Former Gifted Kid Syndrome

Were you a “gifted kid” growing up? School came easily to you, maybe you were in the Gifted and Talented program. You got straight A’s without studying, and were always seen as the “smart” one. Then, at some point in college or after graduation, things fell apart.

So what happened?

Being a gifted kid isn’t inherently traumatic—but the pressure, perfectionism, and praise for your “potential” can turn into a real mess later on.

A lot of former gifted kids grow up believing:

• If I’m not exceptional, I’m failing.

• If it doesn’t come easily, it’s not worth doing.

• If I can’t do it perfectly, why bother at all?

What I see happen when people come to me for therapy is that the tightly structured school environment that kept you organized and on track is gone. The home environment where other people are grocery shopping, keeping laundry going, and setting meal times is gone. The support system that kept things moving along is now hours or states away, and you find yourself unable to do “adult” things and feeling like a failure.

Then “real” adulthood comes along and really kicks the scaffolding out from under you. Now you’re juggling work, bills, relationships, and figuring out what “success” even means. We get to career-level jobs and there’s no longer achievements to constantly work for and measure our success by. We’re working alongside other high achievers, as well as average achievers, and wondering if it all really mattered at all. Shouldn’t I be doing something amazing with all my potential? This feeling can compound with lifelong perfectionism and lead to gnawing anxiety that has no easy solution.

It might not just be anxiety. It could be undiagnosed ADHD.

Here’s something I see all the time: former gifted kids who are struggling with anxiety, burnout, procrastination, and motivation... and it turns out a big piece of the puzzle is ADHD that went undiagnosed for years.

Why? Because when you were younger, you could coast on intelligence and external structure. But now that everything is self-directed? The executive function challenges that were always there are suddenly front and center. In school, there was enough support and variety to keep yourself going - you can cram for a midterm or write a ten page paper the night it’s due and get your gold star. Now, you show up to work for a number of hours, and there isn’t a sense of urgency, accomplishment, and dopamine rush to keep your brain engaged. It’s hard to get started or be motivated to do the simplest tasks. You start lagging behind and wondering why you aren’t the superstar everyone expected you to be.

You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. Your brain just might be wired differently—and that wiring deserves support, not shame.

Therapy can help you untangle the gifted kid guilt spiral

This is where therapy comes in—specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps identify and shift those stuck patterns, like:

• “If I can’t do it perfectly, I’m failing.”

• “I should have figured this out by now.”

• “Everyone else seems to be doing fine. What’s wrong with me?”

In therapy, we work on setting realistic expectations, building new routines (even for brains that hate structure), and reclaiming your worth from whatever achievement hamster wheel you’ve been stuck on. We dig into the societal expectations and underlying beliefs that are keeping you feeling like you’re not good enough, and build out a healthier way of looking at yourself and the world so you can move forward.

You don’t have to figure this all out alone.

I’m a therapist based in Cincinnati, and I offer online therapy across Ohio and Indiana—so you can show up from your couch, your car, or a conference room. I’ve had people show up on the floor of their closet, or in an empty operating room because that’s the only way they could fit therapy into their day.

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not the only one. Let’s figure out what’s actually going on under the burnout—and how to build something healthier in its place.

Click here to get started.

Online Therapy in Indiana & Ohio: What to Expect and Why It Actually Works

Let’s get this out of the way first: Online therapy isn’t a watered-down version of “real” therapy.

In fact, for a lot of people, it’s better.

If you live in Indiana or Ohio and you’re struggling with anxiety, burnout, ADHD symptoms, or just the existential dread of being a human in 2025, online therapy might be exactly what you need—especially if you're tired of one-size-fits-all mental health services.

I’m Jennifer Branstetter, a licensed therapist offering virtual therapy for adults in both Indiana and Ohio. I specialize in helping anxious people-pleasers, former gifted kids who feel stuck in adulthood, and adults navigating undiagnosed ADHD, chronic illness, or depression.

Let’s break down what online therapy actually looks like—and why it works.

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What Is Online Therapy?

Online therapy (also called virtual therapy or telehealth) is exactly what it sounds like: Therapy sessions that happen via a secure video platform, instead of in an office. It’s confidential, HIPAA-compliant, and can be just as effective as in-person therapy (backed by research and actual human experience). Most of us got used to telehealth in 2020 when therapists had to pivot immediately, and unfortunately it wasn’t always great. According to my licensing board, some therapists were showing up to sessions in their car, smoking, and drinking wine. That’s not professional online therapy. I’ve been working virtually from my home office since 2018, so there wasn’t a learning curve to adapt my practice.

