SENG - Community Support Group
SCG/SENG - Community GroupDo you have a child who is highly curious? Perhaps they master new things quickly or show an unusually intense focus in their areas of interest? Or maybe your child is particularly emotionally sensitive? Intensity, sensitivity, perfectionism, and asynchronous development are just a few of the traits gifted and twice-exceptional children can share.
Gifted children have unique needs, and may require special and differentiated academic and social-emotional support. Our SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) Community Group (SCG) provides a safe and supportive environment to freely discuss your child’s development and parenting challenges. We will discuss The Gifted Parenting Journey, Gail Post Ph.D., and you will connect with other parents who have had similar experiences while gaining a deeper understanding of how to identify and support your children's needs.
As facilitators, we will not be lecturing and teaching (others offer workshops for this!), but rather setting up a safe place for parents to share their successes, concerns, and difficulties. This group will be offered in an online format. Your child does not need to have been formally identified as gifted to participate.
Weekly topics include:
What: 5-week Guided Discussion Group for Caregivers of Gifted Children
When: TBD
Where: Online - the Zoom link will be provided once you have registered
Co-Facilitators: Deniz Baloglu and Kim Overton (bios below)
Cost: $240 per person/couple for the 5 week session. We will provide the payment options when you finish the from.
* We recommend The Gifted Parenting Journey, Gail Post Ph.D.. We will be following some of the topics in the book. It can be helpful to scan the book ahead of our meetings. Please submit the form, and you will be contacted shortly to confirm your registration and collect the fees for the session. We look forward to meeting with you soon!
Register early; space is limited. Payment in full is due upon registration. No prorated fees for missed sessions. No refunds or trial sessions. If these dates/times do not work for you, send an email to overton.kim@gmail.com to be added to our notification list for future groups in 2025-26.
About Us
Deniz Baloglu is the founder of the Navigator of Giftedness, which offers support to families through consultations, educational advocacy, parent groups, workshops, social-emotional learning opportunities, and other resources. She is a trained facilitator for Supporting Emotional Needs for the Gifted (SENG), serves as Member-Elect for the California Association of the Gifted (CAG), and on the Parent Content & Advisory Board for National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). She received a Professional Academic Certificate in Twice Exceptional Education at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education. Her interests include recognizing unique profiles of neurodiverse learners, especially the twice-exceptional learners with high intellectual abilities and specific learning differences, and behavioral and social challenges. She advocates for gifted/2e children and their families through consultations, educational advocacy, parent groups, workshops, and social-emotional learning opportunities. Deniz was a data analyst in Turkey and a member of the National Turkish Chess Youth Team, and she has a master’s degree in information technologies. She lives with her husband and her son in the Bay Area.
Kim Overton has been working with families and children for over 40 years. She's worked with special needs adolescents, young children (ages 0-5), their parents and teachers, and most recently she worked for fifteen years in admissions at The Nueva School (gifted learners, PreK-12). She believes in caring for both the children and caregivers. We all need to work towards equity in education so all children are in environments where they are understood, cared for, challenged, and thrive. Kim has a psychology degree from Stanford University and an elementary school teaching credential, as well as many classes in early childhood and family development. Kim has two gifted children of her own - now in their 20's - and the joys and challenges of being a parent keep her on her toes - always learning! Kim's work with gifted children and their families inspired her to become a certified Supporting Emotional Needs for the Gifted (SENG) parent group facilitator.
A Few FAQs:
1. What’s the age range of students for your parent group?
We are open to all ages at this time, as we feel we can cater to /support most ages - as we are not meeting as the experts, but rather facilitators of conversation and sharing of resources. If ages are really off balance, we let the families know it might not be a good match this session.
2. How many parents do you anticipate?
We hope somewhere between 5-8 families. Often there are 2 caregivers/parents on the Zoom call per family.
3. Does everyone have a chance to discuss or is it more educational for the parents?
Yes, it's all about discussion - more a support group than a workshop. We hope everyone who wants to talk will. Parents seemed relieved and comfortable to have a place to talk about their worries, complaints, and hopes for their children.
Gifted children have unique needs, and may require special and differentiated academic and social-emotional support. Our SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) Community Group (SCG) provides a safe and supportive environment to freely discuss your child’s development and parenting challenges. We will discuss The Gifted Parenting Journey, Gail Post Ph.D., and you will connect with other parents who have had similar experiences while gaining a deeper understanding of how to identify and support your children's needs.
As facilitators, we will not be lecturing and teaching (others offer workshops for this!), but rather setting up a safe place for parents to share their successes, concerns, and difficulties. This group will be offered in an online format. Your child does not need to have been formally identified as gifted to participate.
Weekly topics include:
- What is giftedness and twice-exceptionality
- Family Relationships and Friends
- Education Environments
- Finding Connection, Community, and Support - RESOURCES psychologists
- Practical Suggestions for Parenting Gifted Children
What: 5-week Guided Discussion Group for Caregivers of Gifted Children
When: TBD
Where: Online - the Zoom link will be provided once you have registered
Co-Facilitators: Deniz Baloglu and Kim Overton (bios below)
Cost: $240 per person/couple for the 5 week session. We will provide the payment options when you finish the from.
