Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy and Physical Health: Autism, ADHD and Co-Occurring Health Conditions
The relationship between autism, ADHD, and a number of physical health conditions including hypermobility, dysautonomia, allergic conditions, gastrointestinal disorders and chronic pain is well established.
Unfortunately, this research has not filtered down into practice, with neurodivergent people frequently reporting negative experiences in therapy and barriers to accessing health services.
This gap in practice can result in diagnostic overshadowing, with symptoms of physical illness wrongly attributed to neurodivergence and valuable opportunities to access treatment and avoid dire outcomes being missed.
The National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People 2025-2035, recommends that mental health professionals take proactive steps to avoid diagnostic overshadowing, including training on common co-occurring health conditions.
This webinar takes an anti-oppressive, neurodiversity affirming, trauma and violence informed, and lived experience perspective on the potentially devastating impacts of diagnostic overshadowing on neurodivergent therapy participants.
It explores how practitioners can increase their confidence and capacity in screening for co-occurring health conditions to ensure they aren’t complicit in perpetuating iatrogenic harm, including:
Research on neurodivergent people’s experience of their physical health and accessing mental health services.
Barriers to adequate screening and healthcare.
Common physical health conditions for autistic and ADHD individuals and the risks of inadequate physical health screening and diagnostic overshadowing.
The intersections of neurodivergence, chronic illness, disability and other forms of marginalisation.
Honouring the autonomy of neurodivergent people, promoting empowerment, and advocating for their right to have their physical health needs met.
This webinar has been created for counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, and social workers supporting neurodivergent participants in therapy; however, anyone from the community is welcome to attend.
Wednesday, 25th March 7pm-8pm AEDT
A recording of the webinar will be provided after the event and will be available for viewing for 60 days.
Pay as you can:
$110
$80
$40