Assessment of Adult ADHD for Master's Level Therapists

Mental health professionals who are non-psychologists may hesitate to identify ADHD in clients due to their inability to conduct psychometric testing. However, using self-report tests and taking a careful history, Masters-degree therapists can diagnose and support adult ADHD clients.

As cited in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, ADHD diagnoses among adults are growing four times faster than those of children in the U.S. ADHD symptoms persist into adulthood for as many as 60 percent of patients diagnosed while adolescents. Adults with ADHD often face challenges with organizing and prioritizing tasks, managing their time and making decisions. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment can ameliorate these problems and allow those experiencing ADHD to optimize their lives. Vocational, medical and social improvement all begin with correct diagnosis and Master’s level therapists are qualified to do these assessments. In this training you will learn to use assessment tools and gather the relevant the elements of a client history.

After attending this introductory-level program, participants will be able to:

• Explain the challenges non-psychologist mental health professionals may face when diagnosing ADHD.
• Identify the various assessment tools non-psychologist mental health professionals can use when evaluating ADHD.
• Discuss the importance of client history and self-reporting in AHDA assessment.

This program meets APA’s continuing education standard 1.1: Program content focuses on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that have overall consistent and credible empirical support in the contemporary peer reviewed scientific literature beyond those publications and other types of communications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach.

This program meets APA’s continuing education goal  1: Program is relevant to psychological practice, education, and/or science

General Admission: $30

Students: $15* 

The Chicago School Staff/Faculty/Alumni: $20

(*Please email [email protected] from your The Chicago School or student account for discount code.)

Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the live program, and at any time in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.

Kate McNulty, LCSW

Kate McNulty, LCSW has been in private practice for over twenty years and works with neurodivergent clients, including autistic people, ADHDers, those with Bipolar Disorder, OCD and acquired neurodivergence such as Traumatic Brain Injury. She is certified as a Relationship Therapist and Trainer by the Gottman Insitute and as a Sex Therapist and Supervisor by AASECT, the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists.

Ginapp, C. M., Macdonald-Gagnon, G., Angarita, G. A., Bold, K. W., & Potenza, M. N. (2022). The lived experiences of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A rapid review of qualitative evidence. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.949321

Knecht, C., De Alvaro, R., Martinez-Raga, J., & Balanzá-Martínez, V. (2015). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance use disorders, and criminality: a difficult problem with complex solutions. Journal of Health Service Psychology, 27(2), 163–175. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2015-5007

Prakash, J., Chatterjee, K., Guha, S., Srivastava, K. D., & Chauhan, V. S. (2021). Adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: From clinical reality toward conceptual clarity. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 30(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.4103/ipj.ipj_7_21

Target Audience: Master’s level mental health professionals.

Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. 

Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available 2.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159

Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036

MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 2.0 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.

Participation Certificate. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is able to provide students and other participants who simply wish to have documentation of their attendance at the program a participation certificate.

Non Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.

*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.

If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.