Overview

Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is the experience of intense, pervasive, and long-lasting distress in response to perceived or actual rejection. For ADHDers, rejection sensitivity is a common and often misunderstood feature of their experience that in therapeutic settings can be mistaken for mood instability, anxiety, or interpersonal difficulties. Unwanted outcomes can include relationship breakdowns, unemployment, loneliness, manipulation and ongoing abuse.

In this workshop, presented by Jennifer Kemp, an Autistic ADHDer clinical psychologist, you will explore the neurobiological and developmental origins of rejection sensitivity in ADHD and the factors that maintain this pattern. You will gain a deeper understanding of why ADHDers are vulnerable to rejection sensitivity, learn how to address these complex emotions, help clients make sense of their experiences, and develop the skills to support safe and supportive relationships that foster lasting emotional well-being and belonging.

The workshop will last 90 minutes, including time for self-reflection and discussion, with an extra 20 minutes at the end for questions.

What You Will Learn

• How to recognise when rejection sensitivity is driving your client's intense emotional distress
• The neurological, developmental, and interpersonal factors that contribute to rejection sensitivity in ADHD, including emotional dysregulation, masking, alexithymia, and interoceptive differences
• How to support clients who are stuck in the pain of rejection to navigate and alleviate complex emotions
• Practical pathways to self-compassion in response to confusion, shame, loss, and regret

Learning Outcomes

On completing this workshop, you will be better able to:

• Explain the neurological and developmental factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of rejection sensitivity in ADHDers.
• Identify when rejection sensitivity is underlying a client's emotional distress and differentiate this from other presentations.
• Apply therapeutic strategies that support ADHDers to manage rejection sensitivity, cultivate self-compassion, and build interpersonal safety.

Presenter(s)

Ms. Jennifer Kemp

About the presenter(s)

Jennifer Kemp is a Clinical Psychologist based in Adelaide who balances private practice with research, writing, presenting, and providing supervision. In her private practice, Jennifer applies neurodiversity-affirming principles to help her clients improve their mental health, develop self-compassion skills and move towards self-acceptance. Jennifer is co-author of “The Neurodivergent Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self- Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate” and author of “The ACT Workbook for Perfectionism: Build Your Best (Imperfect) Life Using Powerful Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Self-Compassion Skills.”

Notes

Target Audience

This event is aimed at psychologists working with ADHD/ADHDers, or with an interest in this area.

Please note:

• This is a Member Groups event. All communication will be sent to the registrants’ registered email address. This includes event reminders with details (such as the Zoom link) and any pre-event or post-event resources, if provided by the facilitators.
• A post-event email will be sent within two weeks of the event’s completion to each registrant’s registered email address. This email will include the CPD certificate, event-recording, and any additional resources shared during the session.

Duration of Access

This event will be recorded. The recording will be emailed to all registered within 2 weeks post event and available for viewing up to 90 days.

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.