Neuro-Affirming Resources for Twice-Exceptional (2e) and Gifted Kids: A Guide for Families in the Seattle Area
Supporting a twice-exceptional or gifted child can often feel overwhelming. As parents, we are constantly searching for resources that can challenge and nurture our child's amazing strengths, while also offering the right support for areas where they struggle. Of equal importance is finding spaces where they feel truly seen and safe—where they can be themselves without fear of being misunderstood, judged, or othered.
For families of gifted and 2e children living in the Seattle area, finding the right professionals and services can be difficult. That's why we've put together this guide—to help connect families with resources that address both the intellectual and emotional needs of gifted and 2e children, while also fostering a neuro-affirming approach. In this post, we'll highlight a range of services available across the Seattle area and share why each one is crucial for families with neurodivergent kids.
Why Neuro-Affirming Resources Matter
When we refer to neuro-affirming resources, we're talking about professionals and practices that embrace and honor neurodiversity. Neuro-affirming professionals don't view neurodivergent children through a deficit-based lens, where their challenges are seen as issues to be "fixed." Instead, they adopt a strength-based approach, focusing on the child's abilities and talents while offering support for areas of difficulty. The aim isn't to reshape the child to fit neurotypical standards, but to foster an environment where the child's unique wiring can flourish.
This approach is especially vital for twice-exceptional and gifted children. These children may have strengths in certain areas, but also face challenges in others. A traditional approach that concentrates mainly on "fixing" their weaknesses can unintentionally overlook or undervalue their strengths. This can lead to negative self-perceptions, where they may feel defined by their struggles rather than empowered by their abilities. A neuro-affirming approach ensures that both their strengths and challenges are acknowledged and supported, enabling them to grow in a way that nurtures their entire identity.
For parents of 2e children, seeking out neuro-affirming resources is a proactive and thoughtful decision. It is important to ensure that these children are not only supported through their challenges but also celebrated for their strengths. The right professional can have a profound impact on their educational and emotional journey.
DISCLAIMER - While we've made every effort to ensure the quality of these resources, the resources mentioned in this blog are for informational purposes only and are not endorsed or guaranteed by Young Scholars Academy. We encourage you to do your own due diligence in selecting the right fit for your family. Young Scholars Academy is not responsible for any outcomes or experiences resulting from the use of these resources. It's important to choose professionals and organizations that align with your values, understand your child's unique needs, and create an environment where your child can truly thrive.
Educational Support: Therapists, Consultants, and Executive Function Coaches
Many families with gifted and twice-exceptional children find educational therapists (ETs), executive functioning coaches, and educational consultants to be invaluable resources. Educational therapists focus on addressing specific learning challenges using specialized techniques to support academic success. Executive functioning specialists help students build essential skills such as organization, time management, self-regulation, and problem-solving. Educational consultants provide guidance to help families navigate the complex landscape of supporting 2e children, offering expertise in understanding educational options and advocating for appropriate services.
These professionals offer tailored support that addresses the unique academic, organizational, and planning needs of gifted and twice-exceptional children and provide valuable assistance to families throughout their educational journey.
Here are a few educational support professionals in the Seattle area:
Life Skills Advocate: Life Skills Advocate supports neurodivergent teens, adults, families, and the professionals who work with them through practical, relationship‑first executive function coaching delivered primarily online. Founded and led by Chris Hanson, a former special education teacher with ADHD, their neurodivergent‑led team combines both lived and professional experience, evidence‑based strategies, flexible session formats, and gentle on‑demand accountability to help clients navigate their neurodiversity with greater confidence and build lasting skills and independence. They also wrote the "2021 Real‑Life Executive Functioning Workbook", reflecting their commitment to clear, real‑world tools instead of one‑size‑fits‑all programs.
Smart is not Easy: These smart kids don't come with instructions! Dr. DeBonte can help you figure out your options, whether that is discovering the best school fit, finding the right professional help, or accessing resources that will help you on your journey. Her specialty is helping families find the root cause(s) of twice exceptionality (2e), which often go beyond the usual suspects and require a team approach - and are much more common than you think.
