialization and thrive on variety. Encourages embracing your many passions with structure and purpose.
Highly recommended for creative, curious minds who feel scattered or “too many things.”
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The Midnight Disease: The Drive to Write, Writer's Block, and the Creative Brain
A neurologist and gifted writer explores the neuroscience of creativity, language, and emotion—especially relevant for creatively gifted adults who experience intense inner worlds.
Ideal for gifted adults engaged in writing or creative pursuits.
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Giftedness 101 (Psych 101 Series)
A compact but thorough overview of gifted traits, challenges, and developmental needs across the lifespan—written by one of the field’s leading experts.
A foundational resource for therapists, coaches, and self-identified gifted adults.
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Giftedness in Practice: Strengthening Personal Leadership in Gifted Adults
This book offers a practical framework for gifted adults to understand and harness their unique qualities. Kuipers introduces the concept of "XIP" (Extra Intelligent Person) and provides tools to navigate personal and professional challenges, fostering self-awareness and effective leadership.
Ideal for gifted individuals seeking to align their inner complexity with external actions and leadership roles.
🌐 Online Resources
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SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted)
Provides webinars, articles, and support groups (SENG Model Parent Groups) for gifted individuals and their families, including twice-exceptional (2e) adults.
Great for community connection and real-world insight.
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Gifted Adults (Hoagies' Gifted Education Page)
A comprehensive hub of articles, research, book lists, and support networks for gifted adults. Curated by a longtime advocate in the field, this site covers everything from career concerns to emotional intensity. Best for in-depth reading and finding additional resource links.
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TiLT Parenting (for Neurodivergent Families)
While initially focused on parenting neurodivergent children, TiLT offers fantastic podcasts and resources that are often deeply relevant for gifted and 2e adults—especially those who are parenting gifted kids themselves. Excellent podcast interviews with psychologists, educators, and authors.
“Gifted and talented people are especially prone to existential depression because they are able to envision a world that is far better than the one that exists.”
— Dr. James T. Webb