Gifted Adult Forum

ONLINE FACILITATED discussion groups for gifted adults
Straight to Forum site

The Gifted Adult Forum has been set up in response to enquiries received daily through the Gifted & Creative Services Website from gifted adults living in countries all over the world. The common themes in these enquiries has been the search for information about giftedness in adults, support for the exploration of individual giftedness and a peer group of like-minded gifted people.

It became evident that the most effective way to assist the many, many gifted adults who contact us, was to provide a forum where information based on sound theory and research could be discussed in a safe and comfortable environment. In this way gifted adults could explore their own giftedness with the support of other gifted adults who would understand the issues involved, both intellectual and emotional.

I have worked with gifted adults, both individually and in groups, for nearly 15 years and feel privileged to facilitate this discussion on the basis of my professional expertise in adult giftedness.

When working with groups of gifted adults, I have made several observations that are consistent across groups and I expect that these characteristics will also be present in an on-line forum:

• There was a substantial lack of social chat: gifted people of various ages, sat down and without prompting began a deep discussion of who and what they were and the issues that were of major concern to them.
• The discussion had real intensity and passion: gifted people seemed able to listen to and respond to several conversations at once so that all discussion was meaningful. They were respectful of other participants and their views.
• There was a gentle humour running through the discussion: gifted people had the ability to laugh and make fun of themselves in a gentle way even when discussing issues of an intensely personal and emotional nature.
• They were extremely considerate and supportive of each other: showing deep levels of empathy and caring.

The proposed aims for participants in the Gifted Adult Forum include:

• developing a better understanding of what giftedness means
• learning more about the individual “gifted” self
• developing an understanding of each other's and our own individual needs
• providing an open, caring environment to meet with others of like minds
• sharing approaches and ideas
• coaching and supporting each other through difficult issues
• building supportive connections
• exploring and learning about new areas of interest from other participants
• developing ways to further personal and professional development.

We anticipate that, with time, regional support organisations could be formed as the numbers of participants increase significantly so that the isolation and loneliness of gifted adults can be addressed and hopefully alleviated.

The Gifted Adult Forum will operate on an annual basis with four 10 week forums per year. Each forum will focus on a specific topic of relevance to gifted adults.

These are some typical topics for discussion:

• the characteristics of giftedness in adults
• the emotional aspects of adult giftedness
• expectations of society
• intellectual complexity and depth
• emotional intensity and sensitivity
• the social implications of being a gifted adult
• exploration of career possibilities and the gifted sense of meaning/a mission in life
• attitudes to our own giftedness
• the concept of "Potential"
• motivation, achievement and under-achievement
• education, school and learning
• conformity
• giftedness and gender
• giftedness - a different world view.

Many gifted adults are lost to themselves and our society because they are not provided with the information and support necessary for them to transform their potential into achievement.

Gifted adults can benefit from knowledge about the characteristics of the gifted population because such knowledge allows them to understand and accept their giftedness and the advantages and disadvantages it brings.

Until we accept ourselves as gifted adults we will waste energy trying to be like others and wondering why it is so difficult for us to do what comes so naturally to those around us.

Acceptance of ourselves and our difference allows to develop in our unique ways and to have the strength to do this even when our giftedness is not understood or valued by the society in which we live.

It is also vital that gifted adults have meaningful contact with other like themselves. This helps to combat the existential aloneness that is often felt at a very early age in gifted people and continues to exist for the remainder of their lives.

It can be of enormous benefit when one is sitting in the darkness of the soul, feeling isolated, shut out and cut off, to know that there are other people like us in the world; that we are not alone in the universe.

Lesley Sword, Director

The Gifted Adult Forum is open only to subscription members and there is a fee to cover overheads including maintaining the Forum Site and Lesley’s time as facilitator. The subscription fee is $200 per annum and covers four 10 week forums. Subscription fees are charged on a pro-rata basis dependent on the date of joining –

January – March $200
April – June $150
July – September $100
October – December $ 50

If you are interested in joining the online Gifted Adult Forum, facilitated by Lesley Sword, please register  on the Forum site. Your registration will send an automatic email to Gifted & Creative Services Australia who will contact you by email to arrange payment. Once payment is made, you will be able to participate in the discussion. Click to go to the Forum site.