About This Event
Couples that include a romantic partner with Autism, ADHD, or AuDHD are more likely to seek therapy support. Neurodivergence adds complexity to relationship dynamics, making certain styles of interaction and interpersonal challenges more likely. This can leave the therapist feeling as stuck as their clients — unless they've received good neurodiversity training. This theory-based and strategy-loaded presentation by two expert clinicians offers individual and couple therapists guiding principles for successfully working with neurodiverse couples.
What You’ll Learn:
Brain-Informed Care (BIC)
You will learn a framework for providing therapy that is grounded in how different brains function, rather than relying on assumptions about motivation, intention, or “normal” behavior.
The Physiological Awareness Scale
You will be introduced to a structured method for helping couples recognize what is happening in their nervous systems during conflict, improving self-regulation, communication, and emotional safety.
How Neurodivergence Changes Relationship Patterns
You will gain clarity on how autism, ADHD, and AuDHD influence communication styles, emotional expression, sensory needs, and conflict cycles, and why traditional couples therapy approaches often fall short.
ADHD and Division of Labor
You will learn how ADHD can intensify common struggles around chores, time management, and responsibility, and how therapists can help couples renegotiate roles in more realistic and compassionate ways.
Reframing Couples as a Team
You will learn strategies for helping partners shift from blame-based dynamics to collaborative problem-solving, focusing on patterns and systems rather than personal fault.
Kelli Murgado-Willard, M.A. LMFT Kelli is a Gifted ADHDer with sensory processing differences and Autistic traits. She was an enthusiastic relationship counselor in the therapy room for many years.
Now a mother of two neurodivergent children, her focus has shifted away from working directly with clients and instead towards training the next generation of pro-neurodiversity professionals. Kelli holds a M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy from Richmont Graduate University with a specialization in Christian Sex Therapy. She is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (AAMFT) and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of Georgia. Her text Neurodiverse Couple Therapy: A Practical Guide to Brain-Informed Care is recognized worldwide.
Ari Tuckman, PsyD is a psychologist, international presenter, author, and ADHD thought leader. He has given more than 800 presentations and podcast interviews and routinely earns excellent reviews for his ability to make complicated information understandable and useful. Over the course of twenty-five years of private practice, he has done more than 40,000 client hours, specializing in ADHD in teens, adults, families, and couples. He is the author of five books, including his newest, The ADHD Productivity Manual. An active volunteer, he is a co-chair of CHADD’s conference committee and was awarded the 2023 Hall of Fame award for his significant contributions to the field. A popular expert and advocate, he has been widely quoted in national media such as The New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, and Boston Globe, and serves as an expert for Understood.org. He is in private practice in West Chester, PA.
- General Admission: $115
- ICP Community: $95
- Current ICP Therapist: $60
- Current ICP Candidate or Graduate/Undergraduate Student: $35
About This Event
Couples that include a romantic partner with Autism, ADHD, or AuDHD are more likely to seek therapy support. Neurodivergence adds complexity to relationship dynamics, making certain styles of interaction and interpersonal challenges more likely. This can leave the therapist feeling as stuck as their clients — unless they've received good neurodiversity training. This theory-based and strategy-loaded presentation by two expert clinicians offers individual and couple therapists guiding principles for successfully working with neurodiverse couples.
What You’ll Learn:
Brain-Informed Care (BIC)
You will learn a framework for providing therapy that is grounded in how different brains function, rather than relying on assumptions about motivation, intention, or “normal” behavior.
The Physiological Awareness Scale
You will be introduced to a structured method for helping couples recognize what is happening in their nervous systems during conflict, improving self-regulation, communication, and emotional safety.
How Neurodivergence Changes Relationship Patterns
You will gain clarity on how autism, ADHD, and AuDHD influence communication styles, emotional expression, sensory needs, and conflict cycles, and why traditional couples therapy approaches often fall short.
ADHD and Division of Labor
You will learn how ADHD can intensify common struggles around chores, time management, and responsibility, and how therapists can help couples renegotiate roles in more realistic and compassionate ways.
Reframing Couples as a Team
You will learn strategies for helping partners shift from blame-based dynamics to collaborative problem-solving, focusing on patterns and systems rather than personal fault.
Kelli Murgado-Willard, M.A. LMFT Kelli is a Gifted ADHDer with sensory processing differences and Autistic traits. She was an enthusiastic relationship counselor in the therapy room for many years.
Now a mother of two neurodivergent children, her focus has shifted away from working directly with clients and instead towards training the next generation of pro-neurodiversity professionals. Kelli holds a M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy from Richmont Graduate University with a specialization in Christian Sex Therapy. She is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (AAMFT) and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of Georgia. Her text Neurodiverse Couple Therapy: A Practical Guide to Brain-Informed Care is recognized worldwide.
Ari Tuckman, PsyD is a psychologist, international presenter, author, and ADHD thought leader. He has given more than 800 presentations and podcast interviews and routinely earns excellent reviews for his ability to make complicated information understandable and useful. Over the course of twenty-five years of private practice, he has done more than 40,000 client hours, specializing in ADHD in teens, adults, families, and couples. He is the author of five books, including his newest, The ADHD Productivity Manual. An active volunteer, he is a co-chair of CHADD’s conference committee and was awarded the 2023 Hall of Fame award for his significant contributions to the field. A popular expert and advocate, he has been widely quoted in national media such as The New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, and Boston Globe, and serves as an expert for Understood.org. He is in private practice in West Chester, PA.
- General Admission: $115
- ICP Community: $95
- Current ICP Therapist: $60
- Current ICP Candidate or Graduate/Undergraduate Student: $35