Mrs. Finch will lead November's meeting on the topic of "overexcitabilities". A theory developed by psychologist K. Dabrowski, this recognition of a heightened way to experience the world serves as an "aha" for supporters of gifted learners. We will discuss the five areas of intensities and how caregivers can use this knowledge to support children.

Debora Finch earned her B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from Union College (NY) and her M.Ed. from Vanderbilt University in Human Development Counseling. Mrs. Finch has served as a school counselor in Williamson County Schools for pre-K through 12th grade students for nearly two decades. For most of those years, she balanced instructing graduate students in Vanderbilt’s school counseling program and teaching a strengths-based curriculum at Belmont University while advocating for WCS students.

A passion area for Mrs. Finch is integrating parent education into her counseling role. She has especially enjoyed nurturing growth opportunities for gifted learners and their parents. At Vanderbilt’s Program for Talented Youth, she brought these two notions together by facilitating parent support groups during their SAVY program.

Deb Finch currently serves Mill Creek Elementary School as a full-time counselor. She enjoys a collaborative approach to learning and growing. She maintains a strengths-based approach to helping, teaching, and pacing across the life span.  

This meeting was held via Zoom.

Resources here:

https://www.sengifted.org/post/overexcitability-and-the-gifted
https://www.sengifted.org
Gifted and Talented Teens: Enhancing Strengths and Discovering Opportunities for Growth, Ester R.A. Leutenberg and John J Liptak
A Walk in the Rain with a Brain, Edward Hallowell
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol S. Dweck