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Who Online Therapy Helps Most

Online therapy isn’t right for everyone, but it’s a game-changer for people who:

Struggle with anxiety or sensory overwhelm and prefer the comfort of their own space

Have chronic illness, fatigue, or mobility challenges that make in-person therapy a chore

Are balancing a million things—like work, parenting, or caregiving—and need something that actually fits into their life - even in the middle of a workday

Live in Indiana or Ohio but don’t have easy access to therapists who get their specific challenges

Want therapy that’s tailored, practical, and grounded—not rigid or overly clinical

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“But What If It Feels Weird?”

It might at first - just like meeting a new therapist in their office. That’s normal. I even feel weird meeting a new therapist the first time. Many people feel more comfortable because they’re in their own environment. Now that video calls are so common, doing therapy on video isn’t that different.

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What to Know About Private Pay & Insurance

I’m a private pay therapist, which means I don’t bill insurance directly. I’m a better therapist when I get to decide with the client what type of therapy they get and how many sessions. Rather than spending hours chasing down claims, I have time to plan for sessions, collaborate with doctors, make referrals, and come to sessions from a balanced place.

Some clients use their out-of-network benefits to get partial reimbursement. If you want to explore that, I can provide a superbill (an itemized receipt with a diagnosis code) that you can submit to your insurance company.

Important note:

Insurance companies may request your records to process reimbursement.

They can choose to deny reimbursement based on diagnosis, provider type, or other criteria.

A mental health diagnosis is required for insurance reimbursement.

Some clients prefer private pay for the added privacy, flexibility, and control—no waiting for approval, no session caps, no surprise denials.

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Ready to Try Online Therapy?

Whether you’re in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Fort Wayne, or anywhere else in Indiana or Ohio—I’ve got space for you.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, burned out, stuck in your head, or like life just hasn’t turned out how you expected, therapy can help.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

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Let’s work together.

Click here to schedule a free consult or call/text 513-461-2045 to get started.

Avoiding Your Taxes (Again)? How Anxiety and ADHD Make Daunting Tasks Feel Impossible – and What to Do About It

Keep Avoiding Your Taxes? Here’s How Anxiety and ADHD Might Be Getting in the Way

The deadline to file taxes is fast approaching, and you’ve been putting it off. The pressure is building, yet you haven’t started. If you’re feeling the dread and shame that come with procrastinating on taxes, you’re not alone.

Many people with anxiety, ADHD, or both struggle with big, boring, or stressful tasks like this. You might think:

> “I know I need to do it… so why can’t I just get it done?”

As a therapist in Cincinnati who works with people dealing with anxiety and ADHD, I hear this all the time. I even experience this myself. This experience isn’t merely putting off a task you don’t like. The stress can be all-consuming. It’s a mix of dreading the task, shame from putting it off, and anxiety about how it’s going to go. If you do 1099 work and haven’t kept up on bookkeeping all year, the task of organizing your expenses can feel like a huge task.

Why Is This So Hard?

Here’s the truth: It’s not because you’re lazy.

Anxiety can make your brain go into “what if” mode:

What if I do it wrong?

What if I owe too much?

What if I mess this up?

ADHD makes it harder to start tasks, especially ones that feel boring or overwhelming. It’s hard to estimate how long it will actually take, and that ambiguity is hard to plan for. You might run into a question you aren’t sure about, or have to find something you weren’t expecting. The ambiguity coupled with the tedious nature of the task are like torture to an ADHD brain.

When anxiety and ADHD team up, it can feel almost impossible to get started. It can also start the shame spiral about money struggles and other tasks you have a hard time with.

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What’s Happening in Your Brain?

When your brain thinks a task is too big or too stressful, it goes into “protect mode.”

That might look like:

Procrastinating

Getting distracted

Feeling frozen

Feeling guilty

This is your brain trying to keep you safe—but it ends up causing more stress.

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5 Simple Tricks to Help You Get Started

If you start now, you don’t have to finish it all today. Just take one small step. These tips can help:

1. The 15-Minute Rule

Tell yourself: “I only have to do this for 15 minutes.”

Starting is often the hardest part. Once you begin, it might feel easier to keep going. Or you can stop and take a break. Getting started will give you more information about what to expect.

2. Work with Support

Try body doubling—doing the task while someone else is nearby, even virtually. Even telling someone that you’re doing your taxes at a specific time can provide some social pressure to get started.

3. Break It Down

Instead of “do taxes,” write out tiny steps like:

Find my W-2 or 1099

Log into my tax software

Enter my demographics

Gather all documents

Write out the list of all the tasks you’ll need to do so you can organize your brain and work on one thing at a time. When you cross it off, give yourself a treat or a quick break. Reward yourself like a dog.

4. Be Kind to Yourself

Realize that you are not alone. Many high achieving, smart, and competent people also procrastinate on their taxes. This is not a time for moral judgment. It’s a time for compassion and understanding - this is a royal pain and many people are also in the same boat. Decide on a reward for when you finish.

