Workshop 4: ACT for Neurodivergent Clients, Autism and ADHD. A Neurodiversity Affirming Approach
Channel: APTinACT
Date: 2022-09-29

Book a place https://www.acbsukroi.co.uk/index.html
Online 8th, 9th & 10th November from 1 pm to 4.30 pm
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects about 5% of adults. However, 39% or more adults in adult psychiatry are misdiagnosed, particularly women labelled with personality disorders (Gerhand and Saville, 2021). The large variability in reported estimates for autism makes it challenging to present an exact percentage. However, reserved estimates propose that 1-2% of people are autistic  (WHO, 2022), although the number of autistic adults is most likely more significant than traditionally reported (Bailey, 2022). Still, therapists receive little or no training on neurodivergence; if training is delivered, they are commonly presented as 'other'.  Within national health services, neurodivergent referrals are often rejected as outside their remit, resulting in lacking exposure and experience among clinicians, who deliver interventions that are unhelpful and, at worst, traumatic (Young et al., 2021; Gore et al., 2022). 

This workshop will focus on working with clients who are neurodivergent, from a minority stress theory (Meyer, 1995, 2003), human rights-based and neurodiversity affirmative approach. It will also present data from clinical practice to highlight the impact and consequences of undiagnosed neurodivergence in psychological therapy. It will address the potential challenges of traditional therapeutic and behavioural approaches if not modified for neurodivergent populations.  We will present a modified Hexaflex applicable to neurodivergent people and specialised minority stress and human rights consistent and affirmative guide to ACT intervention for this client group. 

Learning Objectives
1. Recognise the challenges of traditional therapeutic and behavioural approaches for neurodivergent clients, which could ultimately be harmful, ineffective, and sometimes traumatic for neurodivergent clients.
2. Increase awareness of the importance and value of recognising neurodivergence in therapeutic practice, and the necessary modifications to therapeutic interventions, for quality of intervention and meeting people's needs, and for efficiency of resources.
3. Develop the essential skill in screening for neurodivergence in therapy.
4. Learning how to modify your ACT practice to meet the needs of neurodivergent clients in a human rights and minority stress conscientious manner 
About the Presenters
Dr Lene Harkjaer Thorgrimsen is chartered by the British Psychological Society. She has a PhD in Psychology, a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and twenty-five years of experience in clinical and academic psychology. She is also a published author of books and academic journal articles and is currently undertaking a Master’s degree in Neurodiversity. 
Dr Harkjaer Thorgrimsen has extensive experience with mood challenges, interpersonal problems, psychological medicine and neurodiversity. She has developed expertise in the relationship between neurodiversity and mood and understands the complex interplay between physical and emotional health.
Dr Trish Leonard Curtin is a Counselling Psychologist who specialises in working with trauma and extreme emotional distress through various approaches, including DBT, ACT, and CFT. She has had a keen interest in helping people connect compassionately with challenging emotions when they arise and empowering them to work effectively with difficult emotional experiences.
Trish is co‐director of ACT Now Purposeful Living and a part‐time lecturer on the UCC Coaching Masters. Trish co‐authored The Power of Small, a number one bestseller in Ireland. Trish has extensive experience working with trauma and psychological distress in adolescents and adults across various settings, including community, hospital, educational, primary care, private practice, and charities.
Dr Aisling Leonard‐Curtin is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist and is a peer-reviewed ACT trainer and functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP) trainer. She has experience working across various settings, including organisational, psychiatry, addictions, psycho-oncology, community, public, and educational settings.
Aisling teaches multiple university courses and regularly delivers ACT workshops internationally; most notably she has given workshops at Harvard Medical School and teaches at Trinity College Dublin at the Doctorate level. She is a lecturer on the Masters in Coaching at UCC and the Masters in Pluralistic Psychotherapy at IICP. Aisling is a published author, most recently co‐authoring The Power of Small, a number one bestseller in Ireland. Aisling’s first book, an edited volume co-edited by Matthew Skinta, Mindfulness and Acceptance for Gender and Sexual Minorities, was published by New Harbinger.

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