The Do’s and Don’ts of Counseling With Neurodivergent Clients

5-Hour Online Workshop (With 1-Hour Break) | 4 APA/BBS CEs Available 

4 APA/BBS CEs are available for an additional fee of $30. After you register for the workshop, your confirmation email from Eventbrite will contain a link to the site where you can purchase the APA/BBS CEs from our co-sponsor, Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA). APA/BBS CEs may be purchased at any time before the workshop, but only those who have purchased in advance will receive the credits. See below for details.

Did you know that the rate of PTSD in Autistic people is as high as 42%, and up to 37% in ADH* (commonly referred to as ADHD) people, compared to 4% of the general population? These disturbing statistics are a fundamental indication that Autistic and ADH people need anti-ableist, trauma-informed therapy from clinicians who understand that being Neurodivergent does not equate to being a flawed or broken.  

The Neurodivergent nervous system, mind, and body, while unique to every individual, needs its own approach that centers somatic resourcing, client as self-expert, and an understanding of the Neurodiversity paradigm versus the long-standing pathology paradigm.  

Join somatic, anti-oppression counselor Nyck Walsh for an introductory workshop focusing on clinicians supporting Neurodivergent clients. Participants learn about self-identification in the Autistic community, and attributes or qualities that may suggest a client is Neurodivergent. Nyck shares language to use and to avoid, and tools to approach your clients from a trauma-informed lens that centers their innate wisdom, wholeness, and capacity for sensory delight. This workshop is five hours with one hour for rest, movement, integration, etc.

In addition to learning how to better support clients, participants discover more of their own uniqueness and access greater creativity and permission in their roles as therapists.  

Teachings are appropriate for healthcare professionals as well as the general public. Healthcare professionals will be able to incorporate the tools and practices offered in this program in ways beneficial to clients or patients. 

* ADH is medically known as ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, in this workshop Nyck will explain why he leaves off the last “D” representing Disorder.
 

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Nyck Walsh (he/they) has been a leader for 15 years in bringing somatic, anti-ableist, trauma-informed care to Autistic children, adults, and families. He founded The Infinite U in 2009 after a most profound experience of teaching a yoga class to families with Autistic kids. In that hour, Nyck’s most shamed parts, specifically their gentleness, sensitivity, and seriousness became true assets, and they witnessed kids and parents go from deep distress and isolation to a state of heightened calm, safety, and belonging. Originally formed in NJ, Nyck brought The Infinite U to Colorado while he pursued his graduate studies at Naropa University in Somatic Counseling Psychology, with a concentration in Body Psychotherapy. Over time, The Infinite U grew to include somatic counseling for kids, teens, and parents, community oriented social groups for teens, summer camp programs, and family support that included groups for Autistic teens, their non-Autistic siblings, and their parents. All of this work centered Neurodivergent and Autistic people.    

Through the pandemic and the shift to virtual work, The Infinite U transformed into Nyck Walsh Counseling and Training Center, focusing on individual work with adults and training clinicians and is now located on the unceded lands of the Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy), Agawam, and Pawtucket, colonially known as Groveland, Massachusetts. Their work, bringing a compassionate and accurate lens to Neurodivergent people, has created a large national following among clinicians wishing to expand their ability to serve Neurodivergent clients.   

Nyck’s identities include white, Autistic, queer, trans, and anti-Zionist Jewish (to learn more about what it means to Nyck to be anti--Zionist, please click here). As a somatic, anti-oppression counselor, Nyck acknowledges how his sociocultural locations inform his lived experience as an individual and as a clinician. They are deeply passionate about supporting late identified Autistic folx, especially helping people socialized as girls, to unpack their lives through the lens of their unidentified and misunderstood Autistic experience. Nyck attributes so much of their personal and professional growth to their clients, who are by far, their greatest teachers and experts on Autism and ADH. When not advocating for the individual and collective rights of marginalized people Nyck can be found frolicking in the forest or beach, delighting in sensory pleasure, feeling big love for his family, or basking in solitude with his noise-canceling headphones.

CE Information

Teachings are appropriate for healthcare professionals as well as the general public. Healthcare professionals will be able to incorporate the tools and practices offered in this program in ways beneficial to clients or patients.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the importance of self-identification in the Autistic community 

2. Critique the pathology paradigm 

3. List the primary responsibilities of the therapist when working with Neurodivergent clients 

4. Identify possible indicators for non-stereotypical presentations of Autism 
 

Information on Continuing Education Credit for Health Professionals
 

• CEs for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is co-sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CEs for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of Continuing Education by the American Psychological Association.
• LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of Continuing Education by the American Psychological Association.
• SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their certificate of attendance for 4 years after the course concludes.
• For questions about completing the CE evaluation materials for this course, as well as receiving your Certificate of Attendance, contact CIIS Public Programs at publicprograms@ciis.edu. For other questions about CEs, visit https://www.spiritualcompetencyacademy.com or contact Spiritual Competency Academy at info@spiritualcompetencyacademy.com.
• CEs are only available for participants who attend the live workshop in-person or on Zoom. CEs cannot be issued to participants who view a recording of a workshop.

Important Event Information

Spiritual Competency Academy CE Issuance Policy

SCA can issue the Continuing Education units that have been purchased within 3 months of the associated workshop. Please note that if you would like to purchase CEs anytime after 3 months past the event date, there is an additional $20 administrative fee.

Accessibility Information

If you need to request accessibility accommodations, please email publicprograms@ciis.edu at least one week prior to the event. For more information, explore our Accessibility web page.

Recording Policy

Portions of this workshop will be recorded, and limited access to a recording will be made available to those who attend the live event. CEs are only available for participants who attend the live workshop in-person or on Zoom. CEs cannot be issued to participants who view a recording of a workshop.

Refund Policy

Tickets are fully refundable up to 7 days prior to the event start. Within 7 days of the event, a 50% partial refund is available. No refunds are available within 24 hours of the event start. Read our full refund policy at our frequently asked questions web page.