Psychotherapy with Neurodivergent Individuals: A Developmental and Relational Approach to Parent-Child Work

2 CE Hours available for

NY Practitioners – LCSWs, LMSWs, LPs, LMFTs, LMHCs, LCATs, PHDs, PSYDs

As diagnoses and awareness of neurodivergence (including ASD, ADHD, etc.) have rapidly grown over the years, many psychotherapists wonder how to address neurodivergent clients’ unique needs in psychotherapy. The DIRFloortime® model and related strategies, developed by Stanley Greenspan, MD and Serena Wieder, PhD, are well-suited for addressing developmental differences, emotional regulation, reflective thinking, and self-advocacy in a strengths-based, developmentally-informed, and relationship-based manner. Through didactic and video case presentation and discussion, participants will learn the foundations of this person-centered, neuroaffirming model and how to apply to children (with their parents) and adults with a range of developmental capacities.

Dr. Lauren Tobing-Puente is a licensed psychologist who earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in child and family therapy, from Fordham University. She leads a team of mental health clinicians at her private practice, Connected Growth & Wellbeing, in NYC which provides evaluations and intervention for individuals, from toddlerhood to adulthood, and their families, as well as professional consultations and training, and parent workshops. Dr. Tobing-Puente is the former Clinical Coordinator of a large nonpublic school where she supervised a multidisciplinary team of mental health clinicians, and evaluated and provided psychotherapy to students through age 21 using the DIRFloortime(R) methodology. Her diverse experience includes many years working in home-based and center-based Early Intervention, independent preschool and elementary school, Head Start, and hospital settings for children with various developmental needs. Dr. Tobing-Puente was a long-time board member of the NY Metro chapter of the National Autism Association (NAA).