Women and the Invisible ADHD Profile

 

Presented by Anne-Marie Suddreth, MA, LPC

Recorded Lecture Date: July 17, 2026

Course Outline

Women and the Invisible ADHD Profile explores why ADHD has historically been underrecognized in girls and women, particularly when difficulties are less externally observable or obscured by compensatory strategies, professional achievement, and environmental supports.

Through five recorded lectures, research readings, practical clinical resources, and case-based learning, participants examine the factors that contribute to delayed recognition and develop a more nuanced understanding of ADHD presentations across the lifespan.

Module 1: Women & the Invisible ADHD Profile

An introduction to less visible ADHD presentations in girls and women, including historical perspectives, gendered expectations, and the limitations of relying on outward functioning to understand internal experiences.

Module 2: Why ADHD Goes Undiagnosed in Women

Explore the factors contributing to missed or delayed recognition, including referral patterns, diagnostic assumptions, differences in symptom presentation, and the overlap between ADHD, anxiety, and depression.

Module 3: Behind the Mask — Compensation & Five Key Characteristics

Examine masking, compensatory strategies, emotional overcontrol, and the often substantial effort required to maintain outward success. Consider how developmental experiences, environmental supports, and changing demands may influence the visibility of ADHD-related difficulties.

Module 4: Hormones, Differential Diagnosis & Revisiting Maria

Explore emerging research on hormonal influences and ADHD, changes in functioning across life stages, and the complexities of differential diagnosis. Revisit an evolving clinical case to integrate developmental history, contextual information, and alternative explanations.

Module 5: Q&A — Real-World Scenarios & Discussion

Apply course concepts to clinical questions and real-world presentations. This concluding discussion reinforces the importance of thoughtful clinical inquiry, individualized assessment, and recognizing the limitations of common assumptions about ADHD.

Additional Learning Resources

The course also includes:

  • Research readings examining ADHD recognition, compensatory strategies, and hormonal influences.

  • Downloadable clinical interviewing guides and practical reference tools.

  • An evolving clinical case illustrating the complexity of adult presentations.

  • Applied learning activities and a final knowledge check.

  • A certificate of completion documenting learning hours.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for mental health and healthcare professionals, as well as coaches, seeking a deeper understanding of ADHD presentations in girls and women, particularly those whose difficulties may have been overlooked or attributed to other conditions.

It may be especially relevant for:

  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners

  • Psychologists 

  • Social Workers, Counselors, and Other Therapists

  • Psychiatrists, Physicians, and Physician Associates

  • Coaches 

No prior specialization in ADHD assessment is required. Course completion does not independently qualify participants to diagnose ADHD or expand their existing professional scope of practice.

Course Access: Three months from the date of enrollment.

Certificate: Upon successful completion, participants receive a certificate of completion documenting the course's learning hours.

Continuing Education: This course does not award continuing education (CE) credits.