Essential Tools & Skills for Women with ADHD

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Michelle Dougher Frank, PsyD Related seminars and products

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Dr. Frank is a clinical psychologist currently practicing at Enrich Relationship Center of Colorado in the Denver-metro area. She specializes in diagnosing and treating ADHD, particularly in women. She is co-author, along with Sari Solden, MS, of the book A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers. In addition to individual clinical work, Dr. Frank Provides Gottman Method Couples’ Therapy to couples impacted by ADHD. With a passion for advocacy, outreach, and education, Dr. Frank regularly contributes to national ADHD conferences and support programs. Dr. Frank is former vice president of ADDA – an international nonprofit organization supporting adults with ADHD. She is a member of APSARD – The American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders. She graduated from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and Marquette University.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Michelle Dougher Frank has an employment relationship with Enrich Relationship Center of Colorado. She receives royalties as a published author. Michelle Dougher Frank receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Michelle Dougher Frank is a member of the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, the Children and Adults with ADHD, and the American Professional Society of ADHD & Related Disorders.

Additional Info

Program Information

Access never expires for this product.

For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com  

Objectives

1. Build competence in identifying possible ADHD in women to make any necessary referrals and/or provide basic psychoeducation to a client.
2. Appraise the complexity of how ADHD presents in women.
3. Assess 3 common areas of concern or distress/impairment for women with ADHD seeking therapy.
4. Differentiate comorbid conditions from ADHD symptoms to apply appropriate treatment interventions.

Outline

• ADHD in women is commonly misdiagnosed and dismissed
  • Prevalence & Presentation
  • Discrepancies in diagnoses
    • Historical underrepresentation in research
    • Biases in scales & persons 
    • Compensatory behaviors in girls – perfectionism
    • Hormonal challenges 
  • Impact of “later in life” diagnosis 
  • Prescription medication increases
  • ADHD in women in color
• Symptom Presentation in Women
  • Qualitative and phenomenological vs quantitative differences 
  • Assessment – overcome traditional biases
  • Internalizing vs externalizing behaviors
  • ADHD “types”
    • “Space Cadet” 
    • “Chatty Cathy” 
  • Co-occurring conditions
    • Depression, anxiety, PMDD, eating disorders
• Gender Roles & ADHD
  • Intersection of gender role constructs and ADHD challenges
    • Impact on executive functioning
    • Gender roles & the perception of ADHD
  • Motherhood
    • “How can I have children when…”
    • Increased EF demands and constraints 
    • Common challenges
      • Sensory overload
      • Boredom
      • Creating and maintaining structure, consistency
      • Organization, memory
      • Under- and over-stimulation
      • Asking for help
• Hormones & ADHD
  • Estrogen & Dopamine
  • PMS & PMDD
  • Pregnancy & medication? 
  • Menopause
    • “Is this early-onset dementia?!”
  • Common interventions
• Why Diagnosis & Treatment Matters - Risk Factors for Girls & Women with ADHD
  • Suicidality and self-harm
  • Low self-esteem
  • Unwanted pregnancy, STIs
  • Bullying, peer victimization
  • Domestic violence and abuse dynamics
  • Substance abuse 
  • Chronic pain, migraines, poorer health outcomes
• Common Presenting Concerns
  • “The Emotional Legacy of ADHD”: Shame and Loss
  • Anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation
  • Rejection sensitivity
  • Negative self-talk, poor self-concept 
    • “I’m too much and not enough”
  • Disordered eating, brain and body shame
  • Perfectionism, over-compensation becomes rigid
  • Relational impacts: Friendships, partners, motherhood
  • Academic and career concerns
    • What do I really want and how do I do it with ADHD?
  • Trauma
• Treatment Considerations
  • Redefining goals
    • Functional vs symptom improvement
    • Becoming more of self vs becoming more neurotypical
  • Cultural considerations & intersectionality
  • Validation & Psychoeducation
  • Unravel internalized messages 
  • Addressing the emotional legacy of ADHD
  • Managing unhelpful thoughts, rumination
  • Assertiveness training
  • Emotional regulation work
  • Self-compassion work
  • Barriers to treatment – stigma, finances, ADHD myths
• Limitations of the research and potential risks
  • Limited research on hormones, hard to study
  • Limited research on women of color 
  • Limited research on trans and non-binary individuals
  • Limited research on female-specific treatment modalities and outcomes

Target Audience

• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Teachers
• School Administrators
• Addiction Counselors
• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Nurses
• Physicians