Unmasking the Lives of Autistic Females: Developmental, Clinical, and Diagnostic Considerations
Unmasking the Lives of Autistic Females: Developmental, Clinical, and Diagnostic Considerations
Description of Webinar
This course provides an overview of autism in females throughout the life span. It will examine biological and neurological theories accounting for sex differences. The course will also explore clinical presentations of autism in females, including diagnostic markers, unique strengths, and common phenomena, such as masking and camouflaging. It will focus on barriers to timely and accurate identification, as well as consequences of getting a late diagnosis. It will discuss co-existing psychiatric and medical conditions as they relate to differential diagnosis and treatment directions. It will review the benefits of accurate diagnosis, with an emphasis on the perspectives of autistic people, their families, and the neurodiverse community. Finally, the course will explore diagnostic approaches for accurate assessment of autistic females, including recommendations for clinicians working with this population.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
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Describe the clinical presentation of autism in females, and why females have historically been misdiagnosed or overlooked.
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Explain how cultural and societal expectations contribute to compensatory mechanisms like masking, and how this impacts quality of life.
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Identify strategies to improve assessment and diagnostic accuracy for autistic females.
Registration Cost
USD $88
Discounts & Exclusions are not applicable
Number of CEs Offered
2.5
Webinar Date
April 17, 2024
Webinar Time
9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. PT
Instructional Level
Intermediate
Target Audience
School psychologists, clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs), licensed behavior analysts (LBAs), behavior specialists, counselors, teachers, special education teachers, speech–language pathologists (SLPs), and occupational therapists (OTs).
Webinar Completion Requirements
This webinar provides the opportunity to earn 2.5 live continuing education (CE) credits for full course attendance. Certificates of Completion equivalent to 2 and a half contact hours of professional CE credit will be provided upon satisfactory completion of webinar requirements. In order to receive the Certificate of Completion for the webinar, participants must be present for the entire course. They must also complete the Post-course Evaluation Survey at the end of the webinar. No partial credit will be awarded.
Special Needs Request
WPS will make accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require specific accommodations, please email prolearn@wpspublish.com prior to or at the time of course registration so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Presenter Bio(s)
Lindsey Sterling, PhD
A licensed clinical psychologist specializing in autism, Dr. Sterling is founder and director of The Sterling Institute for Autism. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychobiology from UCLA, and her master’s degree and PhD in child clinical psychology from the University of Washington (UW) Autism Center. At UW, while researching social and emotional processing among autistic adults, Dr. Sterling found that emotional symptoms frequently associated with ASD were often the most distressing aspects of life for autistic individuals. It became her passion to support autistic adolescents and adults struggling with these symptoms.
She completed her predoctoral clinical internship in developmental disabilities at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. As a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA, Dr. Sterling obtained NIH funding to study the physiology of anxiety and stress response in autistic youth. She pursued specialized training in cognitive behavioral therapy targeting anxiety in autistic youth.
Dr. Sterling then served on the clinical faculty in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and as a staff psychologist at the UCLA Child and Adult Neurodevelopmental Clinic. She became an interim assistant professor and director of the Autism Center at Claremont McKenna College, followed by three years as a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at California State University Long Beach. There, she directed a research laboratory investigating depression, anxiety, and quality of life among autistic college students.
Dr. Sterling left academia in 2018 to serve the autistic community more directly through clinical work, and founded The Sterling Institute for Autism in 2021. She has extensive experience conducting comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and providing therapy for autistic individuals.
In addition to her published peer-reviewed articles, Dr. Sterling has co-authored a 10-week group intervention to support autistic adults in developing dating and relationship skills and published a book on social skills for autistic teens. She speaks on topics such as neurodiversity, gender and sexuality among autistic people, autism in the workplace, comorbid psychiatric conditions in autistic teens and adults, the transition from adolescence to adulthood, and “twice exceptional” neurodivergent students.
Continuing Education Credit
APA Approved Sponsor
WPS is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. WPS maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
WPS is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer professional development for school psychologists. WPS maintains responsibility for the program. (NASP Approved Provider #1003)
The educational offerings available through WPS may qualify for continuing education credit as required by a variety of other national, state, and local licensing boards and professional organizations. If you need CE credit from an organization other than those listed, please contact your own board or organization to determine specific course and filing requirements.
Contact Us
prolearn@wpspublish.com or 800.648.8857