Continuing Education Course: Understanding and Recognizing Neurodivergent Masking (2 CEs)

Neurodivergent masking is a complex and often misunderstood phenomenon that can significantly impact assessment, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes. This intermediate-level course provides clinicians with a research-informed and neurodiversity-affirming framework for understanding how and why masking occurs across contexts, including clinical, educational, and occupational settings.

Participants will examine current literature on masking in neurodivergent populations, including distinctions between simulative and dissimulative masking, and the role of intersectional identity and environmental factors in shaping masking behaviors. The course addresses common myths that contribute to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis and highlights how masking may obscure client distress while functioning as an adaptive strategy in unsafe or invalidating environments.

Through a clinically applied lens, participants will develop skills in analyzing presentation patterns, evaluating the functional role of masking, and implementing interventions that support safe, client-centered exploration of unmasking. Emphasis is placed on ethical and culturally responsive care, including maintaining client autonomy and prioritizing psychological and environmental safety.

This course is designed for licensed mental health professionals and advanced trainees seeking to enhance their competence in recognizing and responding to neurodivergent masking in a manner that improves clinical accuracy, strengthens therapeutic alliance, and supports meaningful client outcomes.

This course consists of a two-hour lecture video, for a total of 2 CE credits.

Presenter

Dr. Amy Marschall is a licensed clinical psychologist in South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Florida, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Louisiana, and New York, PsyPact provider, and registered psychologist in New Zealand. She is late-identified and high-masking neurodivergent, having both lived experience and professional expertise. Her clinical practice includes assessment across the lifespan in high-masking neurodivergent clients as well as supporting neurodivergent clients in safe unmasking. She is an author, speaker, and advocate.

Learning Objectives

Analyze client presentation patterns to differentiate neurodivergent masking from non-masking behaviors across clinical contexts.
Evaluate the functional role of masking (e.g., protective vs. harmful) within a client’s environmental, cultural, and safety context to inform clinical decision-making.
Apply neurodiversity-affirming interventions to support clients in exploring unmasking while maintaining psychological and environmental safety.

Target Audience

This intermediate course is appropriate for all mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, school psychologists, counselors, school counselors, marriage and family therapists, and any other mental professional or advanced trainee who works with high-masking neurodivergent clients.

Continuing Education Course: Understanding and Recognizing Neurodivergent Masking (2 CEs)

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Continuing Education Course: Understanding and Recognizing Neurodivergent Masking (2 CEs)

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