When Dr. Ruf tells people that she is a High Intelligence Specialist, they uniformly conclude that she “works with gifted children.” She answers, “No, that’s only a ruse to get their parents in.”

We at Educational Options have an equal interest in how adults view themselves and we strive to help untangle confusions regarding how smart someone is, how they “fit in”, and how past experiences—such as school—

have affected their self-concept and world view. Many adults are confused first and foremost that if they didn’t get good grades, they must not be “that smart.” Grades are about compliance and “reading” the teacher well. Fewer boys are willing to perform that way in school, for example.

Another common issue for bright adults is wondering how much their intellectual level affects their social lives and overall sense of happiness. If an adult has experienced a lot of loneliness or feeling frequently as though “on the outside looking in,” it may be related to being smarter than the people they spend much of their time with.

The process for meeting adult needs is similar to that of meeting the needs of developing adults, i.e., children. Please refer to the Three Step Process for clarification.