Foundations of Neurodivergent Affirming Practice: Breaking Free from Neurotypical Norms in Therapy + Webinar Add On

7.5 CE Hours APA, NYS

About this bundle

The full 6 Module On-Demand Course: Foundations of Neurodivergent Affirming Practice presented by Kory Andreas (6 CEs) bundled with the Autism in Therapy: What Needs to Change Now clinical conversation with Martha Sweezy, Sarah Bergenfield and Kory Andreas. Moderated by Jenn Turner.

$315 Course Fee

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Course Description: Foundations of Neurodivergent Affirming Practice: Breaking Free from Neurotypical Norms in Therapy

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.

+ 4 New 90-minute Live Q&A Calls Added!‍

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  • June 5, 2026

  • June 19, 2026

  • July 10, 2026

  • September 4, 2026

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Course Modules

    • 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

    • High-masking patterns; masking-disrupted presentations

    • Gender/cultural considerations and common misdiagnosis patterns

    • Diagnostic grief (“grelief”) and therapeutic support

    • 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

    • 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

    • Defining PDA-style demand sensitivity and common presentations

    • Why traditional behavioral approaches can escalate threat response

    • Collaborative, low-demand planning and autonomy-supportive language

    • 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

Course Description: Autism in Therapy: What Needs to Change Now

Recording of the live clinical conversation on neurodiversity-affirming care with Kory Andreas, Martha Sweezy, and Sarah Bergenfield Many clinicians have not received formal training in neurodiversity-affirming approaches to autism, resulting in a gap between traditional therapeutic models and the lived experiences of autistic clients.

This 90-minute live webinar brings together leading clinicians for a dynamic, unscripted conversation on how current approaches may fall short, and what needs to change in clinical practice. Participants will explore common areas of misattunement, examine the limitations of pathology-based frameworks, and learn how to shift toward more effective, acceptance-based care. Through case-informed discussion and integrative dialogue, this session will provide actionable strategies clinicians can apply immediately to improve therapeutic outcomes with autistic clients.

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Learning Objectives

  • Identify at least three ways traditional therapeutic approaches may lead to misattunement with autistic clients.

  • Differentiate between pathology-based and neurodiversity-affirming frameworks in clinical practice.

  • Apply at least two practical strategies to improve therapeutic alignment with autistic clients.

  • Describe how internal experiences (e.g., protective responses, parts) may present differently in autistic individuals.

Meet the Instructors

Kory Andreas, LCSW-C, is a clinical psychotherapist and Autism specialist with extensive expertise in Neurodivergent-affirming care and education. With over 20 years of experience in therapy, supervision, and consulting, Kory is deeply committed to advancing affirming practices across therapeutic, educational, and workplace settings. She supports Neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ individuals through diagnostic work, direct care, and systemic change efforts. Sought-after speaker on modern Autism and Neurodivergent relationships, Kory is known for translating clinical insight into engaging, relatable instruction. She provides dynamic, accessible psychoeducational content and consultation that promotes empathy, inclusivity, and practical strategies for supporting Neurodivergence across diverse environments.

Koryandreas.com
IG: @neurokoryous

Martha Sweezy, PhD, is an Assistant Professor part-time in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, a research and training consultant at the Center for Mindfulness & Compassion at the Cambridge Health Alliance, and a psychotherapist in private practice. She writes a blog on topics related to IFS for Psychology Today, and co-hosts a podcast called System Updates: IFS Chitchat. She has co-edited, authored, and co-authored eleven published books on various applications of Internal Family Systems (IFS), including Wired to Feel: Autism as a Condition of Sensory Surplus. She teaches IFS therapy nationally and internationally.

Website: https://marthasweezy.com

Sarah Bergenfield, is a consultant and educator specializing in autism in forensic and clinical contexts. Her work focuses on how differences in perception, arousal, and predictive processing influence behavior, communication, and decision-making. She provides consultation and training to clinicians, legal professionals, and interdisciplinary teams, with a focus on how differences in perception, arousal, and uncertainty shape behavior and decision-making. Sarah is a Certified Level 3 IFS Practitioner.

She is the co-author of Wired to Feel, a #1 new release in neuropsychology on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This course is designed for therapists and mental health professionals who want to deepen their understanding of neurodivergent-affirming care—especially when working with autistic and other neurodivergent adults, including high-masking and late-identified clients.

  • No. The course is appropriate for clinicians who are newer to this work as well as those looking to update their framework and align their clinical approach with neurodivergent-affirming best practices.

  • This course is self-paced and on-demand, so you can complete it on your own schedule.

  • You will learn how to recognize masking and late-identified presentations, understand sensory and nervous system needs, and adapt common psychotherapy approaches to better fit autistic processing. The course also covers practical accommodations for therapy sessions, diagnostic grief (“grelief”), demand-sensitivity (PDA profile), burnout differentiation and recovery planning, and ethical considerations.

    Please refer to the course modules above for details on each learning module.

  • The course supports improved clinical recognition and understanding of masking-disrupted presentations, but it is not intended to replace formal diagnostic training or assessment protocols.

  • Yes, you will have continued access to the course materials so you can revisit key concepts and tools as needed.

  • Yes, this course offers 6 continuing education credit hours from APA, NYS, and ASWB.

  • Self-Paced Courses

    All purchases are final unless otherwise stated. In limited cases, refund requests may be considered within seven (7) days of purchase, provided the course has not been substantially completed.