2edvocate: Dr. Jennifer Allen understands what it's like to navigate the school system as the parent of a neurodivergent child. She's also spent years on the professional side—as a teacher, principal, special education director, and head of a school for twice-exceptional learners. Through her practice, 2edvocate, Dr. Allen helps families feel seen, heard, and supported. Her signature Student Snapshot gives parents a clear, effective way to share their child's strengths and needs with educators, so they can build understanding and get the right supports in place. Whether a family is just starting the journey or preparing for life after high school, Dr. Allen offers steady, compassionate guidance every step of the way.
Bolster Coaching: Anna Kashner is a certified Youth Life Coach with over 20 years of professional experience in high school teaching, youth development, and youth leadership programming. Anna's coaching is deeply rooted in evidence-based practices, designed to guide tweens, teens, and emerging adults through the complexities of life, school, and beyond, with a clear focus on improving well-being and minimizing stress. Her approach is action-oriented, emphasizing self-awareness, self-confidence, resilience, and self-advocacy skills, not only boosting academic achievements and healthy habits but also enhancing the overall quality of life for young people and their families.
Fox Associates Fox Associates provides innovative strategies for future planning, skills assessment, interview preparation and job development.
Therapeutic Support Services
Mental health therapists and specialized therapists who work with gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) children play crucial roles in addressing their emotional, psychological, and developmental needs. These professionals offer therapeutic support for a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, social communication challenges, and school-related difficulties, while also helping children and families navigate their unique complexities.
By providing individualized support to gifted and 2e children and their parents/caregivers, therapeutic support services address emotional, behavioral, social, and developmental needs. They foster resilience, enhance communication and social skills, equip both children and parents with effective coping strategies, and create supportive environments that promote growth and success both in and outside of school
Here are some therapeutic support services in the Seattle area:
Your Parent Compass is an 8-session Zoom course for parents of tweens/teens/young adults, based on DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and other evidence-based practices. Parents learn skills to (a) increase positive and decrease negative interactions with their kids - thereby increasing connection, (b) problem solving together with their kids, and (c) get into the mood to parent effectively. Course is designed for parents of tweens/teens/young adults with mental health (anxiety, depression, DMDD, substance use), behavioral (school refusal, self-harm and suicidality, lack of progress towards independence in young adults, eating issues, chronic medical issues), and/or developmental issues (ADHD, ASD, LD).
Social Skills Lab Speech Therapy: At the Social Skills Laboratory, your home or computer will become the speech and learning lab for your student! They currently offer home-based and virtual teletherapy speech sessions, evaluations, Dungeons & Dragons groups and in-person and virtual social groups for children, teens and young adults.
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Schools for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids
For many 2e and gifted children, traditional schools may not provide the specific support they need. Fortunately, there are schools in the Seattle area designed to address the unique challenges and strengths of 2e learners. These schools create environments where children can thrive academically while receiving the specialized support necessary for their development.
Here are some schools to consider in the Seattle area:
BK Academy for Gifted Children: supports gifted and neurodivergent students and their families in preschool to elementary school age. They provide longer play hours and individualized learning in academics and social/emotional development with strong guidance from experienced teachers.
The Clearwater School: At The Clearwater School, students direct their own learning. They are a neurodiverse community serving 4-18 year olds. They do not issue grades as evaluations, nor divide people into age-defined grades. Students learn by pursuing their interests, solving problems, creating and imaging together. Students and adults (their staff) have an equal vote on all school decisions. They do not draw lines between academic accomplishments and other versions of learning. Most of their students love to come to school and don't like school vacations.
Seabury School: Seabury School is the only South Puget Sound School for gifted students grades Pre-K to 8th Grade. Seabury School's mission is to challenge gifted children in a community that cherishes each individual and fosters a love of learning, discovery, and creativity. The school nurtures curiosity, supports students in pursuing their passions, and provides differentiated instruction to develop individual talents and strengths.