5. Set the mood to support productivity

If you’ve got ADHD, you need a boost of energy and dopamine to focus. If you’re on a task of gathering documents or entering information like copy/paste, play music that hypes you up and makes you feel good. For example, a Xennial might use a 90’s Alternative playlist to remind you of a time you wished to be an adult with all these freedoms. Once you’re on a task where you have to think, then you might need some instrumental music or white noise to concentrate.

Movement can also help. Move your body before starting and on breaks, or even while you’re working.

If you’re really struggling and it helps, caffeine and sugar can give you a boost of energy. No judgment. We’re going for whatever is going to get this big task done before the deadline. Know your body though and be mindful of a blood sugar crash that may be coming.

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Is It More Than Just Procrastination?

If this happens a lot—at work, with bills, or with simple tasks—it might be time to get support.

Therapy can help you:

Understand your brain

Feel less stuck

Build tools that work for you

Be gentler with yourself

You don’t have to keep pushing through alone.

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Looking for a therapist to help you manage ADHD and Anxiety?

You don’t need to wait until things get worse.

Let’s take that first step together.

If you’re in Ohio or Indiana, reach out today to schedule a free consultation or learn more about how therapy can help. Call/text me at 513-461-2045 or click here to schedule a call.

Convenient Online Psychotherapy: Serving Clients in Indiana and Ohio

Accessible Care for Indiana and Ohio Residents

I was born a Buckeye and have been a Hoosier for the past decade or so, living close to the Indiana/Ohio border near Cincinnati. So like many of us, I see doctors in both states. Though I’ve worked in-person in both Indiana and Ohio (as well as Kentucky), since going all-virtual in 2018 I have maintained both licenses so I can serve people like me who are on either side of the border at different times of the day or year.

The Benefits of Virtual Psychotherapy

I have maintained a virtual practice since having an infant at home, noting it worked better for me to have flexibility in scheduling and reducing commute time to an office. I can therefore serve more people and at more flexible hours.

The benefits for clients are all about access. So many people I work with would not have the time to drive to an office in the middle of their day, or after work, in addition to the hour of therapy. Being able to close an office door or go to a quiet room in their house makes it much more likely they’re getting care. I also notice a difference in the level of vulnerability people are comfortable with, compared to when they were in a stranger’s office. I think I’m even more comfortable working from my home office than when I shared an office building with other businesses.

Who Can Benefit from Online Therapy?

Anyone who can operate a computer or smartphone can benefit. I think busy people or those with a lot of anxiety around seeking therapy have been the most helped. Literally if you got way too anxious in session, you could just hang up. That hasn’t happened yet, but it’s a nice option to tell a very anxious brain :) It’s also great for someone who is so depressed they’re struggling to leave the house. Therapy can meet them literally in bed and healing can start.

I’ve had many people who have said they would never have gotten care if we didn’t have virtual therapy. There are some cases where in-person care is more appropriate, and I assess that on a case-by-case basis. And of course, many people prefer to go in-person for their care.

Access for people in rural areas is a huge passion of mine, as I myself would need to drive an hour to get to good in-person care. As a working mom, that just isn’t going to happen. As a client, I like being able to snuggle up in a blanket with a cup of coffee on my own couch to start a session.

Part of my standard practice is to connect with, or refer to, any treating physicians you see in order to collaborate on your care. I can do that virtually the same way I did in-office. Being from Cleveland and previously living in Youngstown, Columbus, and Cincinnati, I usually have familiarity with the local resources or can easily find them. I’ve been able to connect people with local providers in the far corners of Indiana too, thanks to the internet.

How Virtual Sessions Work

After having a consultation call, if you’re ready to schedule then I put you in my electronic health record system and you’ll get a link to the appointment by text and email. Just click the link a few minutes before therapy, and the session will begin. The only parameters are that you’re in a quiet place with privacy so you can get the most out of your session.

Licensed to Serve Both Indiana and Ohio

Many people travel between our two great states. I see several college students coming to Indiana from Ohio, or vice-versa. So we can continue care when they’re home for breaks without interruption. Or some people live in Cincinnati but are from Indiana, so again when they’re home visiting family but need a session, we can meet. Many Southeast Indiana residents commute to Cincinnati for work, and may only have time do their session on their lunch break in Ohio. Being licensed in both states allows care to continue without interruption. I’m also licensed for telehealth in Florida, so if you need a session during vacation (hey, I’ve been there), it’s available.

Why Choose Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

CBT is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and depression. Being virtual means it’s much easier to fit into your life without interrupting treatment due to commuting, road conditions, etc. One benefit of CBT is consistency early on as we change habits. My EHR allows me to send you worksheets through the portal for you to complete homework between sessions. Online CBT has been just as effective as in-person CBT in my practice.

Start Your Journey to Better Mental Health Today

Are you looking for a therapist licensed in both Ohio and Indiana? Click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with an experienced online anxiety therapist from Cincinnati today for online counseling in Indiana and Ohio. Or call/text 513-461-2045.