* We recommend The Gifted Parenting Journey, Gail Post Ph.D.. We will be following some of the topics in the book. It can be helpful to scan the book ahead of our meetings. Please submit the form, and you will be contacted shortly to confirm your registration and collect the fees for the session. We look forward to meeting with you soon!
Register early; space is limited. Payment in full is due upon registration. No prorated fees for missed sessions. No refunds or trial sessions. If these dates/times do not work for you, send an email to overton.kim@gmail.com to be added to our notification list for future groups in 2025-26.
About Us
Deniz Baloglu is the founder of the Navigator of Giftedness, which offers support to families through consultations, educational advocacy, parent groups, workshops, social-emotional learning opportunities, and other resources. She is a trained facilitator for Supporting Emotional Needs for the Gifted (SENG), serves as Member-Elect for the California Association of the Gifted (CAG), and on the Parent Content & Advisory Board for National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). She received a Professional Academic Certificate in Twice Exceptional Education at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education. Her interests include recognizing unique profiles of neurodiverse learners, especially the twice-exceptional learners with high intellectual abilities and specific learning differences, and behavioral and social challenges. She advocates for gifted/2e children and their families through consultations, educational advocacy, parent groups, workshops, and social-emotional learning opportunities. Deniz was a data analyst in Turkey and a member of the National Turkish Chess Youth Team, and she has a master’s degree in information technologies. She lives with her husband and her son in the Bay Area.
Kim Overton has been working with families and children for over 40 years. She's worked with special needs adolescents, young children (ages 0-5), their parents and teachers, and most recently she worked for fifteen years in admissions at The Nueva School (gifted learners, PreK-12). She believes in caring for both the children and caregivers. We all need to work towards equity in education so all children are in environments where they are understood, cared for, challenged, and thrive. Kim has a psychology degree from Stanford University and an elementary school teaching credential, as well as many classes in early childhood and family development. Kim has two gifted children of her own - now in their 20's - and the joys and challenges of being a parent keep her on her toes - always learning! Kim's work with gifted children and their families inspired her to become a certified Supporting Emotional Needs for the Gifted (SENG) parent group facilitator.
A Few FAQs:
1. What’s the age range of students for your parent group?
We are open to all ages at this time, as we feel we can cater to /support most ages - as we are not meeting as the experts, but rather facilitators of conversation and sharing of resources. If ages are really off balance, we let the families know it might not be a good match this session.
2. How many parents do you anticipate?
We hope somewhere between 5-8 families. Often there are 2 caregivers/parents on the Zoom call per family.
3. Does everyone have a chance to discuss or is it more educational for the parents?
Yes, it's all about discussion - more a support group than a workshop. We hope everyone who wants to talk will. Parents seemed relieved and comfortable to have a place to talk about their worries, complaints, and hopes for their children.
What is SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted)?
SENG is a nonprofit network of people who guide gifted, talented, and twice-exceptional individuals to reach their goals intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
What is a SENG Model Parent Group (SMPG)?
"Parents of gifted children frequently feel isolated from support. They experience an unsettling dissonance between the child-rearing practices recommended for average children and the reality of the child in their midst. The very strengths and characteristics of gifted children often result in associated problems, particularly in social and emotional areas." (Gifted Parent Groups: The SENG Model, 2nd Edition, pg.3)
SMPG workshops meet weekly for 6-10 weeks and are structured around A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children, by James T. Webb, et.al. SENG Model Parent Group bring together 10-20 parents of gifted and talented children to discuss such topics as motivation, connection, stress management, and peer relationships. The co-facilitators of these groups are knowledgeable about parenting and educating gifted children. However, they do not attempt to give expert advice. Instead, their facilitation provides a nonjudgmental and nurturing atmosphere. Additionally, the other participating parents are themselves a rich resource of information.
The above information was retrieved from http://www.sengifted.org
SMPG workshops meet weekly for 6-10 weeks and are structured around A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children, by James T. Webb, et.al. SENG Model Parent Group bring together 10-20 parents of gifted and talented children to discuss such topics as motivation, connection, stress management, and peer relationships. The co-facilitators of these groups are knowledgeable about parenting and educating gifted children. However, they do not attempt to give expert advice. Instead, their facilitation provides a nonjudgmental and nurturing atmosphere. Additionally, the other participating parents are themselves a rich resource of information.
The above information was retrieved from http://www.sengifted.org
SENG Model Online Parent Group
The online platform allows individuals to meet together face to face to discuss the issues, needs, and, challenges associated with raising a gifted child - all with the help of an expert!
Loosely based on the SMPG (SENG Model Parent Group), SENG's online support groups offer support in a private setting and allow parents of gifted persons to connect with each regardless of their location.
The above information was retrieved from http://www.sengifted.org
Loosely based on the SMPG (SENG Model Parent Group), SENG's online support groups offer support in a private setting and allow parents of gifted persons to connect with each regardless of their location.
The above information was retrieved from http://www.sengifted.org