Aileen Kelleher, LCSW

06/02/2026

The school system itself, as an institution, creates really difficult struggles for kids, parents and teachers. It pits us at odds with each other when we really all agree on a lot of fundamental ideals.

The problem is that we are asked to “play along” when systems don’t make sense. That is very hard for gifted and 2E kids to do, especially if they are also PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance).

If you think your gifted or 2E child may also be PDA, I highly recommend Danika’s talk: https://learn.pdanorthamerica.org/courses/gifted-2e
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

05/12/2026

Being labeled gifted or 2E often comes with significant executive functioning struggles.
Stay at home Mom would be my nightmare scenario.
Shout out to those who do it because I would burn out so quickly.
Also this country needs more support for Moms, especially neurodivergent moms, especially single moms, but definitely all of us.
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

04/29/2026

Perfectionism leads us to struggle with knowing when we are doing “enough.” Even though having high standards can be helpful in some cases, it can also be paralyzing. Getting a sense of what the “norm” is for a task can sometimes help us narrow down what is necessary.

I can’t promise that this will mean you are okay with lowered expectations, but it can be relieving to just know that you are doing some things at a higher level than most and that it is okay to relax a little.
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

03/31/2026

03/26/2026

Being able to start tasks is one of our executive functions and it can be difficult for gifted and twice-exceptional people when the task is boring, repetitive, tedious, etc.

Here is one strategy to help yourself get started.
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

03/11/2026

Hygiene, executive functioning and sensory sensitivity struggles for gifted and twice-exceptional people.
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

01/15/2026

Thoughts on the “everyone wants a village but no one wants to be a villager” discussion that is going around right now.

Getting involved in your local disability rights organizations can be one way of addressing these structural issues!
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

01/13/2026

January feelings
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

12/17/2025

Giftedness and the concept of making an “effort” can be a loaded topic. Some call it gifted “underachieving” but I don’t think that’s completely accurate. It think it has more to do with gifted people getting stuck in an existential dilemma about what matters and what is worth the effort.

What do you think?
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

12/12/2025

Do you sometimes have trouble knowing/feeling the difference between the stories we tell about our reality and the real world itself?

Is your anxiety about what “could” happen overriding your ability to show up for your life?

This video explains why gifted and twice-exceptional people, who have imaginational intensity or “overexcitability” may struggle with anxiety.
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.