#39 Giftedness and Neurodivergence with Dr. Colleen Plein

Get on-demand, lifetime, risk-free access to the Empowered Surgeons Group here.Dr. Colleen Plein, an otolaryngologist and coach for gifted adults, joins the podcast to explore the unique challenges of being a gifted or neurodivergent adult—something many of us in medicine and surgery can relate to. Find her on instagram here or email her [email protected]. She is resource for all of you gifted docs out there.In this episode, you'll learn:Neurodivergence isn’t something kids "grow out of"Gifted individuals often experience social struggles due to asynchronous developmentHow normalizing your neurodivergence can be incredibly freeingThe lack of support for gifted kids in school systems—and the lasting impactThe performance cliff and how it affects gifted individualsHow early praise for intelligence and achievement can lead to a fixed mindset and self-worth tied to external successWhy gifted kids can struggle, even with loving, supportive parentsThe challenge of finding identity and self-worth beyond what you do or produceThe overlap between giftedness, ADHD, and autismWhy coaching can be especially effective for gifted minds, who are drawn to “out-thinking” their thoughtsThe impact of rejection sensitive dysphoria in residencyHow simply having language for your experience can be a reliefA surprising reason you might procrastinate finishing your chartsHow coaching can fill in gaps that therapy often doesn’tThe importance of connecting with other gifted and neurodivergent individuals who share similar lived experiencesThis conversation is packed with insights that can shift the way you see yourself and your experiences.