In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Emily Kircher-Morris, a licensed professional counselor and twice-exceptional individual. Emily is dedicated to destigmatizing neurodiversity and supporting neurodivergent people of all ages. Twice-exceptionality, also known as 2e, refers to intellectually gifted individuals who also have one or more learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADHD, or ASD.
Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC, inspired by her own experiences as a twice-exceptional (2e) learner, is dedicated to supporting 2e children—including her own—in a way she wasn’t during her academic years. She has taught in gifted classrooms, has been a school counselor, and is now in private practice as a licensed professional counselor, where she specializes in helping gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent people. Emily is the author of two books related to the development of twice-exceptional learners. "Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today's Classroom" (Free Spirit Publishing, 2021) focuses on supporting 2e learners in the educational setting, and "Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids" (Routledge, 2021) is a guide for parents navigating the world of twice-exceptionality. Emily is the host of "The Neurodiversity Podcast," which explores parenting, counseling techniques, and best practices for enriching the lives of neurodivergent people. She is also the founder of the St. Louis-based nonprofit Gifted Support Network. She speaks at statewide, national, and international conferences and frequently provides virtual and in-person professional development to educators worldwide. Emily lives near St. Louis, Missouri.
Episode Highlights:
[1:02] - Emily shares her journey of being identified as gifted and diagnosed with ADHD.
[8:16] - The shift in gifted education programs towards universal screening.
[11:48] - The difficulty for twice-exceptional students to qualify for services.
[16:46] - The frustration and imposter syndrome experienced by twice-exceptional students.
[19:52] - The challenges faced by twice-exceptional adults who were not identified as such.
[21:24] - The higher proportion of autistic individuals who are also gifted.
[23:47] - Emily's thoughts on the social aspects of autism.
[25:29] - Navigating the controversial topic of pathologizing.
[28:44] - The nuances of masking and camouflaging, and the importance of having the tools.
[34:22] - Defining an unhealthy level of masking and the importance of weighing the benefits.
[38:10] - The impact of prolonged exposure to stress and lack of support.
[43:00] - Emily's number one success tip for twice-exceptional individuals.
Connect with Emily Kircher-Morris:
· The Neurodiversity Podcast: https://neurodiversitypodcast.com/
· Emily Kircher-Morris on social media: @theneurodiversitypodcast and @emilykm_lpc
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