Adapting EMDR for Neurodivergent Clients: Parts Work, Attunement, and Affirming Trauma Therapy, An Interview with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis

Curt and Katie talk with Cathy Hanville and Christine MacInnis about how to adapt EMDR for autistic and ADHD clients with more flexibility, safety, and affirming care. They explore why standard protocols can miss important client needs, how parts work can support trauma treatment, and what therapists should consider when working with neurodivergent clients whose trauma is tied to masking, chronic correction, social rejection, and being misunderstood.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why EMDR often needs adaptation across all eight phases
• How parts work can support neurodivergent clients in trauma treatment
• The impact of masking, correction, and misunderstanding as trauma
• Sensory, communication, and processing differences therapists need to consider
• Moving away from compliance-based care toward attunement and collaboration

About the guests

Christine MacInnis, MSed, MS, LMFT owns Transcends Family Therapy in Torrance, California, specializing in neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ affirming, trauma-informed care. She is additionally licensed in Arizona and Ohio, is an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and provides advanced training on neurodiversity-affirming EMDR, ADHD, and autism. Learn more at www.transcendstherapy.com.

Cathy Hanville, LCSW (They/She) is a licensed clinical social worker in Pennsylvania and California, an EMDRIA-approved consultant, and a continuing education provider. They help therapists identify blind spots so they can provide gender- and neurodiversity-affirming care. Learn more at www.cathyhanville.com.

Cathy and Christine are under contract with Norton Publishing to write Neurodivergent Paths to Healing: Affirming EMDR and Parts Work for Autistic and ADHD Clients, expected in early 2027.

Key takeaways

• Therapists often need to adapt EMDR for every client, not just neurodivergent clients
• Neurodivergent-affirming EMDR requires flexibility, collaboration, and sensory awareness
• Parts work can help therapists better understand protection, shame, and responses often mislabeled as resistance
• Many neurodivergent clients carry trauma tied to masking, chronic correction, and social rejection

Full show notes and transcript: https://mtsgpodcast.com

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