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In Person
Innovations in Mental Health Day Conference in Milwaukee

Masking, Misdiagnosis, and Meaning: Bringing Depth to the Neurodiversity Conversation

Anna Weber, PsyD, LP
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Information

Date & Time

Location

Description

This presentation explores how neurodivergence presents across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood through the lenses of development, attachment, and relational meaning. Participants will learn how masking functions as an adaptive survival strategy, how misdiagnosis occurs across the lifespan, and how to support neurodivergent identity formation in therapy. The session offers practical guidance for when to refer for psychological evaluation, how to integrate results within scope, and how to apply neuroaffirming approaches in ongoing clinical work.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Identify at least three ways masking can appear as an adaptive relational strategy across different developmental stages.

  • Differentiate common pathways leading to misdiagnosis of neurodivergence in children, adolescents, and adults.

  • Apply a framework for determining when psychological evaluation is indicated and describe how to integrate findings into therapy within scope.

Educational Goal

The educational goal of this workshop is for participants to learn how masking functions as an adaptive survival strategy, how misdiagnosis occurs across the lifespan, and how to support neurodivergent identity formation in therapy.

Target Audience

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

Presenters

Anna Weber, PsyD, LP
Anna Weber, PsyD, LP is a licensed psychologist and health educator who specializes in neurodevelopmental differences, emotional regulation, and learning-related concerns in children and adolescents. She works collaboratively with families and schools to improve understanding and support for students with complex profiles. Her areas of focus include autism, ADHD, anxiety, and demand-related nervous system responses, including Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) across the lifespan.

Financially Sponsored By

  • Newport Healthcare