Community Support and Enrichment
Parent support groups and enrichment programs are invaluable resources for families of gifted and twice-exceptional children. These resources provide guidance, community, expert advice, and opportunities for intellectual and social growth. They empower parents with the knowledge and tools to advocate for their child while offering children spaces to build friendships, develop emotional regulation skills, and explore their passions in supportive, neuro-affirming settings.
Gifted and Thriving: Gifted and Thriving is dedicated to the holistic development of the gifted/twice-exceptional(2e)/neurodiverse community. They support families, parents, gifted adults and children/teens, educators by providing parent/family coaching and consulting, parent support groups, webinars, online and live courses, speaking and workshops (training), a Gift-a-Palooza annual summit and more!
Northwest Gifted Child Association: Chartered in 1963, NWGCA is a statewide, nonprofit organization of people with an interest in meeting the special needs of highly capable children. NWGCA is the oldest organization in WA state that specializes in gifted children. The purpose of the Association shall be to inform families and the public of the special needs of gifted children by disseminating information; by encouraging the development of programs responsive to the needs of gifted children; by informing families and the public about legislative efforts on behalf of gifted children; and by supporting policies or practices which promote these programs. NWGCA's mission is to support the families of gifted and twice exceptional children as they build community, connect with peers, and locate resources to advocate for their unique and diverse needs.
Young Scholars Academy: Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village that offers strength-based enrichment courses and community for 5-18-year-old gifted, twice-exceptional, and bright, differently-wired kiddos to empower them to develop their strengths, make like-minded friends, and thrive under the loving care of mentors!
With a wide range of subjects from math and science to arts and humanities, YSA challenges students at their own pace while fostering skills like time management, independent learning, and creative thinking. Students also connect with like-minded peers and passionate mentors, forming friendships over shared interests such as World War I submarines, Dungeons & Dragons, and Minecraft mods. These neuro-affirming courses allow 2e children to dive into their passions, build confidence, and thrive socially—all from the comfort of home.
Picture a place where your child fits in, is celebrated, mentored, and loves learning the unique content that they crave. That is happening every day at YSA for nearly 400 families, and it can happen for your family too!
Conclusion
Supporting twice-exceptional (2e) and gifted children requires a thoughtful, holistic approach that honors both their strengths and challenges. By connecting with neuro-affirming resources such as educational consultants, executive function coaches, parent support groups, and specialized therapists, families can create a nurturing environment where their children feel seen, understood, and empowered to reach their fullest potential.
In the Seattle area, a wealth of specialized professionals and support networks are available to guide families in navigating the complexities of 2e and giftedness. From personalized coaching and therapy to in-depth neuropsychological assessments, these resources help ensure that children are not only supported in areas where they struggle, but also celebrated for their remarkable gifts.
By embracing a neurodivergent-affirming perspective, parents can empower their children to flourish—academically, socially, and emotionally—while fostering an environment of acceptance, growth, and self-advocacy. With the right resources, every 2e and gifted child can thrive, embracing their unique potential and becoming confident, resilient individuals ready to make their mark on the world.
Remember, the path to success for 2e and gifted children involves recognizing both their strengths and challenges. By seeking out resources that respect neurodiversity and embrace a strengths-based approach, you can provide your child with the support they need to flourish—just as they are.
We want to find the best resources for 2e and gifted kids in as many cities as we can. Did we miss anyone you think we should add to our Seattle area guide? What city should we explore next? Let us know in the comments!
DISCLAIMER - While we've made every effort to ensure the quality of these resources, the resources mentioned in this blog are for informational purposes only and are not endorsed or guaranteed by Young Scholars Academy. We encourage you to do your own due diligence in selecting the right fit for your family. Young Scholars Academy is not responsible for any outcomes or experiences resulting from the use of these resources. It's important to choose professionals and organizations that align with your values, understand your child's unique needs, and create an environment where your child can truly thrive.
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