Many neurodivergent clients arrive in therapy after years of feeling misunderstood, overwhelmed, pressured to “fit in,” or told they simply need to try harder. This training is designed to help clinicians better understand ADHD, Autism, and neurodivergent nervous systems through a framework rooted in curiosity, accessibility, collaboration, and autonomy rather than compliance or normalization.

 

Participants will explore foundational concepts within the neurodiversity paradigm while learning practical applications they can immediately integrate into clinical work.

 

This training includes discussion of:

• Foundations of the neurodiversity paradigm

• ADHD, Autism, and AuDHD presentations

• Masking, burnout, sensory processing, and nervous system overwhelm

• Medical vs. social vs. neuroaffirming models

• Neuroaffirming intake questions and treatment planning

• Practical accommodations and accessibility supports

• Adapting therapeutic interventions for neurodivergent clients

• Risks of unintentionally reinforcing shame, masking, or retraumatization in therapy

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Learning Objectives

 

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Define neurodiversity, neurodivergence, and neurodiversity-affirming care within a counseling context.

• Identify common characteristics associated with ADHD, Autism, and AuDHD presentations in clinical settings.

• Differentiate between medical, social, and neuroaffirming models of understanding neurodivergence.

• Apply neuroaffirming principles of autonomy, accessibility, collaboration, and curiosity to therapeutic interactions and treatment planning.

 

Training Details​​​

Format: Live Interactive Training via Zoom

 

Length: 1.5 Hours

 

Level: Beginning to Intermediate

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Audience: Mental health professionals, associate clinicians, graduate students, and helping professionals

 

This program is designed for licensed mental health counselors, clinical social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, substance use counselors, associate clinicians, graduate-level counseling students, and other helping professionals seeking to develop foundational knowledge and practical skills related to neurodiversity-affirming care for ADHD, Autistic, and other neurodivergent clients.

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Presented By

Jena Plummer, LCMHC, LCAS, QS, ADHD-CCSP

 

Jena Plummer is the owner of Little Seed Counseling, PLLC, a LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity-affirming counseling practice based in North Carolina. She specializes in working with neurodivergent adults and provides ADHD and Autism assessments, clinical supervision, consultation, and professional trainings focused on accessibility and affirming care. Jena also has lived experience navigating neurodivergence.

 

 

Training Philosophy

This training is rooted in the belief that neurodivergence is a natural variation of human experience rather than a deficit to be fixed. Therapy does not assume neurotypical norms are the goal. Instead, clinicians are encouraged to explore support needs, barriers, accommodations, autonomy, and accessibility through a collaborative and affirming lens.

Participants do not need to be specialists in ADHD or Autism assessment to begin practicing in a more neuro-affirming way.