Gordon Smith, LPC

05/24/2026

05/22/2026

"The focus on productivity is important for certain tasks at certain times, but it's only one part of a holistic expression of giftedness. If we conflate giftedness with productivity, we lose out on many rich aspects of our gifted selves, such as joy, rest, play, unstructured exploration and purposeless creativity. Trauma, culture and internalized ideologies can prime us toward a dysfunctional relationship with productivity, and thus with our understanding of our true gifted potential. InterGifted Founding Director Jennifer Harvey Sallin explores these themes and shares resources for change in this article."

The focus on productivity is important for certain tasks at certain times, but it's only one part of a holistic expression of giftedness. If we conflate giftedness with productivity, we lose out on many rich aspects of our gifted selves, such as joy, rest, play, unstructured exploration and purposel...

05/22/2026

05/21/2026

A past participant of the Gifted Adults Group Experience offers this:

"Being newly aware of my giftedness, this group came along at the perfect time. It has given me a sense of community and connectedness with other gifted people, and much opportunity for personal growth. The topics we explored have helped me have a better understanding of my experience of life, and challenged me to expand my own thinking. Gordon is truly gifted at what he does. He provided a wealth of information that I will continue to study and practice in the present and future."

Another reported:

"I was looking for a group of similar thinkers who were possibly experiencing the same troubles I was having navigating the workplace and relationships as a gifted person. I appreciated the group as a whole and individually from the first day. I felt as if I was in a real conversation with people who “got me” because I was."

And still another shared:

"Yes, Come as you are and it’s enough. “Gifted” is beautiful and fascinating and so different for some. I found answers to questions I didn’t know to ask and I felt so seen and celebrated. I highly recommend taking a chance on this. It’s the most welcoming and well run group I have ever participated in. Gordon is a “Gift”. Thank you."

Next cohort begins June 28. I hope to see you there. More information and registration at the link below.

This six-week group coaching experience is open to all gifted and otherwise neurodivergent people.

05/20/2026

In case you missed the big news - Rachel Fell and I started a project that we hope will offer new perspectives on meta-consciousness, existentialism, and the embodied subjective. It's called Existential Tetherball. "In this intro, your hosts, Rachel Fell and Gordon Smith, share a bit about the what and the why behind this new series, touching on themes of curiosity, untapped relationship with meaning, co-creativity, openness, the pragmatism of shared exploration, and the possibilities generated through existential exploration."

Hello there! Welcome to Existential Tetherball – a podcast designed to explore depth meaning in the service of stronger connections.In this intro, your hosts...

05/19/2026

FREE Download - Neuroqueer Theory, a starter pack.

"The act of neuroqueering involves a continuous process of self-exploration and transformation. By intentionally subverting neuronormative expectations, individuals break down the societal constructs that limit human potential. This process leads to the creation of new iterations of human existence, challenging the conventional boundaries of what it means to be human.

Through neuroqueering, individuals are able to embrace a fluid and evolving sense of self, recognizing that personal identity is not fixed but constantly reshaped by experiences and interactions, often perhaps through the liminal in-between spaces and systems where we might otherwise find ourselves stuck."

FREE COMMUNITY RESOURCE: Neuroqueer Theory Starter Pack By David Gray-Hammond & Helen Edgar What if your way of thinking, feeling, and existing wasn’t something to “normalize”but something to c…

05/19/2026

"It’s not simply a one-dimensional scale from “more autistic” to “less autistic,” which would collapse so much of the diversity that the spectrum metaphor is meant to showcase. There is no single trait that defines autism: it encompasses differences in social communication skills, interests, sensory sensitivities, and more. Every person’s profile is unique. These graphics, based on clinicians’ evaluations of actual people using the Autism Symptom Dimensions Questionnaire, reveal a more nuanced “spectrum” of differences."

The autism spectrum is big, vibrant and complicated, a new graphic of 39 traits shows

05/18/2026

Here's a video offering a perspective on what giftedness is. I discuss asynchrony, intensity, complexity, and sensitivity. I describe the six dimensions of consciousness that people possess and how they might be experienced by gifted people. We make hard things easy and easy things hard. People see us as "too" - too sensitive, too emotional; "over" - overthinking, overcomplicating. Gifted people experience life very intensely, and suffering can be the embodied subjective of it all.

IQ is given a quick run through and recognized as a snapshot of cognitive abilities on a certain day. IQ is not a way to learn about your emotional, imaginational, sensual, physical, or existential giftedness.

Gifted people tend to be curious, to seek coherence, and to utilize meta-thinking in the way they experience the world and solve problems. We seek and need people who can see and meet us as who we are rather than having to contort ourselves into neuronormative strictures.

If you want more of this kind of content, please subscribe to the YouTube Channel!

Gordon Smith of Gifted and Growing (giftedandgrowing.org) offers a perspective on what giftedness is. He discusses asynchrony, intensity, complexity, and sen...

05/17/2026

Here's a Sunday morning tall meme stack of flapjacks, buttery goodness, and the sweetness you need. Enjoy your day, and share your meme wealth!

05/15/2026

(((Here's the too-excited-to-wait post about the return of the most fun you can have in gifted personal development. Improv for Gifted Adults is coming back. This September. This is a powerful, playful journey into practicing safety, trust, presence, and fun. Lots more information at the link below and in the months to come. Registration is now open. Got your back.)))

Improv for Gifted Adults - be yourself in all your facets. Laugh and feel accepted no matter what happens. Greater self-acceptance and self-trust.