Neurodiversity-Affirming Treatment and Support in Forensic Disability

There is an overrepresentation of neurodivergence, especially autistic and ADHDer consumers, in the criminal justice system (CJS).The interaction between CJS and neurodivergence has been fraught with challenges, with few existing supports to meet the needs of this client group appropriately. Generally, mental health, allied health professionals and support staff have limited training in working with this client group in a more neuroaffirming way. This can result in inaccurate formulations, inappropriate or invalidating treatment and support, or over- or under-estimating risks.

This half day introductory workshop will present a neurodiversity-affirming approach to treating and supporting neurodivergent clients and improving their outcomes. This requires shifting how we view consumers' presentations, engagement, and intervention goals.

Learning Objectives for the course:

1.Improve participants' knowledge, skill and confidence in assessing and treating autistic and/or ADHD consumers within forensic settings.

2.Provide participants with the opportunity to explore dialectical dilemmas that arise when working with Autistic/ADHD consumers, to understand the double empathy problem, and to reflect on their own cognitive biases and attitudes.

3.Deepen participants' understanding and appreciation of the strengths and limitations of existing models in working with neurodivergent offenders in the community and forensic settings.

4.Introduce core concepts for neurodiversity-affirming practice, and explore the utility of neurodiversity-affirming practice in forensic settings.

5.Reflect upon clinical, ethical and legal issues in working with Autistic and/or ADHDer consumers in the forensic setting.

Course Content and Format :

This half-day training workshop introduces the concept of neurodiversity-affirming practice in the forensic disability context. It will involve a more interactive approach, including didactics, group discussions on case vignettes, and reflection on concepts and skills learnt in the session. This session will provide practical skills to staff working with and supporting neurodivergent clients.

Target Audience :

Mental health, allied health, and support staff who provide treatment and support to ASD and ADHD consumers.

Bio of the Presenter:

Dr Joseph Allan Sakdalan

BSc, MA (CounsPsych), MSc(ForPsych), MPH, MD, PhD (ClinPsych), PGDipNeuroPsych

Dr Sakdalan is a clinical psychologist, counselling psychologist, and clinical neuropsychologist in Australia and New Zealand with over 25 years of clinical experience conducting assessments and treating complex clients with mental health problems, complex trauma, neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive disorders, personality disorders, and offending behaviours in forensic mental health and disability settings. Dr Sakdalan is a Principal Psychologist for Court Reports at theVictorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare) and a Senior Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor in Clinical Psychology at the Cairnmillar Institute in Victoria, Australia.

Dr Sakdalan has pioneered the adaptation of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for clients with intellectual disabilities, sexual and violent offenders, and neurodivergent clients. He has developed a suite of innovative offence-related and offence-specific treatment programs (e.g. sexual offending, family violence, general offending, treatment readiness, substance abuse, violent offending, etc.) implemented in forensic and correctional services locally and internationally. Dr Sakdalan has provided training on utilising a neurodiversity-affirming approach to assessing and treating autistic and ADHD clients with co-occurring conditions in community and forensic settings. He has presented at numerous international conferences and published peer-reviewed journal articles in his specialty areas. Dr Sakdalan is passionate about teaching and mentoring psychologists and other mental health professionals to develop their skills in assessing and treating clients with complex presentations

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Host or Publisher Australasian Association of Forensic Disability Incorporated