Reading Between the Lines: Supporting Subtle Dysregulation in Neurodivergent Children

A Part of SunCloud's Continuing Education Series of Events
The Role of Safety Behaviors in Maintaining Mental Health Conditions Presented by: Patrick McGrath, PhD | NOCD May 24th, 2024 Child and Adolescent Professional Development Series

Topics Covered: 

  • Identifying the role that safety behaviors play in the maintenance of Mental Health Conditions.  
  • Challenging the use of safety behaviors in patients and their families.  
  • Utilizing Exposure and Response Prevention techniques that challenge safety-seeking behaviors in order to move patients forward. 
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Watch the Presentation

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About the Speaker

[one_third][/one_third] [two_third_last] Presented by: Patrick McGrath, PhD | NOCD
Dr. Patrick B. McGrath serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for NOCD, where he oversees the company’s clinical protocols and team of OCD specialists. As the world’s leading provider of virtual therapy for OCD, NOCD offers evidenced-based treatment for adults and children around the world struggling with OCD and related conditions, with a network of licensed therapists who are trained, led, and supervised by Dr. McGrath. He is also a Lead Psychologist at Ascension Illinois Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, where he opened Intensive Outpatient, Partial Hospital, and Residential Treatment Programs for Anxiety Disorders, School Refusal, and OCD.
Dr. McGrath is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of OCD treatment experience. He is a member of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Boards of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), a Fellow of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the Past President of OCD Midwest, an affiliate of the IOCDF. He authored the books “Don’t Try Harder, Try Different,” and “The OCD Answer Book” and was featured on the Discovery Health Channel’s documentary “Panic” and on three episodes of “Hoarding; Buried Alive” on TLC.
[/two_third_last] [/colorsection]   Joint Accreditation Statement

Joint Accreditation Statement: In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Galen Mental Health.  Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Amedco Joint Accreditation #4008163.

 

Reading Between the Lines: Supporting Subtle Dysregulation in Neurodivergent Children

Katrina Gainly
Presented By:
Katrina Gainey, MSW, LCSW
April 17, 2026

Child and Adolescent Professional Development Series

Topics Covered:

  • Detect early behavioral, physiological, and cognitive cues that signal emerging dysregulation.
  • Utilize real-time interventions to co-regulate and support self-regulation in therapy or school settings.
  • Integrate diversity-informed strategies that respect cultural, racial, and environmental contexts when supporting neurodivergent children.

Video: Watch the Presentation

Presented by:Katrina Gainey, MSW, LCSW

Katrina Gainey, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience supporting children, adolescents, and families navigating complex emotional and behavioral challenges. Her clinical work focuses on trauma-informed care, neurodevelopmental differences, and helping young clients build practical skills for emotional regulation and resilience.

Katrina is particularly passionate about recognizing the subtle, often overlooked signs of dysregulation in neurodivergent children. She integrates real-time, relationship-based interventions with culturally responsive practices to support both co-regulation and long-term self-regulation across therapeutic and school settings.

In her presentation, “Reading Between the Lines: Supporting Subtle Dysregulation in Neurodivergent Children,” Katrina shares actionable strategies for identifying early behavioral, physiological, and cognitive cues—empowering professionals to intervene earlier, more effectively, and with greater sensitivity to each child’s unique context.

Katrina Gainly

Joint Accreditation Statement:

Joint Accreditation Statement: In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Galen Mental Health.  Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Amedco Joint Accreditation #4008163.