proudly presents
EMDR for Autistic and ADHD Clients:
Affirming Adaptations Across All 8 Phases
A Pre-Recorded Asynchronous Distance Learning Course!
Registration Fee: $149 USD
4.5 CEs and 180-day access period
EMDR is a powerhouse treatment for trauma, but when working with autistic and ADHD clients, sticking to the standard protocol without thoughtful adaptations isn’t always enough. Differences in sensory processing, attention, memory, interoception, alexithymia, aphantasia, and generalization can all shape how a client experiences EMDR—and what they need from us as clinicians.
This 4.5-hour on-demand training, presented by Christine MacInnis, LMFT, a lived-experience autistic and ADHD clinician with a PDA profile, takes you through all eight phases of EMDR using a neurodiversity-affirming lens. You’ll learn not only what you can adapt, but why those adaptations may be important for the autistic and ADHD clients in your practice.
Throughout the course, Christine brings these concepts to life through clinical examples, case conceptualization, recorded demonstrations, and practical tools that show you how these adaptations can look in actual clinical practice.
You’ll also explore an important piece that can easily be overlooked in trauma treatment: the cumulative impact of living in environments shaped around neuronormative expectations and how those experiences can become part of a neurodivergent client’s trauma history.
Walk away with a practical, neurodiversity-affirming EMDR toolkit and strategies you can begin integrating into your clinical work right away—while maintaining the integrity of the eight-phase EMDR model.
Designed for On-Demand Learning
This course was recorded during a live training presented on July 10, 2026, and has been carefully edited and reorganized specifically for the on-demand learning experience. Rather than simply giving you a recording of a full-day Zoom workshop, the course has been divided into 13 focused chapters that allow you to move through the material in manageable sections. Significant pauses, technology transitions, screen-sharing setup, and other unnecessary downtime from the live training have been edited out so you can focus your time and attention on the content that matters. The course includes a combination of focused lectures, clinical demonstrations, case examples, and participant Q&A. You’ll also see extended demonstrations of attunement and history taking, adaptations to bilateral stimulation during Desensitization, and an adapted Body Scan for sensory overload.
What You’ll Learn
This course provides practical guidance for adapting all eight phases of EMDR therapy to the individual needs of autistic and ADHD clients. Participants will learn how to:
Build a flexible clinical toolbox while maintaining the integrity of EMDR’s eight-phase model.
- Conceptualize trauma associated with masking, bullying, shame, autistic burnout, executive-functioning difficulties, and living within neuronormative environments.
- Strengthen attunement and adapt history taking when communication, memory, or information processing is less linear.
- Modify preparation strategies for alexithymia, aphantasia, sensory differences, and difficulty accessing traditional visualization exercises.
- Use alternative approaches to SUD ratings and target assessment when standard numerical or body-based measures are not accessible.
- Individualize bilateral stimulation using tactile methods, large body movements, and other alternatives to eye movements.
- Recognize how interoceptive differences may affect trauma processing and the evaluation of treatment progress.
- Use neurodiversity-affirming cognitive interweaves during reprocessing.
- Adapt Installation, Body Scan, Closure, and Reevaluation for sensory sensitivities, transitions, and differences in generalization.
- and much more!
More Than Just the Videos
The chapter-based format was intentionally designed to make the learning experience focused, accessible, and neurodiversity-affirming. Shorter, clearly organized sections make it easier to pause between topics, return to specific EMDR phases when you need a refresher, and move through the material at a pace that works for you—without sitting through the filler and downtime of an unedited live workshop recording.
And the learning doesn’t stop with the videos. You’ll also receive a collection of practical clinical tools, handouts, presentation materials, and resources designed to help you translate what you’ve learned directly into your clinical work.
What You’ll Receive
This course is packed with practical resources designed to support you well beyond the training itself. In addition to the 13-chapter on-demand course, participants receive:
- Complete PowerPoint Slides & Bibliography
- Neurodiversity-Affirming EMDR Toolkit — an 18-page clinical toolkit with practical resources and adaptations spanning all eight phases of EMDR, including:
- Phase 1: History Taking Checklist
- Phase 2: Preparation Resource Tips for Alexithymia, Aphantasia & Sensory Concerns
- Phase 3: Current Trigger Assessment Tool
- Phase 4: Cognitive Interweaves for Neurodivergent Clients
- Phase 5: Common Neurodivergent Blocking Beliefs, Generalization Support for Autistic Clients
- Phase 6: Body Scan Adaptation for Sensory Overload
- Phase 7: Closure Exercises to Reduce Activation
- Phase 8: Reevaluation Troubleshooting Tips
- Additional Clinical Handouts – You’ll also receive additional resources to support neurodiversity-affirming EMDR practice:
- Attunement During Phase 1: History Taking
- Essential Vocabulary & Neurodiversity-Affirming Language Guide
- Six Alternative Ways to Evaluate Trauma Reduction
- Neurodiversity-Affirming Resource Guide – You’ll also receive access to Christine’s living Neurodiversity-Affirming Resource Guide—a continuously updated collection of resources that Christine continues to expand as new information and resources become available.
Together, these materials give you tools you can return to during actual clinical work, rather than leaving you with information from a training that is difficult to translate into practice.
Workshop Facilitator
Christine MacInnis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, Arizona, and Ohio, and the owner of Transcends Family Therapy in Torrance, CA. Her practice focuses on LGBTQIA-affirming and neurodivergent-affirming trauma work, as well as neurodivergent-affirming relationship coaching.
