Joy L. Navan, M.A., Ph.D. is a Licensed Psychological Associate (M.A., L.P.A.) and Educational Consultant (Ph.D., education) at The Amend Group.  As an L.P.A., Ms. Navan serves the gifted needs of children, adolescents, adults, and elders via teletherapy throughout Kentucky. As an educational consultant, Dr. Navan serves families' educational needs nationally and internationally online. Services are provided in English or Spanish.

Dr. Navan's years of service include director of the Murray State Center for Gifted Studies, the Kentucky State Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education, the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education Board (KAGE), and the Board of Directors for Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted (SENG). She is also a member of the American Psychological Association (APA).  Dr. Navan has written numerous academic and community articles regarding the nature and needs of gifted individuals. She has also published two books, Nurturing the Gifted Female: A Guide for Educators and Parents and more recently, On Gifted Elders: Awareness, Aspirations, Advocacy.

Clinical Work  Upon retirement from Murray State University as professor emeritus in education, Ms. Navan was motivated to retrain as a psychological associate to meet the social, emotional, and educational needs of the gifted. With her advanced Spanish degree, Ms. Navan provides psychological services to the Spanish-speaking population as well.

Educational Consulting  Dr. Navan has extensive experience in facilitating acceleration of highly, exceptionally, and profoundly gifted students. In addition, she assists families in planning and making the transition from traditional school to online and/or homeschooling. Trained by Annemarie Roeper in qualitative assessment, Dr. Navan collaborates with families in understanding their gifted child’s social-emotional qualities and needs.

In the area of professional development, Dr. Navan collaborates with school districts to provide teacher-centered services on methods of serving the gifted in the schools. She works with schools to design and deliver services districtwide, schoolwide, by subject or grade, or through individual coaching.