ADHD diagnoses are surging, creating heavy demand for trained clinicians who can both accurately assess for, diagnose, and treat ADHD and attentional concerns. If you’ve read the surface of the ADHD write-up in the DSM 5, you know that differential diagnosis skills are absolutely key in ADHD case conceptualization, diagnosis, and ultimately effective treatment. Lots of other symptom clusters can mimic ADHD, creating a complex clinical presentation for therapists to parse through. Not surprisingly, trauma/PTSD and ADHD can both come with a myriad of symptoms and suffering that similarly impact executive functioning, working memory, and even lower brain systems that control emotion regulation and motivation.

Gain specialized training and skills designed for clinicians working with neurodivergent clients who experience both ADHD and trauma/PTSD. Through a neurodiversity-affirming lens, this course addresses the complexities of working with ADHD clients in trauma therapy, emphasizing the importance of adapting therapeutic approaches to meet their unique needs.

Participants will explore key areas such as the symptom overlap between ADHD and PTSD, the impact of alexithymia on emotional processing, and the critical role of sensory and body-based interventions in trauma recovery. The concepts presented are meta-concepts that can be applied across various therapeutic modalities (e.g., CBT, EMDR, somatic therapies), offering clinicians flexibility in their practice.

Practical strategies will be provided for implementing executive functioning accommodations, ND-adapted mindfulness practices, and fostering self-compassion in clients. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable tools to integrate into their trauma-informed practices while affirming neurodivergent identity and strengths.

Attendance and Location Details

Date and Time

**This is a 6-CE online seminar delivered virtually in real-time via an industry-standard webinar platform**

Friday, May 23, 2025

10:00am – 5:30pm CST 

11:00am – 6:30pm EST 

8:00am – 3:30pm PST

*Zoom link will be made available to you 24-48 hours prior to event date.

Agenda:

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM CST
Introduction and Course Overview
● Introduction to the course objectives, structure, and neurodiversity-affirming principles.

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM CST
ADHD, PTSD, and Co-occurring Conditions: Symptom Overlap and Increased Risk
● Discussion on the overlap between ADHD, PTSD, and co-occurring conditions (OCD, autism, bipolar).
● Focus on the increased risk for ADHDers in developing PTSD and how it complicates the clinical picture.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM CST
Alexithymia, Interoception, and Emotional Processing
● Exploring the roles of alexithymia and interoception in ADHD and trauma.
● Strategies to build interoceptive and emotional awareness through non-verbal and sensory approaches.

12:30 AM – 12:45 PM CST
Break

12:45 PM – 2:00 PM CST
Traumatic Invalidation, RSD, Shame, and Identity Formation
● Understanding how traumatic invalidation and RSD affect identity formation and lead to chronic shame.
● Strategies to help clients reclaim a positive neurodivergent identity through identity-affirming work.

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM CST
Lunch Break

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM CST
Sensory Processing and Body-Based Interventions
● Exploring sensory processing differences in ADHD and trauma.
● Practical applications of body-based and sensory interventions for grounding and emotional regulation.

3:45 PM – 4:15 PM CST
Executive Functioning Accommodations and the Interest-Based Nervous System
● Developing trauma-informed interventions that accommodate EF challenges.
● Utilizing the interest-based nervous system and outsourcing tasks to support therapeutic progress.

4:15 PM – 4:30 PM CST
Break

4:30 PM – 5:15 PM CST
Mindfulness, Meta-Cognition, and Self-Compassion for ADHDers
● Tailoring mindfulness practices to align with ADHD brain styles.
● Addressing internalized ableism while fostering self-compassion to counter negative self-talk.

5:15 PM – 5:30 PM
Q&A and Closing Remarks
● Final discussion,and an open forum for questions.

Objectives:

This training will provide participants clinical knowledge and tools to:

a). Understand and recall at least two overlapping symptoms of ADHD and PTSD, the increased risk for ADHDers in developing PTSD, and other co-occurring conditions that may be part of the complex clinical picture (OCD, autism, and bipolar).

b). Understand the role of alexithymia and interoception in trauma and ADHD treatment, and learn at least two strategies for helping clients connect with their emotions through building interoceptive awareness and emotional awareness using non-verbal, sensory-based, or experiential approaches.

c). Explore the impact of traumatic invalidation, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), and chronic shame on neurodivergent identity formation, and apply at least two strategies to help clients reclaim a positive sense of self through identity-affirming work.

d). Analyze the role of sensory processing differences in trauma and ADHD, and learn to integrate at least two sensory-based and body-based interventions to improve emotional regulation, grounding, and trauma recovery.

e). Develop at least two trauma-informed interventions that accommodate executive functioning challenges, using practical tools like visual aids, task breakdown, structured supports, and strategies that leverage the interest based nervous system, as well as outsourcing tasks.

f). Implement mindfulness, meta-cognition, and self-compassion practices tailored for ADHDers, focusing on shorter, dynamic exercises that align with the ADHD brain style, while addressing internalized ableism and fostering self-compassion to counter negative self-talk and support trauma recovery.

Target Audience:

Clinical Mental Health Professionals such as Counselors, Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Social Workers.

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Instructor(s): Megan A. Neff, Psy.D.

Material Author(s): Megan A. Neff, Psy.D.

Megan Anna Neff, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and the founder of Neurodivergent Insights. She specializes in neurodiversity-affirming approaches to understanding ADHD, autism, and co-occurring mental health conditions. As an AuDHDer (autistic person with ADHD), Dr. Neff integrates lived experience with her expertise to create educational resources and tools for neurodivergent individuals and the professionals who support them. Her work is widely recognized for addressing the complex interplay between neurodivergence and mental health, especially in relation to trauma, sensory regulation, and emotional processing. She is the author of Self-Care for Autistic People and Autistic Burnout. In addition to her work at Neurodivergent Insights, she is a regular contributor to Psychology Today and has published in several academic journals on topics ranging from neurodivergence to relational psychoanalysis and social psychology. Dr. Neff’s work has been featured in CNN, PBS, Huffington Post, and The Los Angeles Times. After discovering her own neurodivergence at the age of 37, Dr. Neff became passionate about increasing awareness of non-stereotypical presentations of autism and ADHD. She continues to share her passion for distilling complex academic research into accessible formats and is the co-host of Divergent Conversations, a weekly podcast about neurodivergence.

For additional information about this course, the instructors, or the material authors, please contact Content Assistance at content@onlinececredits.com.

Course Materials & Delivery Method:

• Course materials (including the link to view the scheduled live webinar) are made available to all registered attendees 24-48 hours before the event start time. 
• This training is interactive and provides opportunities to ask direct questions to the trainer as well as request immediate help from staff if needed. The attendee will view the presentation in real-time from their connected device via an industry-standard internet webinar platform.

CE Approvals:

Online CE Credits has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6795. Programs that do not quality for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Online CE Credits is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Mind Works Professional Education, Inc. DBA Online CE Credits, #1974, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: July 23, 2024 – July 23, 2025. Social workers completing this course receive [see advertisement] live interactive webinar continuing education credits.

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