She is certified in EMDR, an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and provides advanced training, education, and consultation on neurodivergent-affirming EMDR practices.
Christine is the co-author of EMDR for Autistic and ADHD Clients: Neurodivergent Paths to Healing, being published by Norton in May 2027. More information about her work can be found at www.transcendstherapy.com
Level of Content: Intermediate
Format: Pre-recorded Asynchronous Distance Learning
Who Should Attend: This course is designed for EMDR-trained mental health professionals who want practical guidance for adapting EMDR therapy with autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD clients. It is especially relevant for clinicians who want to increase their confidence in recognizing individual processing needs and making neurodiversity-affirming adaptations across all eight phases.
Intended Audience: Master’s level social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists; psychologists, and other licensed mental health professionals trained in EMDR.
Eligibility Requirements: PARTIAL EMDR TRAINING
This workshop is open to clinicians who are at least partially trained in EMDR which means they have completed part of an EMDRIA Approved Basic EMDR Training and/or still finishing their 10 hours of required consultation.
Course Interaction: This course is delivered in an asynchronous, self-paced online format through the Thinkific learning management system. Participants access recorded video instruction, downloadable course materials, and a learner assessment at their own pace. Learners may pause, stop, and return to the course as needed and are not required to attend at a specific date or time. Participants have 180 days from the date of enrollment to complete the course.
Course Completion Requirements: You have 180 days from enrollment to complete the course.
To earn CE credit, participants must watch the entire course, take a 30-question post-test, and obtain a 75% pass rate. You can take it as many times as needed. You must also fill out an evaluation of the course. Certificates of completion will be generated and email after your evaluation is completed.
Learning Objectives:
- Differentiate neurodiversity-affirming principles from deficit-based approaches when conceptualizing the needs of autistic and ADHD clients.
- Apply neurodiversity-affirming approaches to attunement and preparation during the History Taking and Preparation phases of EMDR with autistic and ADHD clients.
- Apply flexible, neurodiversity-affirming approaches to EMDR Assessment when standard assessment components require adaptation.
- Apply neurodiversity-affirming adaptations during Desensitization based on the individual processing needs of autistic and ADHD clients.
- Apply neurodiversity-affirming strategies to support adaptive belief generalization and accessible Body Scan assessment with autistic and ADHD clients.
- Evaluate client needs during Closure and Reevaluation to support transitions and identify meaningful therapeutic progress.
Continuing Education (CE) Credit Information
CE Credits Available
Participants will receive 4.5 hours of continuing education (CE) credit upon completing this program. Carefully look at the approvals/acceptances that have been secured for the training for which you are registering.
This workshop qualifies for 4.5 continuing education clock hours as required by many national, state, and local licensing boards and professional organizations Many states do not require specific approvals; several states require specific approvals; many accept national organization approvals or providers from other states. Save this workshop advertisement and certificate of completion, and contact your own board or organization for specific requirements.
By registering for this course, you agree to check in to and be knowledgeable about the continuing education approvals that are required for members of your profession in your state. You may contact Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center with any questions PRIOR to the workshop.
EMDRIA : 4.5 Credits
Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center is an approved EC Provider (#24005) and this Asynchronous Distance Learning program (#24005-DL18) is approved for 4.5 EMDRIA Credits. Eligibility for EMDRIA Credits is restricted to those who have completed an EMDRIA-Approved Basic EMDR Training. Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center maintains responsibility for this program and its content in accordance with EMDRIA requirements.
ASWB ACE: 4.5 CEs
Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center, #2113, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 07/23/2025 – 07/23/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 4.5 clinical continuing education credits.
What states accept ASWB ACE clock hours? LINK
NBCC: 4.5 CEs
Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7522. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Additional Registration Information
Registration Fee: $149 USD
Will sales tax be added?
Depending on your location, applicable sales tax may be added at checkout as required by law.
Cancellation and Refund Policy: No refunds will be given for this online course.
Disability Related Accommodations and Services (click to expand)
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center will make reasonable adjustments or modifications to practices, policies and procedures. To start this process, participants can complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation Form and email it info@multiplicityofthemind.com.
System Requirements (click to expand)
Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher, MacOS 9 or higher, Android 4.0 or higher
Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, Google Chrome, Firefox 10.0 or higher
Broadband Internet connection: Cable, High-speed DSL & any other medium that is Internet accessible.
Complaints and Grievances (click to expand)
The goal at Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center is to provide an effective distance learning experience for all participants. if you have a problem with registration-related issues, e.g., issues with the registration form, payment, website, promotional materials, emails, you are expected to email Katie Wine-Appleton (info@multiplicityofthemind.com), as soon as possible.
During and after the course completion, complaints and grievances regarding course content, promotional or educational materials, facilitator’s behaviors, workshop site, facilities, technological resources, or any other course-related issues, shall be presented in writing to Katie Wine-Appleton, LPCC-S, Founder, Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center. Licensed Social Workers: Should social workers have a specific grievance, these grievances will be addressed by Helen Hill, LISW-S, the social work consultant for Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center.
Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center’s approach in resolving grievances is always from the perspective of what is the fairest way to resolve the matter. All complaints and grievances are reviewed within 5 working days. Formal grievances are required to be written and emailed to info@multiplicityofthemind.com and will be responded to within 10 business days.
There are no known conflicts of interests for this workshop.
Contact Information for Questions and Assistance
Please contact Katie Wine-Appleton, Owner/CE Director for Multiplicity of the Mind Learning Center, with questions, concerns, etc. She can be reached at info@multiplicityofthemind.com