Available beginning May 4th, 2026
Register before May 4th for $70 off. Use code EARLYBIRD.
Many autistic and other neurodivergent adults, especially those who are high-masking or late-identified, are missed, misdiagnosed, or treated with interventions that unintentionally increase shame, dysregulation, and burnout. This self-paced course equips therapists with a neurodivergent-affirming clinical framework to recognize masking-disrupted presentations, understand sensory and nervous system needs, and adapt common psychotherapy approaches to better fit autistic processing. Participants will learn practical accommodations for in-person and telehealth sessions, strategies for supporting diagnostic grief (“grelief”), and autonomy-supportive approaches for clients with strong demand-sensitivity (PDA profile). The course concludes with case-based application, burnout differentiation and recovery planning, and ethical considerations for collaborative care and self-identification.
Module 0 – Orientation (10 min)
How to use the course; completion requirements (post-test + evaluation)
Disclosures and learning objectives overview
How to access handouts/resources
Module 1 – Neurodivergent-affirming foundations for psychotherapy (45 min)
Neurodiversity-affirming stance: medical vs social model and systemic barriers
Language and common non-affirming missteps in therapy
Evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence in neurodivergent care
Module 2 – Recognizing high-masking / late-identified autism + diagnostic grief (55 min)
High-masking patterns; masking-disrupted presentations
Gender/cultural considerations and common misdiagnosis patterns
Diagnostic grief (“grelief”) and therapeutic support
Module 3 – Autistic bodies: sensory sensitivities + nervous system regulation (55 min)
Mapping sensory triggers and impacts on therapy process
In-session and telehealth accommodations; sensory-friendly environment checklist
Regulation strategies for hyper-/hypo-arousal and trauma-like responses to unpredictability
Module 4 – Co-occurring conditions + adapting interventions (50 min)
Common overlaps: anxiety/OCD/trauma, RSD, interoception and eating-related concerns, substance use
Why traditional anxiety treatments (e.g., CBT) may misfit autistic processing
Adaptation strategies: pacing, framing, homework demands, communication preferences
Module 5 – PDA profile: autonomy-supportive clinical work (45 min)
Defining PDA-style demand sensitivity and common presentations
Why traditional behavioral approaches can escalate threat response
Collaborative, low-demand planning and autonomy-supportive language
Module 6 – Case Lab: application to clinical scenarios (45 min)
Case-based decision points: next-step choices and rationales
Integrating accommodations, grief-informed language, and adapted interventions
Documentation and treatment-planning considerations (non-diagnostic, affirming)
Module 7 – Autistic burnout + ethics + collaborative care (55 min)
Early signs of autistic burnout; differentiation from depression
Recovery planning and long-term prevention strategies (accommodations, scheduling, regulation)
Ethical considerations: self-identification, avoiding mislabeling/misinformation from social media
Redefining advocacy and interdisciplinary collaboration
