Conceptualizing a Masking Prevention Approach for Autistic Clients: Strategies to Support Mental Health and Authenticity
- Speakers:
- Jeffrey Guenzel, EdD, LPC | Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S™
- Duration:
- 2 Hours 1 Minute
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
May 08, 2025
- Product Code:
- POS150222
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
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™, 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.
Credit
Handouts/Brochure
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual - Conceptualizing a Masking Prevention Approach to Autistic Clients (2.8 MB) | 29 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| ASHA Instructions - Self Study (111.9 KB) | Available after Purchase |
Speaker
Jeffrey Guenzel, EdD, LPC Related seminars and products
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.
Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S™ Related seminars and products
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.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)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.
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Objectives
- Analyze masking as a survival skill by examining its impact within minority and equity-seeking groups, including considerations of intersectionality and cultural factors.
- Demonstrate the implementation of mental health interventions that address the negative impacts of masking on autistic children, including strategies to reduce anxiety, depression, and burnout.
- Develop and apply specific strategies to prevent masking in clinical and educational settings, promoting authenticity and emotional well-being.
Outline
Understanding Masking- Origins and purpose in neurodivergent individuals
- Negative impacts (burnout, mental health challenges)
- Adaptive components (temporary coping mechanisms)
- Masking’s role in the development of coping strategies and its connection to social survival
- How masking functions as a survival strategy in minority and equity-seeking groups
- Intersectionality and cultural influences on masking behaviors
- Psychological toll and societal pressures that contribute to masking in diverse populations
- Mental health consequences of masking, including anxiety, depression, and burnout
- Evidence-based interventions to mitigate these impacts
- Techniques to foster emotional safety, self-acceptance, and resilience in autistic children
Target Audience
- Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- Physicians
- Occupational Therapists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Teachers/School-Based Personnel
- School Administrators
- Physical Therapists
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