Timely psychotherapy of the gifted: A case report

Abstract

Although the kind of intelligence which is significantly above average is called giftedness, the real meaning behind this term is much wider. High intelligence does not have to be a prerequisite for giftedness, which is clearly displayed in people with average intelligence, extremely gifted at music, arts or sports. Since there is no unique definition for gifted people, there are no clear concepts of their psychological development, nor guidelines for psychological help and psychotherapeutic work. Gifted people have different cognitive and emotional development from other people. Their growing up often takes place under the burden of their giftedness, which leads to their innate giftedness not being recognized, ignored or not properly used. Individual pshychoanalytic psychotherapeutic work can play a significant role in the psychological help provided to the gifted on their road to development and note worthy accomplishments. In this research we will present years of pshycotherapeutic work with a multitalented patient.

Iako se inteligencija, značajno veća od proseka, naziva darovitošću, pravo značenje ovog pojma mnogo je šire. Visoka inteligencija ne mora biti preduslov darovitosti, što se jasno pokazuje kod osoba koje imaju prosečnu inteligenciju, a izuzetno su muzičk i, likovno ili sportski darovite. Kako ne postoji jedinstvena definicija darovitih, tako ne postoje ni jasne odrednice njihovog psihološkog razvoja, niti smernice za psihološku podršku i psihoterapijski rad. Darovite osobe imaju drugačiji kognitivni i emotivni razvoj od ostalih. Njihovo odrastanje često se odvija 'pod teretom darovitosti', čime se urođena datost ne prepoznaje, ignoriše ili neadekvatno koristi. Individualni psihoanalitički psihoterapijski rad, može imati značajno mesto u psihološkoj podršci darovitima na njihovom putu razvoja i ostvarenja vrednih pažnje. U radu prikazujemo višegodišnji psihoterapijski rad višestruko darovite pacijentkinje.