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Indiana Counseling Association Presents The Conversations that Shape Us Conference: What You Wish Other Mental Health Counselors Understood

Counseling the Exceptional: Understanding and Treating Neurodiverse Clients

Suzanne Shonkwiler, LMHC
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Information

Date & Time

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Identify at least three general characteristics and clinical needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities and those on the autism spectrum.

  • Describe at least two systemic stigmas and treatment barriers facing these specialized populations

  • Formulate at least three clinical strategies and accommodations for adapting interventions across therapeutic modalities for neurodiverse clients.

Educational Goal

The educational goal of this workshop is to identify the characteristics and needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities and individuals on the autism spectrum. Attendees will learn about barriers facing these populations, and how to provide adequate treatment and accommodations for them.

Description

Over 85% of medical professionals and counselors report feeling inadequately trained to provide support to individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or neurodiversity. However, the estimated rate of mental illness in individuals from these populations is 2-3 times higher than the general population. This presentation will provide background education on intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder, review some of the stigmas and barriers, and provide ideas for strategies and accommodations in interventions across variety of therapeutic modalities to provide for the needs of clients in this specialized population.

Target Audience

  • Addiction Professional
  • Counselor
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Presenters

Suzanne Shonkwiler, LMHC
Suzanne Shonkwiler, LMHC, works as a Licensed Clinician at the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center in the Stabilization, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) program for adults with identified intellectual disabilities and mental illness. Suzanne is passionate about educating counselors on working with neurodiverse populations. Prior to becoming a mental health counselor, Suzanne studied music and music therapy and worked in the special education field. She is also the proud sibling of a young man with Down Syndrome and mother to 3 neurodiverse children. Suzanne brings her knowledge and experience of working in these varied fields and with these special populations into her work in the STARS program.