- This event has passed.
Webinar | Behind the Mask: Understanding ADHD, BPD, and Trauma in Women with Addiction
Women facing substance use disorders (SUD) often present with multifaceted mental health needs shaped by gender-specific experiences, trauma histories, and overlooked neurodevelopmental conditions. This educational webinar brings together a panel of leading experts to explore the complex intersections of addiction, mental health, and gender through a psychodynamically informed, trauma-responsive lens.
A core focus will be advanced treatment considerations for women with ADHD and borderline personality disorder (BPD)—highlighting the significant overlap in symptom presentation, the frequent misdiagnosis of ADHD as BPD in adult women, and the clinical consequences of such diagnostic errors. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how ADHD uniquely manifests in women, often masked by societal expectations and emotional regulation challenges, and how this can lead to increased vulnerability to BPD and substance use.
Additional topics include the critical role of developmental trauma in women’s addiction pathways, key psychodynamic insights for enhancing clinical engagement, and practical strategies for delivering gender-responsive care.
Designed for clinicians, peer support specialists, and program leaders, this session offers a rich, interdisciplinary dialogue grounded in real-world practice and emerging research.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify commonly overlooked or misdiagnosed mental health conditions in women with SUD, including ADHD and bipolar disorder, with attention to their overlap with borderline personality disorder.
- Explain the role of developmental trauma in shaping addiction pathways in women and how to embed trauma-informed practices in treatment planning.
- Describe key psychodynamic concepts that deepen clinical insight and strengthen treatment engagement with female clients.
- Apply gender-responsive strategies that address the unique biopsychosocial-spiritual needs of women in recovery.
- Differentiate between ADHD and BPD in women, understanding gender-specific presentations, overlapping symptoms, and implications for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Panelists
TRACY RONNING | MA, LMFT
Outpatient Clinical Services Director, Mn Adult & Teen Challenge
ALYSSA CUNNINGHAM | LADC
Treatment Director, Mn Adult & Teen Challenge
ABIGAIL PELTIER | LADC, LICSW
Director of Brainerd Women’s IOL Program, Mn Adult & Teen Challenge
ANGIE KENNEY | LADC
Mental Health Supervisor, Wellcome Manor Family Services
Facilitator
MARY BROWN
Senior Vice President of Marketing, Mn Adult & Teen Challenge
