Sheltering in the Perfect Storm: Facing and Coping with Fearless, Fearful, Feral Emotions in Our Gifted Population

A perfect storm is the convergence of multiple often unpredictable extraordinary events that morph into an adverse or traumatic event or situation. Using this metaphor for emotions that are confounded into a meltdown, anxiety attack, depression, or complete withdrawal from the present circumstances requires the need for sheltering the individual who experiences these emotions and the caregivers who care for the individual. Participants will learn about resilience theory and its strength-based approach to developing preventive interventions which enhance promotive factors instead of reducing exposure to risk or ameliorating deficits in youths. Practical coping strategies from empirical research will be shared with attendees in preparation for sheltering during the perfect storms of life.