(HS Guenzel, Grant 150222 2025) Conceptualizing a Masking Prevention Approach for Autistic Clients: Strategies to Support...

Course overview

For many neurodivergent clients, masking - hiding their true thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to fit societal expectations - becomes a survival mechanism. While it may seem adaptive in the short term, it often leads to long-term mental health struggles, including anxiety, depression, burnout, and suicidality. Led by experts Jeffrey Guenzel, EdD, LPC, and Robert Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S (TM), along with guests Daria Brown and Turrell Burgess, who will share both personal and professional insights, this session will teach you actionable, clinically sound strategies to: Help neurodivergent clients reduce the harmful effects of masking and foster authenticity Understand the roots of masking, its connection to burnout, and its impact on mental health, with special attention to cultural and intersectional factors Prevent masking, reduce anxiety and depression, and support emotional well-being in clinical and educational settings By the end of this session, you'll gain the skills to identify masking behaviors, promote emotional regulation, and create environments that foster neurodivergent clients' authentic selves, leading to better mental health and a stronger sense of identity.