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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Megan Helmen to delve into the complex clinical landscape of intellectual giftedness and twice-exceptionality. We explore how giftedness functions as a distinct neurotype rather than merely a high score on an intelligence test, emphasizing both its quantitative benchmarks and its qualitative realities. Dr. Helmen highlights the critical importance of looking beyond standardized psychometric thresholds, illustrating how bright children frequently utilize advanced compensatory strategies to mask underlying developmental disabilities like ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. By shifting our clinical focus from rigid score cutoffs to qualitative process observations during testing, we can better identify hidden impairments and avoid misinterpreting a child’s struggles as mere quirkiness. Our conversation offers actionable insights for refining the diagnostic interview, navigating overlapping constructs such as Dabrowski’s overexcitabilities, and connecting twice-exceptional families with appropriate educational and community resources.
Main Topics Discussed
- 03:39: Defining Twice-Exceptionality from Quantitative and Qualitative Lenses
- 12:05: Understanding Asynchrony and Skill Variability in Gifted Profiles
- 14:57: Exploring the Link Between Gifted Traits, Anxiety, and Perfectionism
- 19:01: Deconstructing Dabrowski’s Five Overexcitabilities and Clinical Frameworks
- 27:14: Conducting Effective Diagnostic Interviews and Eliciting Parent Stories
- 38:56: Shifting Assessment Focus from Psychometric Scores to Process Observations
- 52:14: Analyzing the Intersection of Autism and Giftedness Through Discrepancy Profiles
- 01:05:45: Essential Resources and Interventions for Highly Gifted and 2E Individuals
Cool Things Mentioned
- Craft: the premier membership community for testing psychologists
- Crafted Practice: the only in-person business retreat for testing psychologists
- Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists
- National Association for Gifted Children: www.nagc.org
- Davidson Academy: www.davidsonacademy.unr.edu
- REEL 2E: www.reel2e.org
- Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education: www.bridges.edu
- Bright and Quirky: www.brightandquirky.com
- Young Scholars Academy: www.youngscholarsacademy.org
- Minnesota Council for Gifted and Talented: www.mcgt.net
- American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology: www.theaapdn.org
- Minnesota Psychological Association: www.mnpsych.org
- Developmental Discoveries: www.developmental-discoveries.com
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About Dr. Megan Helmen
In her early work with autistic children and their families, Dr. Helmen became increasingly aware of how difficult and disorienting the diagnostic process could be. This awareness shaped her professional mission: to provide a more informed, compassionate, and empowering introduction to neurodevelopmental understanding. Dr. Helmen’s approach combines clinical expertise and research-backed strategies with genuine connection and a sense of humor. After more than a decade of clinical practice within medical systems, she founded Developmental Discoveries to offer a more humanized and family-centered model of service. The practice is built on ensuring that children feel welcomed and understood, while caregivers gain meaningful insight into their child’s strengths, struggles, and opportunities for growth.
Get in touch:
- Email: drmeganpresents@gmail.com
- Speaking & consulting: https://www.developmental-discoveries.com/speaking
- Clinic website: developmental-discoveries.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/developmental_discoveries/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DevelopmentalDiscoveries
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-helmen-psy-d-l-p-945b2716/
About Dr. Jeremy Sharp
I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents.
As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids.
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