POSI Model

Paper

<p style="text-align: justify;">In my research we focus on the creativity, practical intelligence, motivation, personality factors (little five), ego-development, cognitive coping, strengths, difficulties, emotional intelligence and stressful life events in gifted adolescents compared to able and above average intelligent adolescents over time (t=3). I asked myself how I can help these children and young people to develop towards mental health, well-being, self-actualization and wisdom. I find myself in agreement with the following statement of my colleague Haiko Jessurun: ‘Obviously giftedness is not a disease. However, giftedness penetrates pervasive throughout the development of a human being and the way psychological complaints are handled must take this into account’. We know that the problems gifted children obtain are caused by an environment which does not suit the personal characteristics of the individual gifted child. Intense violent but often unintended reactions out of misunderstanding by environment often lead to multiple, minor traumatic experiences. My new theory and model states that it is important to understand the way children interpret these experiences of psychological injury. To understand the interpretation of the child it is necessary to take their developmental stage into account and mentalize. Without mentalization by significant others, the child will, in my opinion, not be able to reach self-actualisation and wisdom. This theory is an explanation for and a solution to the psychological injuries of ‘the gifted’. From my drive to further help these children, the POSI model has been developed. The POSI model is an explanatory model, as well as a solution-focused model. It can be applied in schools, homes, therapy and counselling by teachers, parents, therapists and by the children, adolescents or young adults themselves, either in groups or individually. A board game has also been developed to gain insights and solutions in a playful way. copyright POSI-model: Mia Frumau</p>