This continuing education training focuses on understanding how Autism and ADHD are frequently missed, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood in girls and women, and how these patterns of misrecognition shape clinical presentation and treatment outcomes. The program examines how gendered socialization, internalized distress, masking behaviors, perfectionism, and sensory differences influence how neurodivergence presents in therapy and contributes to diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, trauma-related concerns, or personality-based difficulties.

Content explores what Autism and ADHD commonly look like in girls and women when they have gone unrecognized, including chronic burnout, people-pleasing, emotional over-control, demand avoidance, and identity-based shame. Participants are supported in developing a more accurate and compassionate clinical lens for recognizing these patterns in therapy settings and understanding when treatment approaches may need to shift or when referral for further diagnostic clarification may be clinically appropriate.

The training places equal emphasis on treatment considerations, highlighting empirically informed, neuro-affirming, and multisensory therapeutic adaptations that better support neurodivergent girls and women. Practical strategies are presented to address perfectionism, masking, nervous system overload, and emotional regulation while strengthening therapeutic alliance and engagement. Ethical and culturally responsive care is emphasized throughout, with a focus on modifying interventions to align with the sensory, relational, and lived experiences of neurodivergent females across the lifespan.

Format: This will be a live at 1325 West Main Street, Suite 106, Franklin, Tn. 37064. Link will be emailed approximately 3 days before the training and come from leiahdh@thetherapeuticstudiollc.org. This is an interactive program, thus questions are encouraged throughout the presentation. 

About the Presenters: Leiah Drew-Hightower LPC-MHSP-S (TN #3581), Leiah Drew-Hightower, the founder and director of The Therapeutic Studio (TTS), is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Mental Health Service Provider Supervisor. As an expert in neurodiversity with 20+ years of experience in treating families in need. While she specializes in treating trauma and anxiety and attachment disturbances, she often provides help for anxious, angry or depressed individuals across their lifespan.  Always looking through a trauma informed lens, Leiah frequently provides consultation, and parent coaching to help parents manage and resolve their children’s behavior problems. With a whole-hearted, person-centered approach, Leiah believes in igniting safe and supportive spaces in a client’s naturalistic environment. Leiah believes in accommodating all our needs while building emotional literacy, psychological flexibility, and self-compassion. Here at TTS, we aim to meet our client’s needs using a multi-sensory approach to ignite their hearts, brains and bodies. Ultimately, being a part of the new that sifts the whole human, family and system. She is the founder of The Therapeutic Studio, LLC. in downtown Franklin and Thompsons Station, Tn. 

Allison Battles is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Mental Health Service Provider. She is committed to helping individuals and families learn their process for healing, growth, and change. Allison focuses on targeting and adjusting ineffective behaviors, habits, and beliefs. She truly believes that families are the experts in their own healing. Allison possesses a collaborative and integrative approach in helping clients reach their goals. 

Allison is also incredibly passionate about supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families and helping them overcome systemic barriers. Using a prescriptive approach for treatment, Allison engages in therapy through several evidence-based practices, including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, BrainSpotting, EMDR, play therapy, and behavioral modification. 

Missed, Masked, Misunderstood: Affirming Care for Neurodivergent Girls and Women has been approved by NBCC for NBCC credit. The Therapeutic Studio, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. NBCC Approval No. SP-5344.

Materials: All registered participants will receive the seminar materials and approximately 3 days before the training.

Refund Policy: Full refunds will be available 1 week before the event. After that time, refunds will be given in terms of a credit for a future training held by The Therapeutic Studio, LLC 

If you need any special accommodations or have additional questions, please contact Leiah Drew-Hightower @ Leiahdh@thetherapeuticstudiollc.org or 615-567-3772

Program Agenda:

9:00–9:30 AM
Arrival, Registration, Light Breakfast, and Connection

9:30–10:10 AM
Session 1: Why Autism and ADHD Are Missed in Girls and Women

• Describe how Autism and ADHD are commonly missed or misdiagnosed in girls and women due to gendered socialization, masking behaviors, and internalized distress.

10:10–10:20 AM
Break 1

10:20–11:00 AM
Session 2: Clinical Patterns of Unrecognized Neurodivergence

• Identify common clinical patterns associated with unrecognized Autism and ADHD in girls and women, including perfectionism, burnout, people-pleasing, emotional over-control, and demand avoidance.

11:00–11:10 AM
Break 2

11:10–11:50 AM
Session 3: The Impact of Misrecognition on Therapy and Well-Being

• Explain how misrecognition of neurodivergence can impact therapeutic engagement, treatment effectiveness, and client well-being.

11:50 AM–12:00 PM
Break 3

12:00–12:40 PM
Session 4: Neuro-Affirming and Multisensory Treatment Adaptations

• Apply neuro-affirming and multisensory treatment adaptations to address masking, nervous system overload, emotional regulation, and shame in neurodivergent girls and women.

12:40–1:00 PM
Session 5: Ethical, Culturally Responsive, and Client-Centered Practice

• Integrate ethical, culturally responsive, and client-centered considerations when modifying therapeutic approaches to better support neurodivergent females across the lifespan.

Complete Evaluation and Receive Certificate