TRAINING 101: Fundamentals of Working with Neurodiverse Couples in Therapy

Learn to Recognize, Understand and Treat Neurodiverse Partners

The Neurodiverse Couples Institute offers online courses for couples/partners and therapists/coaches who work with Neurodiverse couples/partners together or individually.

Therapists or coaches who work with partners together or separately can expand both their skillset and their client base with Training 101, an innovative course that teaches you to recognize, understand and effectively treat one or both partners in a neurodiverse relationship. The demand for and importance of specialized knowledge has been substantiated by AANE surveys.

* Earn up to 10 ASWB ACE CE Credits 

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Questions about TRAINING 101?

Neurodiverse Couples Institute

About the Neurodiverse Couples Institute

AANE has gathered over 780 responses to a survey of partners in neurodiverse relationships and has found:
  • *93% of partners said that working with a therapist who has training to work with neurodiverse couples is important or very important. 
  • *47% of survey respondents reported that having a therapist that lacked this specialized training was harmful or very harmful. 

*Source:  AANE Neurodiverse Couples Survey, 2018 – 2023

Fortunately, AANE’s online training for therapists and coaches can meet the overwhelming demand for specialized training.

With first-hand perspectives from Neurodiverse partners and an on-going support network of professionals, AANE’s courses help ensure that professionals are trained and prepared to assist their Neurodiverse clients in the best way possible.

This online, 10 hour, self-paced course is a comprehensive training featuring: 

  • expert lectures
  • video interviews with neurodiverse couples
  • skill-building tools
  • downloadable resources
  • a case study with online discussion review questions
  • and more

Video interviews with neurodiverse couples provide real-world insight

Many couples realize that they are in a neurodiverse relationship decades into their relationship after reading a book or watching a movie that includes an Autistic character that one or both of them can relate to. This realization might lead them to ask how neurodiversity impacts an intimate relationship and each person in it. Recognizing neurodiversity is only the beginning of a couple’s journey.  

The couples profiled in course videos love each other and work hard to understand and accept their differences.

Pete—a physician, and Ann, a nurse, who work together—were married for many years before they discovered that they were a neurodiverse couple. Once they recognized that Pete is Autistic, they were determined to learn more about how neurodiversity affects their relationship and interactions. 

Ann & Pete

Downloadable PDFs

The course provides over 10 downloadable PDFs for you to keep with insightful articles and personal stories from couples like you. Topics include advice on interacting effectively as a couple, traits, disclosure, perspectives from partners, special interests, and how couples came to the realization they were neurodiverse.

 “Very informative! I enjoyed watching the different couples as well.” – R.M. in Massachusetts

Benefits of Training 101:

  • Shift your lens to recognize neurodiversity in one or both partners and how to identify specific Autistic traits contributing to a couple’s issues.
  • Understand the impact of neurodiversity not only on a relationship but on your treatment approach and your practice, so you can adjust and accommodate. 
  • Effectively treat individuals or partners in neurodiverse relationships through skill-building and creative problem-solving to help them improve their communication and enhance their emotional connection.

Like many neurodiverse couples, Liz and Lisa figured out that they are neurodiverse decades into their relationship, from a podcast, a book, or a movie about an Autistic character. But recognizing neurodiversity is just the beginning … then what? How does neurodiversity impact an intimate relationship? What is the effect on the couple together and on each partner separately?

Liz and Lisa

“I thoroughly enjoyed the course and think it covers a lot of really great material. The downloadable PDFs are an incredible wealth of information.”

— Leslie Sickels, LCSW

TRAINING 101 includes:

  • 90-day access from registration date to complete our 10 hour comprehensive, self-paced online training course
  • Intimate interviews with 10 neurodiverse couples
  • In depth lectures and panel discussions from experts in the field of neurodiverse couples therapy
  • Case study with online discussion
  • Downloadable tools, tips, and resources for you to keep
  • Training 101 Certificate of Completion (with 80% or better score on Final Test)
  • Inclusion in AANE’s Neurology Matters Online Community of those who register for this course
  • Expert lectures

Note on language use: This course was developed at the time AANE used the terms “Asperger/Autism Profile to describe the community we serve. Language use around autism has evolved and the organization now identifies those in the “autism” community as our constituents. We want to recognize people’s freedom to choose the language they use to identify or describe themselves.

TRAINING 101 Course Outline

TRAINING 101: Instructor Bios

TRAINING 101: Learning Objectives

TRAINING 101 Continuing Education Credits

Earn 10 ASWB ACE approved CE credits for TRAINING 101

ASWB ACE Approved CE credits

Licensed Clinical Social Workers can earn 10 Continuing Education (CE) credits for Training 101: Fundamentals of Working with Neurodiverse Couples in Therapy

ACE Approval Statement: The Neurodiverse Couples Institute, #1705, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The Peter M. Friedman Neurodiverse Couples Institute maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 2/27/2023-2/27/2026.  Social workers participating in this course will receive 10 continuing education credits.

ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS are recognized for Licensed Clinical Social Workers in most US states and Canadian provinces. We recommend you check to see if your jurisdiction is listed before purchasing the class: https://www.aswb.org/ace/ace-jurisdiction-map/

How to apply for 10 ASWB ACE APPROVED CE credits for TRAINING 101:

Successfully complete the TRAINING 101 course. Successful completion is a score of 80% or better on each section of the TRAINING 101 Final Test. 

Upon successful completion, you can generate AANE’s Certificate of Completion for TRAINING 101. Keep this Certificate, because you will need it when applying for the CE credits. 

Complete the ASWB Course Evaluation Survey from the link in your ADD-ON 10 ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS course welcome email. Keep a copy of your Survey responses.

Apply for the 10 ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS through AANE by emailing your completed ASWB Course Evaluation Survey and your TRAINING 101 Certificate of Completion to [email protected], with the subject line: Applying for 10 ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS for TRAINING 101. 

You will receive your CE credit certificate for 10 ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS from AANE via email within 2-3 weeks.

If you have any questions about ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS, email [email protected].

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