Learning Differences: Clinical Considerations Through 3 Lenses

Cosponsored by the Alumni Committee and the Dean's Series

Description: People with learning differences often experience much trauma and shame in many areas of their lives. They frequently benefit from special education services and additional support for their learning differences. Three clinicians describe their perspectives and practice issues in working with clients with LD, focusing on the whole person.

In this presentation, the three clinicians discuss their work through their individual lenses—as an educational therapist, as a clinician working with adults with the diagnosis of LD, and as a clinician specializing in the treatment of trauma in children and adults. Their discussions emphasize the value of integrated, collaborative work in treatments that are unfortunately, often splintered and uncoordinated, to the detriment of the client and clinician.

Learning goals:

• Recognize and address the needs and challenges of individuals with learning differences
• Identify the traumatic impact that the typical learning environment can have on these individuals
• Support the growth of resilience in these clients through the integrated therapeutic process

Presenters: 

Henry E. Davis, M.Ed. received his training at the University of Southern California, Loyola and Northwestern University.  He has a private practice in Chicago, working with students with learning differences, particularly in the area of math, and the related emotional consequences. He is a long-standing member of the Association of Educational Therapists He was a school psychologist in Elgin, Illinois and a Founding faculty member of Wolcott College Prep in Chicago, a school specializing in working with students with learning differences

Freda B Friedman, PhD, LCSW, is a graduate of Columbia University and the PhD program at ICSW.  She has been a member of the ICSW faculty and is Chair Emerita of the Board of Trustees.  She has private practice in Chicago in which she works with adults, couples and families, often around issues of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.  She has presented at conferences and taught in workshops and classes on a variety of topics, including the traumatic consequences of challenging life experiences.

Myrna Orenstein, PhD., LCSW is a graduate of The University of Chicago and the PhD program at ICSW.  She has specialized in the treatment of and work with adults with various types of learning difficulties and challenges.  She is the author of Smart But Stuck, Resilience with Learning Disabilities which has been translated into several languages and is now in its 3^rd edition.  She is an allied professional with the Association of Educational Therapists.  She has presented at conferences and conducted workshops and classes on resilience and on the emotional consequences of learning differences in adults.

Thursday, March 26, 2026

Via Zoom

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm CST

Cost: $30 General Public/$20 ICSW Community - 1.5 CEs/ Free - No CEs

**1.5 CEs are available for licensed social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists and psychologists in Illinois