TPP 362: Dr. Chris Wells Explains the Theory of Positive Disintegration
episode
Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
35 min
1 speaker
5 chapters
transcribed 14 hours ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
What is the Theory of Positive Disintegration and why does it matter?
If you look back at the history of DSM, for instance, DSM one is basically all about psychoneurosis. That was Dabrowski's language at the time. And he saw that if you were somebody going through what was considered psychoneurosis, there were positive developmental implications there. And it didn't just mean that you were crazy or mentally ill, but that this could be a process of you developing a more more authentic self and like creating a personality, but unfortunately it often wasn't supported well. And so it wasn't always positive. I guess that's what I'm trying to say. Disintegration can be negative or pathological too if it's not adequately supported.
I'm Debbie Rieber, and welcome to Tild Parenting, a podcast featuring interviews and conversations aimed at inspiring, informing, and supporting parents raising differently wired kids. And wow, do I have such a fascinating conversation for you today? So, a few months ago, I heard about something called the theory of positive disintegration. That's a theory created by Kay Dobrowski, whose name I was familiar with because of his. Bringing attention to the idea that gifted kids have these inborn traits known as overexcitabilities. So, anyway, I heard of this theory and I was instantly curious. Positive disintegration, what does that mean exactly? It sounded complicated and good, but also messy. So I wanted to know more.
That's when I learned of the work of Dr. Chris Wells, who is the founding president of the Dabrowski Center and who is dedicated to sharing knowledge and resources about this profound theory and the psychology of giftedness. I invited Chris on the show to explore the theory of positive disintegration and fortunately for all of us, they said yes. And I will just say up front, there is a lot that goes into understanding this theory and the implications it has for our differently wired children. So In today's episode, we're really just scratching the surface of this theory. But I am so excited for the opportunity to share this conversation because I believe this framework has the potential to offer a new perspective on neurodivergence and mental health that is so important for families in our community to explore.
Here's a little bit more about Chris before we move on to the conversation. Dr. Chris Wells is a neurodivergence. Writer, social worker, and Dabrowski scholar with a passion for studying and applying the theory of positive disintegration. They provide specialized consulting services to clinicians and educators internationally, delivering deep insights into positive disintegration and its practical applications. They also offer their unique blend of lived experience and professional expertise as an advocate and speaker for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Chris is also the co-host of a wonderful podcast called Positive Disintegration. So if you are intrigued by what we discussed today, you will definitely want to check that out.
It is a rich resource. One last thing: this episode includes a mention of suicidality. and suicide attempts. So if those are trigger topics for you, please take care of yourself while listening. And now here is my conversation with Chris Wells on the theory of positive disintegration. Hey Chris, welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much for having me. I'm glad to be here. I'm really looking forward to getting into all of this. And we were just talking before I hit record. We're really just gonna kind of scratch the surface. So listeners. This is gonna be a fascinating conversation, I can already tell you, because I I really started to go deep down the rabbit hole of Chris's work and I'm just so excited to introduce it to you in this conversation.
But Chris is a way to get started. I'd love if you could tell us a little bit about who you are and how you came to be doing the work that you're doing. I know it's very connected to who you are inherently and your personal why. So could you tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are now?
It is a long story, but I will do my best to be concise.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the Theory of Positive Disintegration and why does it matter?
0:00–6:06
2
Who is Dr. Chris Wells and what led them to study this theory?
6:06–11:36
3
How did Chris Wells’ personal experiences shape their understanding of disintegration?
11:36–21:27
4
What are Dabrowski’s five over‑excitabilities and how are they identified?
21:27–30:25
5
How does the Theory of Positive Disintegration differ from traditional mental‑health models?
30:25–35:51
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
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