Gender, Sexual Identity and Expression with Neurodivergent Clients
Presented by Kate McNulty, LCSW and Morrigan Hunter, MA, MSW
Friday, May 30, 2025
9am-11:30am PT / 11am-1:30pm CT / 12pm-2:30pm ET
Event held online via Zoom, link to access provided upon registration.
Competence with gender identity and sexual expression are an essential aspect of work with the neurodiverse population. The full range of sexual experience is seen in this group, but these clients are more likely to deviate from sexual norms than the general population.
Practicing from an affirming and well-informed framework includes active, ongoing work with therapist biases and cultural assumptions. The goal is to progress from an attitude of acceptance to a knowledgeable level of therapist competence. To work skillfully with disability and unconventional sexual practices, the therapist becomes conversant with sexual subgroups and communities.
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, 2.5 AASECT CEs for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, or 2.5 NBCC Clock Hours. (*NBCC Clock Hours are available for live program attendance only.)
Competence with gender identity and sexual expression are an essential aspect of work with the neurodiverse population. The full range of sexual experience is seen in this group, but these clients are more likely to deviate from sexual norms than the general population.
Practicing from an affirming and well-informed framework includes active, ongoing work with therapist biases and cultural assumptions. The goal is to progress from an attitude of acceptance to a knowledgeable level of therapist competence. To work skillfully with disability and unconventional sexual practices, the therapist becomes conversant with sexual subgroups and communities.
After attending this intermediate-level program, participants will be able to:
- Question stereotypes to analyze therapist counter-transference and reactivity.
- Evaluate which populations would be suitable specializations and which fall outside your scope of practice.
- Apply principles of disability justice to create sex-positive interventions with clients across the life span.
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.
This program meets AASECT Core Knowledge Area for:
B — Developmental sexuality from a bio-psycho-social perspective across the lifespan.
D — Sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
H — Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury and safer sex practices.
This program meets AASECT Sexuality Counseling training for:
B — Theory and methods of sexuality counseling approaches to specific populations.
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 is a gender variant person with extensive experience with the LGBTQIA + population across the life span. Kate has been in private practice since 1999 and is an Autistic clinician and published writer. Kate is certified as a Gottman Therapist and Trainer and an AASECT Sex Therapist and Supervisor.
Morrigan Hunter, MA, MSW
Morrigan is passionate about leading conversations on disability, sexuality, consent, and pleasure. Faer work includes supporting the sexual health education of disabled individuals through research and program evaluation and promoting neurodiversity affirming care for Autistic survivors of abuse through research and education. Faer work is guided by centering the pleasure and autonomy of disabled people.
Dell’Osso, B., Cafaro, R., & Ketter, T. A. (2021). Has Bipolar Disorder become a predominantly female gender related condition? Analysis of recently published large sample studies. International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40345-020-00207-z
Ginevra, M. C., Nota, L., & Stokes, M. A. (2015). The differential effects of Autism and Down’s syndrome on sexual behavior. Autism Research, 9(1), 131–140. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1504
Houtrow, A., Elias, E. R., Davis, B. E., Kuo, D. Z., Agrawal, R., Davidson, L. F., Ellerbeck, K. A., Foster, J. E., Fremion, E., Leppert, M. O., Saunders, B. S., Stille, C., Vargus-Adams, J., Yin, L., Norwood, K., Coleman, C., Mann, M. Y., Simpser, E., Poon, J., . . . Kuznetsov, A. (2021). Promoting healthy sexuality for children and adolescents with disabilities. PEDIATRICS, 148(1). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-052043
Krogh, H. B., Vinberg, M., Mortensen, G. L., Skakke, D., Nielsen, D., & Giraldi, A. (2023). Bipolar disorder and sexuality: a preliminary qualitative pilot study. International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40345-023-00285-9
Target Audience: Masters and doctoral level mental health professionals.
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.
Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 2.5 CE credits. The Office of Continuing Education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has been approved as an AASECT Provider of continuing education credits! Provider number 23-519-CW. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. Completion of this program does not ensure or guarantee AASECT certification. For further information please contact [email protected].
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.