Developmental pattern of the gifted students is an unusual and unique phenomenon, involving complex interaction among potentials at varied range, personality and the context. An
exploratory study was done on the counselling process of the 5th to 10th grade students (girls and boys) from a CBSE school with special purpose, for identified gifted students. Few
students were living in the school hostel. The objective was to explore the patterns in the cases referred for counselling and the significant underlying factors. The sample consists of
self-referrals and referrals by parents and teachers during two consecutive academic years, 2022-23 – 68 cases (27 boys, 41 girls) and 2023-24 – 54 cases (24 boys, 30 girls). The study encompasses qualitative data, based on descriptive counselling session documents, school records, and observations of teachers and mentors. Based on these records, diagnosed and treated cases were classified with Thematic Analysis method. It revealed six broad categories for counselling intervention facilitating emotional well-being, namely, school adjustment, skill-building, self-awareness, development of self-identity, achievement motivation and academic performance, and self-commitment. Importantly, while addressing the patterns, it was observed that though the development aligns with the social-emotional developmental stages, the concerns of the gifted are multifaceted. They are highlighted by the complex interaction with the unique characteristics, needs and demands of the gifted, reflecting through their tendency to perceive and respond. The findings reveal the importance of addressing this complexity with unique approaches, in giving directions to cater to their characteristics and needs. The implication of this study highlights the distinct features of
‘counselling the gifted’. It indicates the necessity of taking cognizance of the same by the educators, policy makers and support systems, for both, segregated and inclusive setup. The
awareness facilitates the empowerment of the gifted to deal with their concerns, fostering insightful progress.
Keywords: Gifted, needs, demands and characteristics of the gifted, counselling the gifted, social-emotional development