Do you or your child behave differently than others and suffer because of it? Therapy, workshop, diagnosis of ADHD

Therapeutic workshop for neurodiverse people/ developing for therapists

Perhaps the behaviours you have is ADHD, autism or some other form of reaction to trauma and you are not the problem?

We have prepared 12-week workshops for people with ADHD, autism, their loved ones, to help them cope with neurodiversity. These are also workshops for therapists. Online (depending on how many people gather). They are led by Marcin Szczurski (a PhD student of psychology, an integrative therapist, a psychotraumatologist specializing in the diagnosis and therapy of neurodevelopmental disorders, an art therapist who is himself affected by the autism spectrum and ADHD and knows how difficult these conditions are, even those that are missunderstood by diagnosticians or therapists) with the guest participation of a psychiatrist. The workshops focus on helping to learn and consolidate effective practical skills, but also provide a space for discussion on diagnostic and therapeutic doubts regarding neurodiversity. It is also a place to exchange experiences and get to know neurodiversity people.

According to our slogan:

"When ADHD controls my world - everything is out of place. When I have control over my ADHD, I can conquer the world."

Meetings agenda:

1. Introduction. Education about ADHD and autism spectrum: what are they? Everyday challenges - problems with planning, organization, concentration, putting off tasks, difficulties with controlling emotions, barriers in communication.

2. Medical and biological aspects: How does the brain of people with ADHD, autism or PTSD function and how does it differ from neurotypical people? Therapeutic strategies for working with your neuroadaptation. How do ADHD and spectrum medications work?

3. Difficulties with concentration: therapeutic methods to cope with it, including cognitive - behavioral methods, allowing for better: planning deadlines, appreciating, accepting and rewarding yourself, enforcing key tasks and distinguishing them from less important tasks.

4. Too much mobility and impulsivity: Therapeutic techniques that allow you to be more here and now (mindfullness), adjustment to physical activity.

5. Procrastination: How not to put off tasks for later?

6. Fast and slow thiking: working with automatic beliefs.

7. The inner critic and the impact of assessment on self-perception.

8. ADHD and autism superpowers: Creativity, action, spontaneity, precision

9. Emotion regulation and bodywork: ACT, DBT techniques.

10. Art and expression, relationships - how to understand yourself?

11. Summary workshop: work on a performance on the social understanding of neurodiversity?. Q&A with a therapist and doctor.

12. End of the workshop and summary.

PRICE: 1000 EURO for 12 sessions

START: We plan to start from November 2024, depending when full group would gather

WHEN?

Tuesdays - from November 2024

Hours: 20:15 – 22:15 CET Mondays online

What you can learn during workshop:

Conditions like autism/Asperger's spectrum, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodevelopmental disorders often arise from traumatic events and are referred to as neurodiversity. It describes differences in functioning that deviate from typical patterns of thinking, information processing, and behavior. This term refers to individuals whose brain develops or functions differently than the majority of the population. Neurodiversity is considered a natural variation of the human brain, not a pathological deviation. 

The brain undergoes significant changes due to the trauma we experience. It can be more than just a reaction to difficult experiences like participating in a war, being a victim of rape, or a serious accident like a car crash. When we experience difficult events as children, they often stay with us for a lifetime. It is harder for a child to cope with difficult emotions and experiences compared to an adult. Life experiences, environmental factors, genetically inherited sensitivity, or a mother's behavior/feelings during pregnancy determine how a person will perceive threat/danger, even when potentially safe. For a particular person, losing a hamster in childhood may be more traumatic than losing a few friends in adulthood.

Recent researches shows that conditions like ADHD, Asperger's spectrum, and dyslexia are not just neurodevelopmental disorders for children, as previously thought. It is not just a constant need for physical activity but mainly a post-traumatic reaction to emotionally difficult events, often during childhood, of a particular person. It is a consequence and/or neurobiological adaptation of the brain to deal with such difficult event. Often more symptoms of such a post-traumatic event and brain neuro-adaptation manifest in adulthood although child did not cause any problems.

Impulsivity, interrupting others, changing topics during a conversation, excessive talking/information flooding, overly honest expression of feelings/thoughts, high expectations of oneself/self-esteem issues, procrastination, intense emotional experiences, constant need to do something, susceptibility to addictions, self-doubt, tension in the body, strong stress reactions, constant need to do what one enjoys, need for new experiences and stimuli, difficulty in routine tasks, changes in perceived energy, concentration problems/forgetfulness/losing things, difficulty in waiting for something, intense thoughts, desire for spontaneous adventures, sensitivity to rejection - these are primarily symptoms of modern ADHD in both children and adolescents. It is not surprising that this disorder greatly hinders daily functioning and interpersonal relationships.

ADHD often coexists with other disorders: Asperger's autism spectrum, depression, dissociative states, anxiety, C-PTSD, or similar conditions. 

Why diagnose ADHD or have therapy for it at all?

One of our patients felt immense relief when he learned that it was not him that was the problem, but his disorder and trauma often determined his behaviors... Furthermore, when he started behavioral therapy, he managed to change his behavior through exercises: reducing expectations, increasing motivation and self-esteem, controlling impulses, setting priorities, or balancing stress.

"For over a dozen years, I was treated for various disorders - doctors diagnosed me with bipolar affective disorder, personality disorders, or even schizophrenia. I didn't know what was wrong with me, I got lost in diagnosis. The treatment didn't work, I felt even worse... When I heard the ADHD diagnosis and started taking the right medication... all the symptoms no longer had such an impact on my life... Why did I have to wait so many years for the correct diagnosis?" says Arek, 34 years old. 

"5 stars are not enough! After 10 years of misdiagnoses, Mr. Marcin helped me to find out I have ADHD and continues to help me and with each visit I leave stronger and more aware of myself. If someone is hesitating who to make an appointment with, they don't have to look any further. Empathetic, committed, I trusted him at first sight and this is my 4th attempt at a psychotherapist and I'm sticking with it. I feel like going to a therapy session and I don't treat it as a necessity. I have regained my strength and my loved ones can see it. I feel that I am in good hands and Mr. Marcin really has a lot of knowledge and is a specialist with empathy, he doesn't treat the patient as an individual, but as a person who feels and suffers, and whom Mr. Marcin wants to help." mentions Ania

The diagnosis of ADHD/various forms of neurodiversity consists of several stages:

1. Clinical interview, during which the specialist asks appropriate questions about the symptoms and current behavioral functioning of the patient, as well as the problems that arise in daily life;

2. Doing Diva-5 test and/or MOXO neuropsychological test, based on the international classification of disorders and diseases;

3. Eventually doing MMPI-2 test to exclude/confirm other co-occurring disorders such as PTSD/dissociation, etc.;

4. Eventually doing Amen's test, which determines what type of ADHD/ADD you may have, to better understand the nature of your disorder - where it comes from, what specification it has;

5. Receiving a set of behavioral tasks that you can perform daily to improve your daily functioning by controlling symptoms, impulses, etc.;

6. Possibly contacting a psychiatrist to select the appropriate pharmacotherapy;

7. Choosing the appropriate psychotherapy to learn to function emotionally with this type of neuro-adaptation/disorder.

We are probably the only ones in Poland who perform Amena tests that will help better understand your individual type of ADHD - most centers usually perform the Diva-5 and MOXO tests.