A Network of Independent Practitioners Providing a Collaborative Approach To Treatment

The practice of Melissa Sornik, LCSW PLLC is a network of independent practitioners who, through collaboration provide clients with a comprehensive and wholistic approach to treatment. The goal of the practice is to meet the needs of a uniquely diverse population of children, adolescents and families. In order to meet those needs, the practice seeks out professionals with training and experience in areas that impact our client population across a variety of environments including home, school and community. Their professional experience, knowledge and skills acquired from their work in schools, mental health facilities, hospitals, corporations, wellness centers. They have presented lectures and workshops on gifted and 2e related topics at local and national conferences, published articles, provide training for professionals in the fields of education and mental health and have taught undergraduate and graduate students. Pulling from personal and professional experiences with giftedness and twice exceptionality, the practice hosts onsite psychoeducational workshops and events pertaining to gifted and 2e relevant topics several times a year. The practice also provides offsite informational and professional develop workshops for schools, parent groups and other agencies.

MELISSA SORNIK, LCSW

Executive Director

A licensed clinician, Melissa has been working with gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) children and their families since 2003, and earned her Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University with a specialization in children and families. Melissa is the co-founder of Twice Exceptional Children's Advocacy, Inc. and served as president of the organization from 2002 through 2023. Her private practice specializes in support and services for all kinds of gifted individuals, including 2e individuals who are gifted with social, emotional, and/or learning challenges. Melissa is the executive director of the practice, oversees all programs and services including training and supervision, and works directly with gifted children, adolescents and adults in a therapeutic capacity. Believing that resilience and healthy relationships are fundamental to personal and professional success and fulfillment, Melissa has developed the B.E.S.T. model — four fundamental elements that are identified and promoted in her work with clients. Reflecting upon her own educational experience as a gifted artist and writer with learning challenges of her own (she can only memorize words in the form of song lyrics, and struggled with math throughout school), Melissa relived a similar experience when she became the parent of a uniquely gifted child. She set out to learn as much as she could about gifted individuals, especially those whose gifts, talents and unique emotional needs aren’t typically recognized or supported in traditional school or work settings, or those with certain challenges that overshadow their gifts and abilities. Melissa and the team of teachers, clinicians, and mentors who collaborate with her practice facilitate the practice’s onsite and online services and programming including TDC (Talent Development Connection). This eclectic team of professionals has been growing since the practice and programs were initiated by Melissa in 2006, and every team member has been thoughtfully chosen for their own gifts, talents and abilities. A collaborative sharing of ideas, unique talents, and creative synergy results in the creation of programs, projects and activities that are as innovative and unique as the individuals they were created for. Melissa has developed programs for gifted and 2e children and adolescents, conducted professional development sessions for public and private school settings and colleges in the NY tri-state area, has authored several articles on the subject of twice-exceptionality, and has presented lectures and workshops at regional and national conferences. She is an advisory board member of GiftedNYS, and has co-authored and co-presented the first online course on 2e for the National Association of Social Workers’ NY Chapter. Melissa has served on district and county Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) boards and is a 2e consultant for school districts and private schools. She is a SENG SMPG certified parent support group facilitator and an adjunct professor at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, NY where she has taught her own undergraduate course on a systems model and approach to working with children with special needs and their families. She has supervised and mentored undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate social workers, through training, internships and licensure. Melissa is also the former director for admissions and outreach at a school for gifted and 2e learners in NYC.  She currently resides in New York City and maintains clinical practices in both New York City and Sea Cliff, New York. Melissa has raised her own twice-exceptional child.