
About
Please Join us Online Saturday, March 12 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (PST)
Program Agenda
Introductory Remarks
Barbara Firestone, PhD
President & CEO

How to Address the Challenges of Slow Processing Speed and its Impact on Learning, Behavior and Emotional Development
Ellen Braaten, PhD
Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
Kessler Family Chair in Pediatric Neuropsychological Assessment
Executive Director, Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP)

Executive Function, ADHD and Motivation for Learning: New Understandings
Thomas E. Brown, PhD
Clinic Director, Brown Clinic for Attention &
Related Disorders in Manhattan Beach, CA
Presentations will be followed by a Q & A
Course Description
How to Address the Challenges of Slow Processing Speed and its Impact on Learning, Behavior and Emotional Development
Ellen Braaten, PhD
Course Description:
Processing Speed (PS) is the pace at which someone takes in information, makes sense of it, and begins to respond. Although originally studied in children with ADHD, slow PS is increasingly recognized as a cross-disorder phenomenon. Children with slow PS, no matter their diagnosis, are likely at risk for internalizing, social, and academic issues.
The challenges which face children with slow PS in school have only multiplied during the pandemic and the continued reliance on remote schooling. Understanding how to best support children who process slowly is a vital skill for anyone who works with kids but is especially relevant in the increasingly fast-paced virtual world we now find ourselves in.
Learning Objectives:
Following this session, participants will be able to:
- Discuss how processing speed has been defined and measured.
- Understand how to identify children who may be struggling with slow processing speed.
- Explain how slow processing speed can affect educational outcomes.
Level of Instruction: Introductory
Executive Function, ADHD and Motivation for Learning: New Understandings
Thomas E. Brown, PhD
Course Description:
Multiple factors can influence any student’s motivation for learning. This presentation will describe an updated understanding of ADHD and how the executive function impairments of ADHD can complicate motivation for some students. It will also describe how parents and educators can help students of various ages with ADHD to strengthen their motivation and productivity.
Learning Objectives
Following this session, participants will be able to:
- Recognize multiple positive and negative factors that can influence motivation for learning.
- Understand executive functions of ADHD and how they appear in students of various ages.
- Identify effective ways to alleviate executive functioning impairments of ADHD and improve motivation for learning.
Level of Instruction: Introductory
Speaker Bios
About Ellen Braaten, PhD
Dr. Ellen Braaten is the Executive Director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an Associate Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. She holds the title of Visiting Professor at Charles University Second College of Medicine in Charles, Czech Republic and is the inaugural recipient of the Kessler Family Chair in Pediatric Neuropsychological Assessment at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Braaten is widely recognized as an expert in the field of pediatric neuropsychological and psychological assessment, particularly in the areas of assessing learning disabilities and attentional disorders. She is the co-author of Straight Talk about Psychological Testing for Kids, The Child Clinician’s Report Writing Handbook, Finding the Right Mental Health Care for Your Child in 2009 and the best-selling book, Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up. She edited the Sage Encyclopedia of Intellectual and Developmental Disorders in 2018 and co-edited the Massachusetts General Hospital Guide to Learning Disabilities, also published in 2018.
Dr. Braaten has maintained broad research interests in the field of learning and attentional disorders. She is also frequently asked to write articles for parenting and consumer publications, is a frequent expert guest on television and radio, and maintains an active speaking schedule. Her website is: www.ellenbraatenphd.com
About Thomas E. Brown, PhD
Thomas E. Brown earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Yale University and then served on the clinical faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine for 20 years while operating a clinic in CT for children and adults with ADHD and related problems. In May, 2017 he relocated to California where he opened the Brown Clinic for Attention and Related Disorders in Manhattan Beach, California.
Dr. Brown has taught continuing medical education courses on ADHD for the American Psychiatric Association for the past 20 years and has given lectures and workshops in hospitals, medical schools, universities and for professional and advocacy groups throughout the U.S. and in more than 40 other countries. He served for several years as Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and is an elected Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Child and Adolescent Psychology.
In his 40+ years of experience, Dr. Brown has published 30 articles in professional journals and 7 books on ADHD. His soon to be released book is, ADHD and Asperger Syndrome in Smart Kids and Adults: Twelve Stories of Struggle, Support and Treatment. In addition he has authored, Smart, but Stuck: Emotions in Teens and Adults with ADHD, Outside the Box: Rethinking ADD/ADHD in Children and Adults-A Practical Guide, and A New Understanding of ADHD in Children and Adults: Executive Function Impairments, to name a few. He was inducted into the CHADD Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions to research and professional education about ADHD in children and adults. Dr. Brown has also been elected a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. His website is www.BrownADHDClinic.com .
Continuing Education
Continuing Education
For Professionals Seeking Continuing Education Credit

According to the guidelines set forth by accrediting organizations, attendance for professionals seeking credit at this Distinguished Lecturer Series will be tracked at the start and conclusion of the program, in addition, pop-up windows will appear to ensure attendance throughout the program. A link to attend will be provided via e-mail prior to the program.
At the end of the program, all participants will be asked to provide feedback through an online evaluation.
No partial credits will be given.
Continuing Education Certificates will be e-mailed to the registrant following the program.
PSYCHOLOGISTS
The Help Group is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Help Group maintains responsibility for the program and its content. The course offered is eligible for 2 hours and 2 continuing education credits.
SOCIAL WORKERS & THERAPISTS
The Help Group is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs. The Help Group maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. The course offered meets the qualifications for 2 hours and 2 continuing education credits for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. (Provider #64310)
NOTE: If you are attending this virtual conference from any other state, outside of California, please check with your state board to see if you can receive continuing education for this program.
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS
This program meets the qualifications for 2 hours and 2 continuing professional development credits for Speech-Language Pathologists as required by the California Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Board. (Provider #PDP86)
NOTE: If you are attending this virtual conference from any other state, outside of California, please check with your state board to see if you can receive continuing education for this conference.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
The Help Group is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID #02512. This Distance Learning-Interactive format is offered at .2 CEUs for Saturday, March 12th with an introductory educational level, in the categories of OT Service Delivery and Foundational Knowledge.
(AOTA) to assign continuing education units for occupational therapists. This course is eligible for up to .2 CEU. The assignment of AOTA CE units does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by AOTA. (Provider #6193)
Per AOTA guidelines, for this virtual event format, participants will be required to pass a post-test with a score of 75% or higher in order to receive CEUs. Failure to pass the post-test requirement, will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course.
CERTIFICATES OF ATTENDANCE
The Help Group provides Certificates of Attendance at the conclusion of the program for attendees.
If you have questions about continuing education, please contact:
events@thehelpgroup.org or call (818) 779-5210.
POLICIES
Accessibility: The Help Group is committed to making Virtual Distinguished Lecturer Series accessible to all individuals. If you anticipate needing assistance while viewing the conference, please contact events@thehelpgroup.org, no later than Tuesday, March 1st.
Grievances: The Help Group complies with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants. To address a grievance for this program, or to view The Help Group’s grievance policy in its entirety. Please email: events@thehelpgroup.org
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be received in writing by Monday, March 7th. Cancellations will be refunded the amount of registration less a $5 processing fee.