Beyond the Diagnosis:

Series Description:

What happens once a child is diagnosed as gifted or multi-exceptional (2e)?

In many cases, once a neuro-psychological report is received, the parents are on their own. Very few practices go beyond the diagnosis and parents are left in the dark as how to proceed. Questions arise such as:

• What’s next? What does this long report really mean?
• What are the implications for school?
• Do I homeschool, find a different school, or stay where I am?
• How do I handle my child’s behaviors?
• Is there more support out there?
• What do I need to properly advocate for my child?
• How do I approach the school with this information?
• What questions can I ask?
• What help is available in the public school?
• What happens when they become a teen, a young adult, or even beyond?

These are many questions that can potentially lead to frustration, stress, and even anxiety. This eight week group coaching community will address all the questions of support beyond the diagnosis and help parents to truly understand this difficult journey from diagnosis to success.

Meet Dr. Mike Postma

Weekly Topics & Registration:

Week 1:

I Have the Report. Now What?

• What does the report mean and how do I interpret and read each of the assessments done?
• What do I do with the discrepancies within the assessments?
• This report does not really reflect who my child is? What can I do now?
• How do I use this report to my advantage as an advocate?
• I see similarities to my own childhood (adulthood). What does that mean?
• What if they don’t have all the characteristics of giftedness?

Week 1, Group 1:
Date: Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024
Time: 10am PT (1pm ET)

Week 1, Group 2:
Date: Thursday, December 5th, 2024
Time: 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET)

Week 2:

The Neuro-Anatomy of Giftedness

• Gifted and 2e children are asynchronous and complex. What does that mean?
• What are the major differences between my child and their peers neurologically? Physiologically?
• Why does it matter?
• How can I tell my family and friends who pressure me to treat them normally?

Week 2, Group 1:
Date: Tuesday, December 10th, 2024
Time: 10am PT (1pm ET)

Week 2, Group 2:
Date: Thursday, December 12th, 2024
Time: 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET)

Week 3:

The School Question (Part One)

• Now that I know my child is neurodiverse, what do I do about their education?
• What are the benefits of homeschooling? What if homeschooling is not an option?
• What are the best programs out there for my child(ren)?
• How do I approach the school with this information?
• Where can I get the right help?

Week 3, Group 1:
Date: Tuesday, December 17th, 2024
Time: 10am PT (1pm ET)

Week 3, Group 2:
Date: Thursday, December 19th, 2024
Time: 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET) 

Week 4:

The School Question (Part Two)

• What is a 504 Plan? What is a IEP? How can they help?
• What questions should I be asking my teacher? My principal?
• How do I find the right support: school social worker, gifted specialist, local parent network?
• How do I know they are learning? How do I know they are challenged? Happy?
• What can I do if I notice a change in my child’s behavior (anxiety, possible bullying, relationship with teacher/peers)

Week 4, Group 1:
Date: Tuesday, January 7th, 2025
Time: 10am PT (1pm ET)

Week 4, Group 2:
Date: Thursday, January 9th, 2025
Time: 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET)

Week 5:

Parenting the Gifted/2e Student

(Group 1: Children; Group 2: Teens & Young Adults)

• How do I manage their behaviors when they are off (tantrums, school behaviors, isolated, etc.)?
• How do I know anxiety is present and what can I do about it?
• How do I build a trusting relationship with my child?
• How do I know where the triggers lie? What can I do about it?
• What do I do about perfectionism, underachievement, executive function, intensity and other potential problems?

Week 5, Group 1 (Children)
Date: Tuesday, January 14th, 2025
Time: 10am PT (1pm ET)

Week 5, Group 2 (Teens & Young Adults)
Date: Thursday January 16th, 2025
Time: 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET)

Week 6:

The Importance of Clear Communication

• One of the biggest challenges for a family is developing an effective communication model both within the nuclear family as well as outside with friends, extended family, and institutions like schools. In this session, how to communicate properly with your gifted/2e child(ren) will be discussed. In addition, we will talk about how to communicate with extended family and community about your children and their specific needs.
• How can my child find and maintain meaningful relationships?
• What if they don’t like being labelled?
• What to do when they always say ‘NO!’

Week 6, Group 1:
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Time: 10am PT (1pm ET)

Week 6, Group 2:
Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025
Time: 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET)

Week 7:

Overcoming Anxiety

• Anxiety has grown extensively in the gifted population over the past decade or so. The recent pandemic has only increased the numbers that I believe are closer to 2/3 of this population.
• What is the effect of anxiety on our child(ren)?
• How does anxiety manifests itself and what can I do to relieve it in both ourselves and our children?
• What do I do about school anxiety? Test anxiety?

Week 7, Group 1:
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Time: 10am PT (1pm ET)

Week 7, Group 2:
Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025
Time: 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET)

Week 8:

Calming the Chaos:  Managing Emotional Intensities in Gifted/2e Children (+ Final Thoughts and Questions)

• Examine the underlying causes of dysregulation for G/2e children and teens

• Learn the keys to fluid communication with your child(ren)

• Learn how to establish consistency and routines that work

• Learns the tools of motivation and self-management

• Learn to teach self-regulation techniques for the long term at varying developmental stages

• Have fun in the process!

Week 8, Group 1:
Date: Tuesday, February 4th, 2025
Time: 10am PT (1pm ET)

Week 8, Group 2:
Date: Thursday, February 6th, 2025
Time: 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET)