An article in the summer 2003 edition of Gifted Education Communicator caught our attention recently, and is summarized here for parents of gifted children.

The article, titled SENG-Model Parent Support Groups, is written by James T. Webb and Arlene R. DeVries. Dr. Webb is a renowned clinical psychologist and founder of Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG). He coauthored one of the groundbreaking books, Guiding the Gifted Child in 1982. Arlene DeVries, M.S.E., is a board member of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), as well as serving on the board of SENG. Together, they wrote Gifted Parent Groups: The SENG Model, in 1998.

In 1981, Dr. Webb formed a focus group to explore the needs of gifted and talented children, as well as establishing a support group for parents of GATE children. SENG became the support group, which “focused on parents and parenting issues regarding the social and emotional needs of gifted and talented children.” SENG was founded on the belief that “parenting is typically more influential than teaching in the long- term outcome of children. This is not to imply that teaching is unimportant, but rather is simply recognition that nurturing, supporting, and informed parenting can typically help a child overcome mediocre, poor, or even awful school experiences.”

The SENG Model established four general objectives.

1. Establish an environment where parents of gifted children could interact with other parents and trained leaders to receive support, guidance and professional advice.
2. Increase the awareness among parents that gifted children and their families have special emotional needs.
3. Develop parenting skills in nurturing emotional development of gifted children and their families.
4. Provide parents with information promoting (a) understanding of characteristics of gifted children (b) programs and opportunities for gifted children (c) books and professional organizations in the field of gifted, (d) referrals for more in-depth professional assistance, if needed.”

The article further states that “the groups were guided discussion groups about parenting issues: they were not discussion groups about school issues; they were not therapy groups, gripe groups, encounter groups, or advocacy groups.”

From these basic guidelines, the SENG model, which evolved into training workshops on the subject of parental support, was developed and become a major success. “To date, training workshops have been held in over 21 states and five countries, and more than 400 leaders have been trained.”

Clearly, there is a strong and basic need for parents, often just as intense as their children, to openly discuss the subject without being told by experts of a singular approach. Since gifted parents are most often highly educated, high powered problem solvers, they can brainstorm solutions to particular problems within their groups.

If you decide to implement a similar support group using the SENG-Model, there are two ways to approach it. First, you can attend a formal two-day training session sponsored by someone who has already been trained and who has facilitated one or more SENG-Model groups. However, if this is not available to you, you may wish to train yourself by reading the two books…Gifted Parent Groups: the SENG Model, and Guiding the Gifted Child.

To obtain more information about receiving training to become a facilitator, you can contact the SENG office at www.sengifted.org.