Hidden in Plain Sight: Identifying Undiagnosed ADHD in Adolescents and Adults

Description

This course does not offer CE Credits. The same course is available for purchase and offers 1.5 CE hours for behavioral health clinicians.  See "related products" below.

Far too many adolescents and adults live with undiagnosed ADHD, which remains masked by trauma, misinterpreted as mood disorders, or hidden behind high-functioning success and cultural expectations. This often leads to years of ineffective treatment and unnecessary suffering for clinicians and clients alike, making the ability to "see the invisible" a vital clinical skill.

This course provides the specialized lens needed to sharpen your clinical eye and recognize ADHD in its less obvious, internalized forms. You are invited to explore the nuanced presentations of neurodivergence and gain the strategies necessary to bring clarity, effective care, and profound relief to clients who have been overlooked for far too long.

Crystal Hooper, M.A., LPC-S, NCC, is a TBRI® Practitioner and trauma recovery expert with over 15 years of experience. As the author of Mom, What is ADHD?, she specializes in untangling the overlap between complex trauma and neurodivergence while using stigma-free language to communicate clinical findings to families.

Her approach combines evidence-based practices with real-world case illustrations to move clinicians from theory to practical application. Through a "day-in-the-life" framework, she explores how ADHD symptoms impact relationship dynamics, household stability, and workplace performance.

Topics include differentiating ADHD from trauma, anxiety, and depression; masking through perfectionism; and internalized hyperactivity as mental restlessness. The course examines cultural and gender norms, genetic overlaps with ASD and bipolar disorder, and themes such as the link between caffeine and "adrenaline rushes," executive dysfunction during menopause, and the ethics of master’s level diagnosis.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify masked presentations: Recognize how ADHD symptoms are hidden behind high-functioning overachievement, perfectionism, or "mimicking" behaviors that lead to chronic burnout.
• Differentiate overlapping conditions: Apply specific probing questions to distinguish between anxiety-based worry and ADHD-based racing thoughts, and identify how trauma responses like hypervigilance resemble inattention.
• Implement immediate clinical tools: Utilize practical strategies including visual schedules, "window of tolerance" scaling, and specific family history questions to build more comprehensive psychosocial assessments.

Why this course?

• Authority on comorbid trauma: Learn from an instructor with specialized TBRI training who can untangle the "blurred" lines between trauma and neurodivergence to prevent misdiagnosis.
• Focus on relational healing: Gain insight into how ADHD psychoeducation can immediately reduce marital tension and replace "chronic criticism" with empathy and shared responsibility.
• Highly practical resources: Move beyond the DSM with tangible tools you can provide to clients, ranging from organizational budget books to social skills modeling for emotional regulation.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the core signs and symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) that may be masked or misinterpreted due to co-occurring disorders, trauma histories, cultural expectations, or life circumstances.
• Identify the core signs and symptoms of ADHD across inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined presentations.
• Develop strategies to communicate ADHD findings to clients and families in ways that reduce stigma and promote engagement with treatment.
• Recognize the impact of cultural and gender norms on ADHD diagnosis and understand how these factors contribute to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis.

In the end, a client's story of perceived laziness or irresponsibility can be transformed into a narrative of neurodivergent resilience and growth.

We invite you to enroll now in this training to strengthen your practice with the tools and stigma-free language that truly make a difference for families in crisis.

Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 1.5 hours of video instruction and a course evaluation. 

Course Details

Availability: 

From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: 

This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: 

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to Attend: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Crystal Hooper, M.A., LPC-S, NCC

Crystal Hooper is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, TBRI® Practitioner, and founder of Crystal Clear Counseling & Consulting, based in Louisiana. With over 15 years of experience in mental health, education, family systems, and trauma recovery, she is passionate about helping individuals and communities heal, reconnect, and thrive.

Crystal is known for her ability to deliver clinical insight with compassion and clarity, often speaking on topics such as restorative practices, relationship repair, parenting, women’s empowerment, conflict resolution, and work-life balance. She is also a published author of “Mom, What is ADHD?” and the anthology co-author of “Surviving the Stretch”.

Through dynamic keynotes, training, and workshops, Crystal combines evidence-based practices with lived experience to inspire change and promote wellness in schools, churches, and community organizations. She is a mother, mentor, and mental health advocate committed to creating spaces where truth, transformation, and healing can happen.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course does not offer continuing education hours of credit.  See "related courses" below for the version that offers 1.5 CEs.

This course is a non-interactive, online self-study.

Participants may request a printed version of their certificate of completion to be delivered by mail. A shipping/handling fee of $6.95 will be charged per request. Shipping internationally may require an additional charge.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement