Effects of Neurodivergence on Mood and Sleep Disorders
Presented by Kate McNulty, LCSW and Victoria Duncan
Friday, May 2, 2025
9am-11:30am PT / 11am-1:30pm CT / 12pm-2:30pm ET
Event held online via Zoom, link to access provided upon registration.
Managing mood and sleep patterns varies across the range of neurodivergent populations. Due to the unusual levels of stress people experience while living with these traits, mood and sleep are typically challenging to some extent. For all humans, sleep is foundational to health and affects the fluctuation of mood and energy.
Therapists routinely offer guidance and build skills on self-regulation and beneficial habits; however, these strategies often require substantial modification and customizing for clients with neurodevelopmental disorders and other neurodivergent qualities. These clients are often physically vulnerable and may live with chronic health conditions and lack of supports; effective therapy with these populations can contribute to their well-being and longevity.
Zoom link will be available on course page in “My Courses” upon event registration.
This program, when attended in its entirety, offers 2.5 CEs for Psychologists, 2.5 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, 2.5 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSWs, and LMFTs, 2.5 ISBE CPDUs for Illinois Educators, 2.5 NASP CPDs for School Psychologists, or 2.5 NBCC Clock Hours. (*NBCC Clock Hours are available for live program attendance only.)
Managing mood and sleep patterns varies across the range of neurodivergent populations. Due to the unusual levels of stress people experience while living with these traits, mood and sleep are typically challenging to some extent. For all humans, sleep is foundational to health and affects the fluctuation of mood and energy.
Therapists routinely offer guidance and build skills on self-regulation and beneficial habits; however, these strategies often require substantial modification and customizing for clients with neurodevelopmental disorders and other neurodivergent qualities. These clients are often physically vulnerable and may live with chronic health conditions and lack of supports; effective therapy with these populations can contribute to their well-being and longevity.
After attending this intermediate-level program, participants will be able to:
- Modify their current practices to match the learning needs and developmental levels of a neurodivergent client base.
- Compare the effects of sensory input as a contributor to stress for clients with neurodevelopmental disorders to those in other diagnostic categories.
- Apply a method for instructing a client with some form of neurodivergence in naming emotions and body sensation.
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 3: Program will allow psychologists to maintain, develop, and increase competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession.
General Admission: $40
The Chicago School Faculty/Staff/Alumni: $30*
Students: $20*
(*Please email [email protected] for coupon code)
Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.
Kate McNulty, LCSW
Kate McNulty has been in private practice since 1999 and is an Autistic clinician and published writer. Kate trains and consults with mental health professionals and agencies on neurodiversity, relationship therapy and sex therapy. Kate McNulty’s clinical background includes over 20 years in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings with neurodivergent clients including those with ADHD, TBI, Bipolar diagnoses, PTSD and autistic clients. Kate is certified as a Gottman Therapist and Trainer and an AASECT Sex Therapist and Supervisor.
Victoria Duncan
“I write about autism, neurodiversity and neuronormative culture on my Twitter account with +60k followers and my personal LinkedIn account. As a professional communicator and autistic advocate, I shed light on autism as a difference instead of a deficit.”
He, J. L., Williams, Z. J., Harris, A., Powell, H., Schaaf, R., Tavassoli, T., & Puts, N. a. J. (2023). A working taxonomy for describing the sensory differences of autism. Molecular Autism, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00534-1
Houting, J. D. (2018). Neurodiversity: An insider’s perspective. Autism, 23(2), 271–273. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361318820762
Lihabi, A. A. (2023). A literature review of sleep problems and neurodevelopment disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1122344
Robinson, A. (2018). Emotion-Focused Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Conceptualization Model for Trauma-Related Experiences. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 48(3), 133–143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-018-9383-1
Xia, Y., Wang, P., & Vincent, J. (2024). Why we need neurodiversity in brain and behavioral sciences. Brain‐X, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/brx2.70
Target Audience: Masters and Doctoral level psychotherapists and counselors.
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.5 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 for 2.5 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 2.5 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 2.5 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.
School Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.5 hours of continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s School Psychology Program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this continuing professional development activity.
Illinois Educators. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.5 hours of continuing professional development units. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an approved provider for continuing professional development by the Illinois State Board of Education.
National Board. This program, when attended in its entirety, offers 2.5 NBCC Clock Hours. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 3036. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
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.