Psychology For The Gifted: About Page

To provide a comprehensive array of psychotherapy services for gifted children, adolescents and adults.

UNDERACHIEVEMENT: the most common
problem of gifted individuals of all ages.

Gifted individuals have an unusually intense drive to explore and master their environment. For the “profoundly” or “exceptionally” gifted individual this drive may feel like a physiologic or biological force that is not only difficult to control but also hard to channel. Because of their moral/ethical sensitivities and a highly developed aesthetic sensibility gifted individuals often have visions of a unique “destiny” and of making unusual contributions. Despite enormous potential however, their grand plans often fail to materialize. Why does this happen?

Gifted individuals often resist adapting their unique gifts to conventional work or educational settings. Frustrated and disappointed, they may also stop searching for a niche that permits meaningful self expression. Satisfying intimate relationships often seem to elude them. Failure in these areas often leads gifted individuals to become underachievers, to engage in self-destructive behavior and to develop serious forms of depression and anxiety. Many gifted people give up hope and end up living marginal lives -- never able to use their gifted endowments productively.

For a detailed analysis of these problems and how to treat them see Dr Grobman’s recently published paper, Underachievement in Exceptionally Gifted Adolescents and Young Adults: A Psychiatrist’s View.

Jerald Grobman M.D.
1044 Madison Avenue
New York,N.Y., 10075
212-249-7351

Madelon Sann L.C.S.W.
1044 Madison Avenue
New York,N.Y. 10075
212-737-6508

163 Engle Street
Englewood, NJ07631
201-569-3887