Instructor: Susan Lasky, MA, BCC, SCAC
Total Time: 3.5 hours
CEUs: 3.5
DESCRIPTION
Executive Function challenges are easily disguised as moral failings, rather than as symptomatic of a brain-based condition. People with ADHD are often negatively judged, and self-judge, as choosing to act inappropriately, without understanding the context of this ‘hidden’ disability. Despite intelligence, abilities and motivation, the problems associated with EF and ADHD can be insidious – manifesting in many ways that negatively impact workplace performance and job satisfaction.
Unfortunately, many clients don't even realize there are underlying brain-based issues that are undermining their success. Even when diagnosed, little is understood about how to identify and compensate for challenges that may range from lateness and missed deadlines to struggles with organization, paperwork and project completion, emotional reactivity and inappropriate communication with management, peers, direct reports, customers and in personal relationships.
This course will explore these issues and offer compensatory strategies for helping your clients succeed in the workplace despite the challenges of EF and ADHD.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon suceessful completion of this course, students will be able to...
- Attendees will learn to recognize how Executive Function and/or ADHD issues often underlie or exacerbate workplace challenges that may range from disorganization, underperformance and missed deadlines to struggles with overwhelm, emotions, communications and self-advocacy.
- Attendees will better understand why systems that may work for neuro-typical clients may be unrealistic or even counterproductive for those with EFD/ADHD.
- Attendees will be able to appropriately communicate the brain-based nature of client challenges, helping to normalize their client’s struggles and encourage them to become solutions-focused, despite a history that may include frustration, failure, low self-esteem and a lack of selfcompassion - even if the client may be, or appear to be, successful.
- Attendees will be able to share with clients a realistic (vs. ideal) and do-able approach to working with their brain-based challenges that is practical and sustainable, beginning with increased self-awareness and acceptance (including an understanding that having a neuroatypical brain has nothing to do with intelligence, and that their struggles are not moral failings).
- Attendees will expand their toolbox of organizational, productivity and mindset-related strategies, tips, tools, systems and attitude shifts.
- Attendees will develop systems for compassionate accountability, check-ins, maintenance and support. They will become more aware of possibly hidden judgmental biases and performance/outcome expectations, which could affect client interactions.