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.

How Anxiety Therapy Helps in 2025: Managing Stress from Economic Uncertainty and the Impact of New Policies

Why Anxiety Is Rising in 2025

Many of us in the U.S. are feeling a lot more anxious than usual. Similar to the Covid pandemic, major shifts in society that are unpredictable and out of our control are driving feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability, which feed anxiety. Our brains are wired for survival, so this anxiety is actually a normal response to a threat to stability.

The Psychological Impact of Economic and Political Changes

Some policy changes are going to cause real vulnerability in terms of financial and physical security for many people, so feelings of anger or fear are warranted. Social and emotional threats aren’t just about hurt feelings - we are wired for connection, and are interdependent as humans. Distress is coming from both the tangible consequences of social injustice and the disruption of close personal relationships due to political differences.

Many of us are already seeing the impact in our own lives or communities, so anger or fear aren’t pathological symptoms that need to be rationalized; but, staying in an activated fear state is not going to be sustainable. How do you know if the stress is impacting your health?

Common warning signs you might need help are:

• Inability to relax your body or shift into rest. Your mind doesn’t shut off, and you can’t stop thinking about what’s going on. You’re constantly scrolling for news, looking for perspectives from others who might reassure you or give some sort of answer or direction, but it never calms down (or ramps right back up).

• Physical symptoms of muscle tension, racing heart, sweating, headaches, shaking, or fatigue (not related to a medical cause).

• Insomnia, waking in the middle of the night in a panic, waking too early. Or sleeping too much, not wanting to face the day.

• You’re not doing the things you normally would, like exercise or hobbies. Or when you try, you’re not enjoying them like you used to or you can’t concentrate long enough to do something like read a book.

• Withdrawing from people.

• Consistently worrying about what’s going to happen. Again sometimes the worry or negative prediction is actually true. But if you’re constantly catastrophizing and worrying about many things in life, that might be a warning sign.

Evidence-Based Ways to Cope with Uncertainty

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most evidence-based treatments for anxiety. CBT is focused on rationalizing your thoughts by examining the evidence for and against your anxious thought. Often when we feel uncertain, there’s a lack of confidence that we can cope with the feared outcome. In CBT we can focus on the evidence that you can cope - looking at past successes, for instance. You can also look at the evidence on a bigger scale and see when society has faced a similar crisis, how did people overcome? What actions can we take in our personal lives, and as a community to move forward? Do we have those capabilities?

Mindfulness is another approach that is my own go-to for uncertainty and racing thoughts. Mindful breathing is a tool we can use wherever we are to bring ourselves out of the thoughts and into our bodies, into the present moment. You might have to do it over and over, but over time it does get easier.

Finding solutions for the tangible problems also helps uncertainty. If you’re facing economic uncertainty because you may be laid off or you’re struggling with inflation, lay out some steps you can take. Working on your resume, networking, or working on your budget can help you feel more in control of your life. If you’re facing an urgent issue around immigration or employment law, seek out advice from legal counsel.

Set boundaries with social media and news consumption. This is tough when you want to be informed, so determine where you want to get your information and set a timer for how long you’re going to spend. Maybe write out the questions you want answered before you even open your phone or computer, and stick to finding the information then getting out.

Connect with others. It can help immensely to talk with other people who are also going through the same thing. Particularly if you can talk on the phone or in person. Sharing the struggle and having a sense of connection can ease some of the anxiety. It can also help if you feel like you are part of a solution with others.

Go outside. Connect with nature. Last week in the Cincinnati area, we had a really warm day for the middle of winter. It’s amazing how getting outside can lift the mood, make you feel connected with something bigger than yourself, and remind you that the world has been here a long time and weathered so many storms before now.

Deciding to Seek Professional Help for Anxiety

If you’re doing all you can to manage anxiety on your own but still find yourself overwhelmed, it’s time to find an anxiety therapist. Will a therapist fix what’s going on? Unfortunately no (though licensed Social Workers sure try!). But a therapist can help you process and get un-stuck so you can move forward. Being overwhelmed by anxiety can keep you from taking action that can help you, as well as others. Therapy can be a place to process the emotions productively so you can get back into living your life.

Finding the right therapist can make a big difference in your life. If you’re ready to start, click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with an experienced online anxiety therapist from Cincinnati today for virtual counseling in Indiana and Ohio. Or call/text 513-461-2045.

What to Expect from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from a Counselor in Cincinnati

Finding the right therapist in Cincinnati can feel daunting. Looking for someone who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy can be more of a challenge. Most therapists have some understanding and training in CBT, so it may be listed under their specialties, but not everyone has been trained in using a full course of CBT. Once you have found the right person, here is what you can expect when you start.

What to expect from a free consultation call with a CBT therapist in Cincinnati

A free consultation is simply a phone call to tell a prospective therapist what you are looking for, and to find out if it's a good fit. They should ask you for a brief overview of what you need help with, and then they should explain how they work. The therapist should explain what type of therapy they do, as well as the logistics about how often they meet, payment, and location.

This is a time to ask any questions and feel it out. If it feels like the right fit, you can go ahead and move forward with scheduling. If not, you can call a few more therapists to find the right one, or you can also ask this person if they know anyone who better meets your needs.

What happens in the first session of CBT?

In your first session, your therapist will gather your history and more specific information on what you're struggling with. You'll set some treatment goals so you know what direction therapy will go, and then your therapist will explain how cognitive behavioral therapy works. You should get some handouts and some homework for your first week to jump in to the work of CBT.

How long does cognitive behavioral therapy in Cincinnati take to work?

Length of therapy will depend on many factors, but generally a basic course of CBT for anxiety or depression can take around 8 to 12 sessions. When CBT is done “by the book,” you will have moved through the components enough to understand how it works, make changes, and get relief.

If more “stuff” comes up or there are complicated or longstanding problems, CBT can go deeper into these. Your therapist might also incorporate more techniques to compliment CBT. But for many people, a couple months of weekly sessions should really help.

Throughout CBT treatment for anxiety or depression, you will be doing homework assignments to bring to your next session. You'll review these with your therapist and learn new skills. As you make changes and implement new habits, you should be able to see your progress as you approach those goals you set.

If you're ready to try virtual cognitive behavioral therapy in Cincinnati, with online therapy in Ohio and Indiana, click here to schedule your free 15-minute consultation today. Or call/text 513-461-2045.