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DSW Showcase Student Presentation

Alaina Bailey

MSW, LCSW, Doctoral Candidate

The Unwanted Gifts Presented by Gifted and Talented Students: Overcoming a Culture of Anxiety and Perfectionism

Concentration -

  • Wednesday, April 30, 2025 -
  • 2:30 pm
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Abstract

Many Gifted and Talented (GT) students are suffering from anxiety and negative perfectionism. School-based mental health professionals are experiencing GT students needing more social and emotional learning support to combat these tendencies. Acknowledging a theoretical understanding of how Achievement Motivation, Empowerment, and Systems Theory impact a student’s environment through a person-in-environment perspective can help develop solutions and guide best practices. Social and emotional learning is an essential resource intervention for these students. School-based mental health professionals provide accessibility to this population, limiting resource barriers. Evidence-based practices can be used as proactive measures to decrease anxiety and perfectionism tendencies. Continuing education and awareness for all parties will help address this issue and promote knowledge and improvements to such programming.

Biography

Alaina Bailey, MSW, LCSW, is a dedicated Wildcat who received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the University of Kentucky. She is a Doctoral Candidate at the university's College of Social Work. Her professional work as a District Mental Health Specialist in Fayette County Public Schools focuses on childhood mental health and increasing social-emotional learning. She works with students, families, school staff, and the community to promote well-being and academic achievement. This commitment shows she can help address today's youth's unique challenges. She ensures students can access the emotional learning tools they need to thrive by integrating social-emotional learning within a school setting. Her dedication to creating a society that supports children's social and emotional well-being is unwavering and continuously instills confidence in her mission. As a Doctoral Candidate, she is deepening her knowledge in social work and mental health practices, with a particular interest and passion for research and advancing childhood mental health interventions. Her focus on evidence-based solutions reassures her commitment to promoting emotional resilience for gifted and talented students struggling with anxiety and perfectionism in today's schools.