HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: Recognizing & Affirming Neurodivergence in Adult Clients
April 25, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM
JCS is very excited to welcome Tasha Oswald, PhD, as our 2025 guest speaker on Recognizing and Affirming Neurodivergence in Adult Clients. Tasha (she/her) is a neurodiversity-affirming licensed psychologist and clinical consultant, IFS Level 3 trained and polyvagal-informed. Dr. Oswald is passionate about addressing the gap in mental health services for autistic adults and youth. For this reason, she founded the adult autism specialty practice, Open Doors Therapy, based in California. She specializes in working with autistic women, autistic working professionals, gifted and neurodivergent individuals, emerging adults on the spectrum, and adults receiving a later life ASD diagnosis. Seeing the transformative power of group therapy for autistic adults, group work is a cornerstone of her practice.
Being in the field for nearly 20 years, Dr. Oswald has received extensive training in autism. After completing her PhD in psychology with an autism emphasis, she was awarded an NIH-Funded Autism Research Training Program (ARTP) post-doctoral fellowship. Through this fellowship program, she engaged in interdisciplinary training and research at the world-renowned UC Davis MIND Institute. While at the MIND Institute, she developed and established a therapy group program for young adults on the autism spectrum called the ACCESS Program. She has published autism research in preeminent research journals. Currently, Dr. Oswald is known for her widely read neurodiversity blog and her regular contributions to international media platforms as an authority on autism. A sought-after speaker and advocate, she has delivered presentations at numerous research conferences, autism-focused events, universities, community gatherings, and corporate settings, aiming to increase awareness of mental health issues faced by autistic adults.
About This Lecture:
Recognizing and Affirming Neurodivergence in Adult Clients
Many adult clients entering therapy are neurodivergent, perhaps meeting criteria for autism, ADHD, or other diagnoses, but they often don’t realize it. They may sense they are different from others without understanding why, and have learned to mask these differences to fit in. They might not match common stereotypes of autism or ADHD. For these reasons, it can be challenging for mental health professionals to identify neurodivergent traits. However, neurodivergence shapes every aspect of the person’s life—from relationships and careers to their work in therapy.
To provide effective support, we must work collaboratively with the client to understand their neurodivergence and develop neuro-friendly strategies that align with their needs and promote their wellbeing. It’s essential we honor and accommodate the natural ways our clients communicate, learn, and behave to avoid causing harm by imposing neurotypical standards. This workshop will help you recognize neurodivergent traits in your adult and adolescent clients, develop neuro-affirming clinical approaches, and cultivate self-awareness around biases toward neurodivergent individuals.
Early Bird Registration (by 3/17/25): $55 : General Registration (after 3/17/25): $65 : Student Registration: $50 : Registration Closes 4/22/25
Learning Objectives
1. Identify autistic and ADHD traits in undiagnosed adults.
2. Challenge autism and ADHD stereotypes and biases.
3. Describe trauma risk factors unique to neurodivergent clients.
4. Apply neuro-affirming principles and strategies.
Course Outline:
11:00 — 11:10 Welcome, Agenda, Housekeeping
11:10 – 11:20 Self-Reflection Exercise: Stereotypes
11:20 – 11:40 Neurodiversity 101: Language and History
11:40 – 12:10 Autism & ADHD: Medical and Social Models
12:10 – 12:40 Trauma & Coping
12:40 – 01:00 Break
01:00 – 01:30 Neurodiversity-Affirming Principles & Strategies
01:30 – 02:20 Applying Neuro-Affirming Approach to Case
Examples & Overcoming Treatment Barriers
02:20 — 02:30 Questions and Closing
Continuing Education Credit: Our organization has applied to ASWB/ACE for consideration of 3 CE credits for this course. See a map showing what jurisdictions accept ACE here: http://aswb.org/ace/ace-jurisdiction-map/ . ASWB ACE credit cannot be backdated. If you have questions about CE credit, contact us at 401.331.1244 or Gutterman@JCSRI.org
Target audience: social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and licensed mental health counselors.
Content level: beginner to intermediate.
Course completion requirements: To earn CE credit, social workers must log in at scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete an online course evaluation. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
Course interaction: This live webinar is fully interactive. Attendees may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation and participate in instructor-led discussions.
System requirements: • Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher, MacOS 9 or higher, Android 4.0 or higher. • Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, Google Chrome, Firefox 10.0 or higher. • Broadband Internet connection: Cable, High-speed DSL & or any other medium that is Internet accessible.
Refunds: The registration fee, minus the $20 administrative charge, or a full credit for the lecture next year will be made, provided the cancellation is received in writing to Gutterman@jcsri.org fourteen days before the lecture. NO REFUNDS or CREDITS will be issued after 4/11/25. If JCS or the guest speaker must cancel or reschedule the lecture, registrants will receive a refund or credit to next year’s lecture.
For questions, concerns, or to request special accommodations, please call: (401)331-1244 or email Gutterman@JCSRI.org