Nerd Therapy
Are you waiting for your call to adventure?
Who among us hasn't wished to be a part of our favorite books and fantasy worlds? Wouldn't it be nice to meet your hero and go an adventure together? Or maybe you wonder why you have the abilities that you do, and you're wondering what to do with them. Wouldn't it be nice to have some clarity and purpose?
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Just because you may have been identified as high-achieving or gifted in school, doesn't mean that life is always easy or goes the way you expected. Good grades don't always translate into a success, but there's always that pressure to excel. It's easy to be hard on yourself, to get frustrated, to get caught up in Big Problems, and yet to struggle socially or emotionally. While some books and websites talk about how to incorporate dungeons, dragons, wizards, and superheroes into self-help and therapy, you’re looking for more than that.
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While “Nerd Therapy” or isn’t a particular theoretical orientation, it is an acknowledgment that some of us – children and adults – think differently. And those different ways of thinking affect how we interact with the external world – and how the external world responds to us. We have a deep human need for belonging, and feeling understood by your counselor is especially important when you’ve spent much of your life feeling like an outsider.
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You may have experienced…
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Mixed messages and ambivalence about giftedness and what it
means to be “smart”
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Bullying or teasing – from peers or authority figures
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High sensitivity and/or low self-esteem
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Battles with anxiety and perfectionism
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Feeling different, misunderstood, or just plain weird
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Existential or philosophical crises
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Concern with Big Problems and esoteric issues
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Feeling judged or ignored
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Fear of failure
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Imposter syndrome
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Uneven development and social awkwardness
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Unrealized potential and self-doubt
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Frustration
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Loneliness
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A brain that just won’t quit
Or maybe you’re the parent of an exceptional child, and you want
to learn how to better understand their quirks, support their
interests and abilities, and address their deficits and concerns so
they can use their gifts and thrive in this world.
I’ve been on both sides of the table, and I can speak your language. With a lifelong interest in cognitive and emotional development, learning, giftedness – and geekery – I can help you:
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Understand the role of emotions in relationships and decision-making
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Identify and question distorted thinking and self-limiting beliefs
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See life as a series of experiments, not one big pass/fail test
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Replace a fixed mindset with a growth mindset
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Improve your social skills and assertiveness
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Manage stress, anxiety, and depression
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Harness the power of stories and metaphor
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Increase self-understanding and compassion
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Challenge perfectionistic tendencies
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Accept and learn from failure
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Face problems head-on
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Feel more connected
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Take on new challenges
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Use your powers for good
You have the ability to have a positive impact on the world. Your unique talents, gifts, abilities, and challenges can point you toward your life’s purpose. I invite you on a quest for self-discovery and growth – to battle your villains, release old pain, and move forward with courage – as you write the story of your own hero’s journey.
