• Presenter:

    Ray Christner, Psy.D

  • DATE

    Friday, March 27th, 2026-
    8:00AM to 11:15 AM EST

  • Level: 

    Intermediate

  • Credits:

    3

  • Video:

    3 hour

Same Symptoms, Different Stories: Differentiating Neurodevelopmental and Emotional Disorders

Psychologists and evaluating professionals are increasingly asked to evaluate children and adolescents whose symptoms blur the line between neurodevelopmental and emotional disorders. Difficulties with attention, rigidity, emotional regulation, repetitive behaviors, and anxiety can appear across conditions such as autism, ADHD, OCD, intellectual disability, and anxiety disorders, yet reflect very different underlying mechanisms. This webinar focuses on strengthening differential diagnostic reasoning by helping clinicians move beyond surface-level symptom overlap to examine developmental history, behavioral function, cognitive and emotional drivers, and contextual influences. Participants will learn how to use responsive and evidence-based practices that integrate interviews, rating scales, observations, and test data into clear, to promote diagnostic and eligibility clarity and meaningful recommendations.

Course Objectives:

1. Identify distinguishing features that differentiate neurodevelopmental disorders from emotional disorders in complex pediatric presentations.
2. Apply developmentally informed assessment strategies to clarify overlapping symptoms across autism, ADHD, OCD, intellectual disability, and anxiety disorders.
3. Integrate multi-method assessment data to formulate clear and defensible differential diagnostic conclusions.

Ray W. Christner, PsyD

Ray W. Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP, is a licensed psychologist and a certified school psychologist in Pennsylvania, a nationally certified school psychologist, and a nationally registered health service psychologist. He specializes in clinical and school psychology, and he is board-certified in behavioral and cognitive psychology. Operating an independent practice in Hanover, Pennsylvania, Dr. Christner also provides telepsychology services in 41 states as an authorization holder of the APIT (Authorization to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology) and the TAP (Temporary Authorization to Practice). His clinical work includes psychotherapy, psychological and neuropsychological testing, consultation services, and program evaluations. He works with children, adolescents, and adults with psychological, developmental, social, behavioral, and learning differences. 

A recognized author and speaker, Dr. Christner has contributed extensively to the field through numerous publications and presentations. His book, Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions in Educational Settings: A Handbook for Practice (now in its 3rd edition), has been translated into Japanese, Korean, and Romanian. Additionally, Dr. Christner shares his thoughts on topics related to psychology as the cohost of the podcast Psyched to Practice and writes the Living Psyched blog for Psychology Today. His work has garnered attention from prominent media outlets such as Today, Parents, Newsweek, Lifehacker, Yahoo!Life, ABC, Fox, Special Education Connection, and Authority Magazine, to name a few.
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Hanover, PA 17331

About Us

Program

CE Library

Psyched to Practice, LLC, is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Psyched to Practice, LLC, maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 
Psyched to Practice, LLC, is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) to offer continuing professional development (CPDs) for school psychologists. Psyched to Practice, LLC, maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 
Other mental health and education professionals are welcome to attend our webinars, workshops, and courses. Participants will receive a continuing education certificate upon completion. We encourage individuals to consult their respective licensing or accrediting boards to determine eligibility for continuing education credit within their professional field.

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