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Neurodivergent young people are more likely to require involvement with multiple support services owing to mental health challenges that arise from living in a society that is not aligned with the needs of a neurodivergent brain. As we know, engaging young people in services can be challenging, but this can be amplified when working with neurodivergent young people who experience more barriers when accessing services.
The literature highlights that the strongest barrier to ND people receiving appropriate support is a lack of clinicians with the skills, experience, and confidence to work within this area. Additionally, many neurodivergent young people report feeling misunderstood, and that their concerns were minimized when seeking help, leading to mistrust of professionals and apprehension when seeking help in the future.
Furthermore, services can be inaccessible for ADHD and autistic young people when appropriate accommodations are not made, because there is a mismatch between how the service provides support, and how the neurodivergent brain works. This presentation will address these barriers with the aim of supporting
clinicians to make their services more accessible for neurodivergent people.
PESI Australia, in collaboration with PESI in the USA, offers quality online continuing professional development events from the leaders in the field at a standard recognized by professional associations including psychology, social work, occupational therapy, alcohol and drug professionals, counselling and psychotherapy. On completion of the training, a Professional Development Certificate is issued after the individual has answered and submitted a quiz and course evaluation. This program is worth 1 hours CPD for points calculation by your association.
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual - Neurodiversity-Affirming Approaches to Engaging Autistic and ADHD Youth in Therapy (9.92 MB) | 44 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Anna Clarke is a Psychologist and Play Therapist with a passion for supporting children and young people. With a background in Out of Home Care, they are passionate about the transformative powers of play in building healthier relationships and supporting emotion regulation. Anna holds a Master in Child Play Therapy and collaborates with parents, carers, schools, and stakeholders to provide collaborative care. They are passionate about early intervention, approaching behaviours through a trauma-informed and Neurodiversity-Affirming lens.
Anna actively advocates for Neurodiversity-Affirming approaches to therapy. Anna is also experienced working with survivors of sexual assault and family violence. They are currently part of the Witness Intermediary Pilot Scheme within the Tasmanian Department of Justice, where they conduct communication assessments during police interviews and court proceedings.
Anna is an EMDRAA Accredited Consultant and has undertaken advanced training in EMDR Therapy. Anna is an active member of the Australian EMDR Therapy community, contributing through collaborative research, facilitating a Neurodiversity-Affirming EMDR Peer Group, and providing support for therapists wishing to integrate Neurodiversity-Affirming practise into EMDR Therapy.
As Co-Director of Divergent Futures, they offer education, training, and consulting in Neurodiversity-Affirming practice. Anna is an experienced public speaker, addressing topics such as violent behaviours, trauma-informed care, managing power imbalances in therapy, and strengths-based treatment for eating disorders.
Outside of their professional pursuits, Anna enjoys hiking in the Tasmanian bush, reading, boxing, and art.
Speaker Disclosures: Financial: Anna Clarke maintains a private practice and is the co-director of Divergent Futures. They have employment relationships with Deakin University and the Tasmanian Department of Justice. Anna Clarke receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. They have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations. Non-financial: Anna Clarke has no relevant non-financial relationships.
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