Neurodiversity

 Earn 5 CE Contact Hours

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders impact all aspects of family life, especially when parents struggle to make meaning and have realistic expectations. Applying a neurodivergent framework, the presenter will explain the mutual influence of child disability on family relationships and the effect of parenting beliefs and practices on child learning and behavior.

After a brief overview of neurodivergent conditions, the workshop will highlight the importance of family-centered treatment. The family narrative is an important doorway to gain insight into parenting beliefs, behavior and the emotional journey. The second part of the workshop will include different approaches and therapeutic interventions to promote child social, emotional and executive function skills. This includes emotion coaching, relationship skills, co-regulation and cognitive control. The benefit of parent discussion groups will also be highlighted.

By the end of the workshop, the participants will appreciate the efficacy of family-centered treatment, including structure, process and expected outcomes. This course is appropriate for clinicians who work with children with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the impact of neurodevelopmental conditions on family life and family relationships.
• Discuss the family narrative as an opportunity to appreciate the parents’ emotional journey as well as their parenting beliefs and practices.
• Describe techniques to promote a child’s social, emotional and executive function skills.
• Review family-centered principles and meaningful outcomes for neurodivergent children.

Who Should Attend:

This workshop is designed for mental health professionals, including therapists, counselors, and clinicians, who work with children with neurodiverse profiles and want evidence-based strategies to support regulation, resilience, and family relationships.

Meet Judy Grossman:

Judy Grossman, DrPH, OTR, is Associate Director of the Center for the Developing Child and Family at the Ackerman Institute for the Family and Former Director of the Resilient Families: Children with Special Needs project. She is adjunct faculty at NYU; previous academic appointments include Chairperson, SUNY-Downstate Medical Center; Associate Research Scientist, Yale School of Medicine; and adjunct faculty at Columbia University. She has conducted early intervention and special education policy studies for the NYS Department of Education, NYC Board of Education, and school systems in Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT. Dr. Grossman has published and presented nationally and internationally in the areas of family resilience, parenting, mental health consultation and best practices in early intervention/special education. She consults to community agencies and maintains a private practice working with couples and families.