Course Description:
This course explores the nuanced experiences of neurodivergent clients related to masking, identity development, and burnout. Mental health professionals will gain a deeper understanding of the psychological and emotional toll of masking behaviors, which are often used by neurodivergent individuals to navigate neurotypical expectations.
Participants will examine how sustained masking contributes to identity diffusion, misdiagnosis, and neurodivergent burnout—an experience distinct from general burnout and shaped by unique sensory, social, and emotional demands. The course provides practical clinical strategies to support clients in unmasking safely, fostering self-understanding, and promoting authentic self-expression within and beyond the therapeutic relationship.
Course Rationale:
Neurodivergent individuals often engage in masking—suppressing or modifying natural behaviors to conform to neurotypical norms—as a survival strategy in settings that do not accommodate neurological differences. While this behavior can be adaptive in the short term, chronic masking is linked to significant emotional and psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and burnout. Many neurodivergent individuals report feeling disconnected from their sense of identity as a result of long-term masking, complicating both diagnosis and therapeutic progress.
Understanding the dynamics of masking and its connection to neurodivergent burnout is essential for clinicians aiming to provide affirming, ethical care. Mental health professionals must also be equipped to support clients in exploring and embracing their identities in a world that often lacks acceptance or understanding. This includes navigating the challenges of unmasking while still ensuring psychological safety and honoring client autonomy.
By prioritizing authenticity over conformity, therapists can help clients develop a stronger sense of self, reduce internalized stigma, and build resilience. This course empowers clinicians to reframe their practices in ways that uphold the dignity, autonomy, and lived experiences of neurodivergent individuals.
Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define masking and describe its psychological and emotional impact.
- Identify signs and symptoms of neurodivergent burnout.
- Explain how masking affects identity development and therapeutic outcomes.
- Apply strategies to support authenticity and reduce masking in clinical practice.
Neurodiversity Alliance is accredited through NBCC (ACEP #7510).
Course Outline
- Course Description, Rationale, and Objectives
- Meet the Presenter
- Neurodiversity Alliance CE Policies and FAQs
- Downloadable Handouts
- The Cost of Camouflage: Exploring Masking and Burnout in Neurodivergent Clients - Recording (58:40)
- Reference List
- Course Assessment
- Neurodiversity University Information
- Course Evaluation
About the Presenter:
Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC (MO #2012026754) specializes in supporting the mental health needs of neurodivergent people. She is the author of several books, including Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today’s Classroom (Free Spirit Publishing, 2021) and the forthcoming Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools (Free Spirit Publishing, Fall 2024). She is the host of The Neurodiversity Podcast. She frequently presents at national conferences and provides professional development and continuing education for educational and mental health organizations throughout the world.
Continuing Education Information:
Upon completion of the course, an evaluation and check for understanding will be provided. After passing the check for understanding, you will be provided a certificates of completion. This process is automated; you may also access your certificate through your Teachable account.
This training provides 1.5 hours of NBCC-accredited continuing education. (ACEP #7510)
Registration Requirements:
This program is open to any mental health professional, medical professional, or educator who supports the mental wellbeing of neurodivergent people. Continuing education hours are limited to those with graduate degrees in a mental health field.
In order to register, you will need to create a free Teachable account to access the course. Once you have registered for the course, you have lifetime access to it and any future updates.