Missed in Childhood, Identified in Adulthood: Supporting Late-Diagnosed Neurodivergent Clients

Many adults enter therapy after years of struggling with attention, sensory overwhelm, emotional regulation, or social expectations without realizing that these experiences may be connected to neurodivergence. As awareness of ADHD and autism in adults has increased, more clients are recognizing their neurodivergent identities later in life… often after decades of misunderstanding their own challenges through lenses such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or personal failure.

For many individuals, late identification can reshape how they understand their life story. It may bring relief and validation, but also grief, anger, or questions about missed support earlier in life. Clients may begin reevaluating past experiences in school, relationships, and work while learning to recognize both their strengths and their support needs.

This session explores key clinical considerations when supporting late-diagnosed neurodivergent adults. Participants will examine common pathways to late identification, the long-term impact of masking and unmet support needs, and practical counseling approaches that help clients integrate this new understanding of themselves into their lives and relationships.

This program is designed for psychologists, professional counselors, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and graduate-level clinicians who provide therapy or assessment services to neurodivergent children and adolescents.

The content included in this training is provided at an Intermediate level. A solid understanding of general traits of neurodivergent children and teens and basic tenets of neurodiversity-affirming therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy are required to fully benefit from this training.

Introduction and Overview
- Welcome and presenter introduction
- Review of session goals and learning objectives
- Framing late diagnosis as a growing clinical issue in adult mental health work
Why Neurodivergence Is Missed in Childhood
- Historical and diagnostic factors contributing to delayed identification
- Masking, compensation, and stereotype-driven recognition gaps
- Common pathways that lead clients to reinterpret earlier experiences in adulthood
The Impact of Late Diagnosis in Adulthood
- Emotional responses including relief, grief, anger, shame, and validation
- Identity reappraisal and reinterpreting one’s life narrative Relational impact, chronic masking, burnout, and internalized stigma
Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapeutic Approaches
- Core principles of neurodiversity-affirming care for late-diagnosed adults
- Strategies to support reframing past experiences and reducing internalized stigma
- Helping clients identify, communicate, and advocate for support needs
- Brief case illustration
Clinical Integration and Key Takeaways
- Applying the framework to case conceptualization and treatment planning
- Summary of core clinical implications

Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC, is dedicated to destigmatizing neurodiversity and supporting neurodivergent people of all ages. She started her career in education and is now in private practice near St. Louis, Missouri as a licensed professional counselor, where she specializes in supporting neurodivergent kids and adults (and their families).

Emily hosts The Neurodiversity Podcast, which explores the psychological, educational, and social needs of neurodivergent people. She is the author of several books related to parenting and educating neurodivergent children and teens. Her most recent book, “Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted and Supported” was released in January 2025.

She speaks at statewide, national, and international conferences and frequently provides virtual and in-person professional development to educators, mental health clinicians, and parents worldwide. Many of her presentations and workshops can also be found at the Neurodiversity University online learning platform.

Participants who attend the full program and complete the quiz will receive a certificate verifying the completion of 1.5 continuing education hours.

Psychologists: Neurodiversity Alliance is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Neurodiversity Alliance maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Counselors: Neurodiversity Alliance is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP #7510). This program meets NBCC requirements for continuing education credit.

Will this CE work for my profession in my state?
Continuing education requirements vary by state, licensing board, and professional designation. While this program is approved for APA and NBCC continuing education credit, many state licensing boards and professional organizations (including those regulating LMFTs, LCSWs, and other allied mental health professionals) accept APA-approved or NBCC-approved continuing education toward license renewal.

Participants are encouraged to review their individual state board or professional association requirements to determine whether this program meets their renewal criteria. If you are unsure whether APA or NBCC continuing education is accepted for your license, we recommend confirming with your licensing board prior to registration.
How is attendance verified? Are there other requirements?
Attendance will be verified through live participation monitoring. Participants must attend the entire program to be eligible for CE credit. A post-program evaluation assessing achievement of learning objectives and overall program quality is required. Certificates of completion will be issued electronically following program completion.

Participants unable to attend the live session will be provided access to the recording of the session to complete as a self-study/home study training.
What if I can't attend live?
Anyone who is unable to attend live will have access to complete the self-study course. Please allow 2 business days for the link for the self-study course to be sent via email.
What if I want to cancel or get a refund?
Registration fees, cancellation deadlines, and refund eligibility are provided prior to registration.

In-person events: Refund requests may be submitted up to seven (7) days before the scheduled program.

Virtual events: Refund requests may be submitted up to two (2) days prior to the event start time.

Refund requests must be submitted through the original registration platform. Transaction or processing fees charged by third-party platforms are nonrefundable. For more information about cancellation policies, please review our Continuing Education Policies document. (Found at the bottom of this page.)
Can I receive accommodations?
Neurodiversity University® is committed to providing accessible continuing education programming. Standard accessibility supports for live and online programs include access to presentation slides in advance when available, closed captioning and live transcription through Zoom or the learning management system, and platform-based participation features appropriate to the program format.

Participants may request additional accommodations in advance. Requests should be directed to Hannah Haedike-Swift, CE Program Coordinator, at hannah@neurodiversitypodcast.com.
Financial Disclosures
The presenter receives income from authored works and subscription-based educational content related to neurodivergent learning, including royalties from The Neurodivergent Learner (forthcoming, 2026) and paid Substack subscriptions. These relationships have been reviewed and are not considered to constitute a conflict of interest for this program. Dr. King also recieves an honorarium for her time and expertise offering this presentation.
Contact Information
For registration, accessibility, or CE credit inquiries, contact Hannah Haedike-Swift, CE Program Coordinator, at hannah@neurodiversitypodcast.com.

For more information about Neurodiversity University® and Neurodiversity Alliance, please access our Continuing Edcuation Policies. (Found at the bottom of this page.)

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