Smart But Stuck: How Resilience Frees Imprisoned Intelligence from Learning Disabilities, Second Edition

Learn how smart people with learning gaps struggle, survive, and achieve Smart But Stuck, Second Edition is an updated look at how smart people with learning gaps can not only overcome them, but become successful in learning—and life. The new edition of this classic explores the emotional aspects of learning disabilities and imprisoned intelligence, showing how—and why—smart people with learning disabilities are resilient in getting help in order to struggle, survive, and achieve. The book also includes new material on the relationship between learning disabilities and neuroscience and a new foreword by Joseph Palombo, Founding Dean of the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago. This unique and compelling new version takes into account that the reader may have a learning disability, so it's easy to read and understand. Topics build on each other so the reader's knowledge becomes cumulative without dramatic effect and so emotional, biological, and social issues are easily integrated as the reader learns to turn a learning disability into an advantage. From the author: “Resilience is the capacity to bounce back; in individuals with LD it's a powerful tool. When people hit the chasm, shame is the outcome. People can withdraw and give up. (Some people take solace in substance abuse to ease the emotional pain.) Others keep trying. In the process of not giving up, people learn to keep hope alive because eventually new opportunities for learning become possible.” Smart But Stuck, Second Edition examines: * imprisoned intelligence and resilience—how does it happen? * shame and resilience * discovery and diagnosis * learning to live with the diagnosis * new reflections * resilience and fulfilling potential * neurocognitive foundations of learning disorders * self-psychology and imprisoned intelligence * psychotherapy * fortitude and flexibility in people with learning disabilities * and much more Smart But Stuck, Second Edition is a must-read for people with learning disabilities and their families, psychotherapists, social workers, educators, parents, vocational counselors, and college counselors.  Please visit www.smartbutstuck.com for more information.

Table of Contents:
Foreword (Joseph Palombo) Author’s Note Acknowledgments Introduction: Imprisoned Intelligence in Resilient People SECTION I: WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT LEARNING DISABILITIES, IMPRISONED INTELLIGENCE, AND RESILIENCE Chapter 1. Imprisoned Intelligence: How Does It Happen? True Grit What Sort of People Have Undiagnosed Learning Disabilities Understanding Undiagnosed Learning Disabilities Information About the Research Some Reflections Chapter 2. Shame and Resilience Shame Resilience: The Antidote to Shame Chapter 3. Something Is Wrong with Me: A Chasm in Learning Bewilderment Being Stuck: The Chasm Struggle: Impasse and Bypass Resignation Chapter 4. Discovery: The Diagnosis Awakenings The Test: Pleasure The Test: Pain The Aftermath: Making Sense Chapter 5. Learning to Live with It: After the Diagnosis Facing the Music: Becoming Resilient Grief: It’s Here to Stay Identifying Helpers and Hinderers Avoiding Pitfalls Taking It In Chapter 6. New Reflections: A Different Mirror Personal Definitions Acceptance Personal History Reinterpreted Personal Perspectives Chapter 7. Resilience and Fulfilling Potential Facing the Problem Facing the Chasm: The Biggest Challenge Finding Support Finding Appropriate Professional Help Chapter 8. Conclusions SECTION II: PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC, HISTORICAL, AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES Chapter 9. Psychotherapy: A Lantern for the Darkness Is Psychotherapy Necessary? What Can Be Expected from Psychotherapy? Things Learned in Therapy Chapter 10. Treatment: A Chapter for Therapists and Interested People Introduction Recognition: Helping People Become Aware Integration Conclusions Chapter 11. Resilience: Fortitude and Flexibility in People with Learning Disabilities (Myrna Orenstein and Fred Levin) Introduction Resilience: Some Further Background Fortitude: The Driving Force Flexibility Environmental Releasers: The Self’s Experience of the Input of Others Competence Conclusion Chapter 12. Neurocognitive Foundations of Learning Disorders and the Chasm Experience (Jay Einhorn) Neurocognitive Foundations of Learning Disorders 8 Neurocognitive Basis for Learning Disorders Neurocognitive Basis for Learning and Attention Disorders Neurocognitive Foundations of Self Chapter 13. Historical Review Why LD Is So Difficult to Spot Categories of Symptoms Life Span Development More to Be Learned Emotional Fallout: Frustration Emotional Fallout: Trauma Resilience Chapter 14. Self Psychology and Imprisoned Intelligence Learning and Imprisoned Intelligence The Impact of Imprisoned Intelligence on the Self and Selfobjects The Impact of Imprisoned Intelligence on Development Imprisoned Intelligence and Deficits Imprisoned Intelligence, Shame, and Fragmentation: The Chasm Imprisoned Intelligence and Emotional Distancing: Disavowal Conclusions Recommended Reading Bibliography Index Reference Notes Included