Breaking Barriers to Autism Interventions for Trauma Healing: A Long-Awaited Panel Discussion

Tasha Oswald, PhD Related seminars and products

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Tasha Oswald, PhD, (she/her) is a neurodiversity-affirming licensed psychologist and clinical consultant, IFS Level 3 trained and polyvagal-informed. She identifies as a neurodivergent, Caucasian, cisgender female. Dr. Oswald is passionate about addressing the gap in mental health services for autistic adults and youth. For this reason, she founded the adult autism specialty practice, Open Doors Therapy, based in California. She specializes in working with autistic women, autistic working professionals, gifted and neurodivergent individuals, emerging adults on the spectrum, and adults receiving a later life ASD diagnosis. Seeing the transformative power of group therapy for autistic adults, group work is a cornerstone of her practice. Being in the field for nearly 20 years, Dr. Oswald has received extensive training in autism. After completing her PhD in psychology with an autism emphasis, she was awarded an NIH-Funded Autism Research Training Program (ARTP) post-doctoral fellowship. Through this fellowship program, she engaged in interdisciplinary training and research at the world-renowned UC Davis MIND Institute. While at the MIND Institute, she developed and established a therapy group program for young adults on the autism spectrum called the ACCESS Program. She has published autism research in preeminent research journals. Currently, Dr. Oswald is known for her widely read neurodiversity blog and her regular contributions to international media platforms as an authority on autism. A sought-after speaker and advocate, she has delivered presentations at numerous research conferences, autism-focused events, universities, community gatherings, and corporate settings, aiming to increase awareness of mental health issues faced by autistic adults.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Tasha Oswald is the founder and director of Neuro Affirm Institute and Open Doors Therapy. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Tasha Oswald has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Sean Inderbitzen, DSW, LCSW Related seminars and products

DBA Inderbitzen Consulting Services LLC

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Sean Inderbitzen, DSW, LCSW, an autistic psychotherapist and researcher through Mayo Clinic Health System. He regularly trains healthcare professionals to be more confident when working with people on the spectrum. He is coauthor, along with Stephen Porges, of Autism in Polyvagal Terms: New Possibilities and Interventions, part of W.W. Norton’s Interpersonal Neurobiology Series.
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Sean Inderbitzen has employment relationships with Northlakes Community Clinic and Inderbitzen Consulting Services, LLC. He receives royalties as a published author. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Sean Inderbitzen has a professional relationship with Dr. Stephen Porges, Barry Prizant, and Pat Ogden.

Jeffrey Guenzel, EdD, LPC Related seminars and products

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Jeffrey Guenzel, EdD, LPC, has been the CEO of ICDL since 2013. Before joining ICDL, Jeff held key leadership positions in state government and served as an executive director of a very successful not-for-profit. Jeff is a professional counselor that has been providing mental health and human development services for over 30 years. In his most recent appointments prior to joining ICDL, Jeff was the deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and previously served as the director of the New Jersey Division of Child Behavioral Health. In these positions, he led many innovative initiatives including restructuring the service delivery system for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Prior to his appointments with the State of New Jersey, Jeff was the inaugural executive director of a not-for-profit agency providing wraparound care management services for children and young adults with complex behavioral health challenges. Under his leadership, the agency became one of the largest wraparound agencies in the United States, gaining him national recognition.

Jeff has been invited to speak at conferences and to teach courses throughout the United States and in countries around the world. In addition to presenting at conferences and teaching courses on clinical practice, he has also provided technical assistance on leadership and program development to organizations, schools, and governmental entities.

As a professional counselor, Jeff has specialized in children and adolescents, but he also has much experience working with adults throughout the lifespan. He has worked as a clinician at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now Rutgers University) as well as in private practice. Jeff earned his BA degree in Psychology and his MA degree in Counseling from Montclair State University. Jeff is currently working towards his Doctor of Education (EdD).

Jeff has been legally blind or visually impaired for most of his life. In the 1980’s he competed nationally and internationally as a member of the USA Paralympic swim team.

Jeff provides a valuable combination of clinical knowledge and skill coupled with a proven track record of successful leadership. Underpinning this is a life-long commitment to serving others and promoting development for individuals, organizations, communities, and service delivery systems. Jeff has a deep appreciation for human diversity and has shown an unwavering commitment to creating a world where individual differences are embraced and everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jeffrey Guenzel has an employment relationship with the International Council on Development and Learning. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jeffrey Guenzel has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Jennifer Gerlach, LCSW Related seminars and products

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Jennifer Gerlach, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice in southern Illinois specializing in the crossroads of mental health, trauma and neurodiversity utilizing interventions informed by compassion-focused therapy, acceptance commitment therapy, EMDR and other traditions. Jennifer is the author of The Psychosis and Mental Health Recovery Workbook: Tools for Young Adults from ACT, DBT and Recovery-Oriented CBT and writes a blog for Psychology Today entitled ‘Beyond Mental Health: Defying Stereotypes and False Limitations.’

Jennifer has provided training to hundreds of clinicians nationwide on topics related to neurodiversity, mental health and healing trauma. She offers a unique perspective infused with her lived experience as an individual who has walked her own journey toward mental health and self-acceptance as an autistic person herself.

 

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Jennifer Gerlach maintains a private practice and receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jennifer Gerlach has no relevant non-financial relationships.

 

 

Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S™ Related seminars and products

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Dr. Robert Jason Grant is the creator of AutPlay® Therapy. He is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist, supervisor, and consultant. He utilizes several years of advanced training and his own lived neurodivergent experience to provide affirming services to children and their families. He is an international trainer and keynote presenter and multi-published author of several articles and books on the topics of child and play therapy and neurodiversity.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Robert Grant is the owner of AutPlay Therapy Clinic. He receives royalties as a published author. Robert Grant receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Robert Grant is a member of the American Counseling Association, the American Mental Health Counselors, the Association American Counseling, the Association of Missouri American Mental Health Counselors, and the Association of Missouri Association for Play Therapy.