Donna Marie Desai  MS  LCPC  (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor)
Highly intelligent, sensitive, and/or multi-talented individuals face unique and sometimes very difficult challenges. I specialize in helping them address their particular obstacles to a satisfying and meaningful life.  My goal is to help them:

   - understand and embrace their talents and differences
   - learn about the gifted traits of intensity, complexity, and drive
   - take the risks required to enjoy their abilities and live authentically

Not sure whether you're a gifted adult?  No problem . . . it's often a matter of degree rather than a yes/no question.  Take a look at the the Gifted Adult Life Satisfaction Survey, as well as the blue box (at right).

And of course, please contact me to discuss giftedness.


As a Gifted Adult, How Well Do You  . . .
      As a Gifted Adult, It's Time for You to
          Unwrap and Enjoy Your Gifts
Identify and accept your talents, sensitivities, and the positive personality traits associated with your exceptional abilities?
Realize that what others often say is "wrong with you" are actually your best talents and traits.
Respond to negative messages--both internal and external--about the unique ways you perceive, think and feel.
Support your self-esteem and take responsibility for developing and enjoying your strengths.
Take the necessary risks to enjoy your abilities and find support, acceptance and belonging.
Gifted Grownups: The Mixed Blessings of
Extraordinary Potential
   -- Marylou Streznewski
Liberating Everyday Genius: A Revolutionary Guide to Mastering Your Exceptional Gifts
   -- Mary-Elaine Jacobsen
Upside Down Brilliance: The Visual Spatial Learner
    -- Linda Silverman
The Highly Sensitive Person   -- Elaine Aron
Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive Person
   -- Barrie Jaeger
Refuse to Choose: A Revolutionary Program for Doing Everything that You Love   -- Barbara Sher
The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with
Too Many Passions to Pick Just One
    -- Margaret Lobenstine
 
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Recommended Reading for Gifted Adults . . . and for Those Who Care About Them
Also recommended: VIA (Values in Action) Signature Strengths Survey (free with registration at AuthenticHappiness.com)
How Many of These Qualities
Do You See in Yourself . . . ?


- persistently curious
- intuitive, expressive, intense
- keen powers of observation
- highly sensitive to the surroundings
- unusual sense of humor
- experience of feeling different
- intense concentration
- compassion
- energetic, enthusiastic, excitable
- learns quickly; learns differently
- often bored; needs stimulation
- never bored; likes new ideas
- superior verbal abilities
- creative
- a natural leader
- capable of original thinking
- excellent problem-solver 
- understands complex ideas
- able to read the emotions of others
- an experimenter
- an avid reader
- has many interests
- driven to use your abilities
- strong sense of justice
- may have highly specialized abilities
- may excel in many areas
- may score highly on IQ tests
How glorious, and how painful, to be an exception
-- author unknown
Desai Guidance & Counseling          628 Norfolk Avenue          Westchester, IL   60154          (708) 344-7712