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Untangling ADHD and Developmental Trauma | Supporting Students in Schools

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.

 

Untangling ADHD and Developmental Trauma: How to Differentiate and Support Students in Schools

Audrey Grunst
Presented By:
Audrey Grunst, LCSW
11:00-12:00p.m. CST

Topics Covered:

  • Describe the overlapping symptoms of ADHD and Developmental Trauma Disorder (e.g., hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity) and why misdiagnosis is common in school settings.
  • Identify key differentiators between ADHD and DTD, including relational history, emotional dysregulation, and attachment-based disruptions, to inform appropriate interventions.
  • Develop trauma-informed strategies and classroom supports that address the unique needs of students with DTD while still supporting those with ADHD.

Video: Watch the Presentation

About the Speaker

Presented by:Audrey Grunst, LCSW

Audrey Grunst is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, keynote speaker, and mental health advocate dedicated to helping individuals, families, and organizations thrive. With a unique background that combines clinical expertise and leadership coaching, Audrey specializes in supporting adolescents and young adults navigating challenges such as ADHD, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions.

She is the founder of Simply Bee, a counseling and wellness practice, where her team provides therapy, workshops, and educational programming for schools and communities. Audrey is widely recognized for her ability to translate complex psychological concepts into practical, real-life strategies that empower both students and educators.

A trusted voice in the mental health field, Audrey has been featured on numerous platforms and regularly partners with schools, businesses, and athletic programs to build resilience, improve communication, and promote emotional well-being. Her compassionate, strengths-based approach helps people untangle life’s challenges and move forward with confidence.

Audrey Grunst

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.

-Our Research Team-
Timothy D. Brewerton, MD, DLFAPA, FAED, DFAACAP, CEDS-S
Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Christopher Womack
Medical Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Dr. Christopher Womack joins SunCloud as our Medical Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dr. Womack is board certified in Adult as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, attending the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Adult psychiatry residency and child fellowship training were completed at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Dr. Womack’s treatment  philosophy hinges on strength based, evidence informed care, where collaboration is central to guiding individualized treatment.  He has experience caring for children and teens from varied backgrounds, appreciating the importance of how identity can inform treatment.

Favorite pastimes are cooking new recipes and exploring Chicago’s rich cultural diversity through its neighborhood and fine dining experiences.

Elizabeth E. Sita, MD
Medical Director of Adult Services

Dr. Elizabeth E. Sita, MD, is a Board Certified psychiatrist specializing in the care of patients with eating disorders. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Chicago and graduated with Highest Honors. She then earned her medical degree at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and was recognized with the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Psychiatry. She subsequently completed residency with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, where she was elected Chief Resident and received the Resident Psychiatrist Leadership & Service Award.

Upon completing her training, Dr. Sita joined the staff atAscension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital Hospital, where she served as Assistant Medical Director of the Center for Eating Disorders and Director of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Services before transitioning to lead the new inpatient eating disorder unit as Medical Director of Eating Disorder Services at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital – Chicago. In these roles, she has cared for a multitude of adolescents and adults struggling with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other eating disorders as well as severe, cooccurring mood, trauma, personality, and substance use disorders.

Dr. Sita has been recognized throughout her training and practice for a commitment to excellence in patient care and for her ability to engage patients in their most challenging moments. Her passions include the care of treatment-resistant eating and mood disorders as well as questions of medical capacity and end-of-life decision making.

She believes that, first and foremost, human connection is key to mental health and well-being and strives to share this philosophy in each and every patient encounter. She is excited to bring her expertise to SunCloud Health as the Medical Director of Adult Services!

VIDEO: Meet Elizabeth E. Sita, MD, Medical Director of Adult Services

Lacey Lemke, PsyD
Assistant Vice President of Clinical Services

Dr. Lacey Lemke (she/her) is a licensed clinical health psychologist with specialized expertise in the treatment of eating disorders and the practice of medical and health psychology. She completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology with a Primary Care emphasis at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Lemke went on to complete both her predoctoral clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship through Ascension Health, where she gained advanced training working with individuals experiencing eating disorders and self-injurious behaviors, as well as within pediatric subspecialty settings including endocrinology, neurology, and adolescent medicine.

Dr. Lemke is deeply committed to providing evidence-based, compassionate care and collaborates closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive treatment. Her professional mission is to support patients in achieving their fullest potential by guiding them to the most appropriate level of care and empowering them to make meaningful, sustainable progress toward improved health and well-being.

VIDEO: 2. Meet Lacey Lemke, PsyD.

https://youtu.be/iKQeU9s5U2k?rel=o