Counseling Secondary Gifted Students

This chapter discusses the need for counseling services for gifted students in secondary education. It discusses the various issues that gifted adolescents frequently encounter, including emotional intensity, perfectionism, and twice-exceptionalism. The chapter reviews current empirical literature, focusing on the struggles gifted adolescents face with anxiety, depression, and self-concept, as well as the impact of high academic expectations and the influence of family and peer relationships. Additionally, this chapter explores the emerging use of artificial intelligence (AI) in counseling services for gifted youth and the issues surrounding equity and underrepresentation in counseling services. It highlights effective counseling modalities in treating gifted youth and how school-based programs can be used to support gifted students. The chapter emphasizes the importance of collaboration among counselors, educators, and parents. It concludes with several recommendations aimed at enhancing school-based counseling services and advocating for the mental health of gifted students.