The Why Behind the Avoidance: A Functional Look at ADHD Thought Patterns
The Why Behind the Avoidance: A Functional Look at ADHD Thought Patterns
Friday, October 17, 2025
Noon to 1pm EST
Live Webinar via Zoom
1 CE for psychologists, social workers, and counselors in Maine
Why do individuals with ADHD often get stuck in cycles of avoidance and procrastination, even when they desperately want to engage? This one-hour training delves into the ways that specific cognitive patterns can fuel this struggle, from a compassionate, developmental perspective. We'll examine two key cognitive patterns: Negative Automatic Thoughts (NATs), which are often fueled by a history of criticism and failure, and Rationalizing Automatic Thoughts (RATs), which develop as self-protective mechanisms to avoid further pain and overwhelm. Grounded in a third-wave behavioral approach, this session will move beyond challenging the "accuracy" of thoughts and instead focus on their function- specifically, how they serve to regulate emotion in the short-term while perpetuating avoidance and shame in the long-term. Leave with a deeper framework for validating your clients' experiences while empowering them to change.
Friday Lunch Series presentation from noon to 1 pm. 1 CE for Maine psychologists, social workers, and counselors. Regular registration is $35.
Learning Objectives:
As a result of engaging in the presentation, attendees will be able to:
Explain the core components of the cognitive-behavioral model as it applies to ADHD and chronic task avoidance.
Differentiate between Negative Automatic Thoughts (NATs), often rooted in shame and past criticism, and Rationalizing Automatic Thoughts (RATs), which often function as a self-protective avoidance mechanism.
Apply a contextual lens to automatic thoughts by assessing their short-term emotional regulatory function and their long-term impact on behavior.
Identify at least one initial clinical strategy to help clients notice and "unhook" from NATs and RATs to reduce their power over behavior.
Presenter Bio:
Dr. Christie Pickel is a licensed psychologist at Psychology Specialists of Maine. Since beginning her graduate training at Ohio University, Dr. Pickel has dedicated her career to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals with ADHD. Living with ADHD herself, she brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work, helping clients feel seen, understood, and empowered.
Dr. Pickel has extensive experience treating ADHD in adults through individual and group therapy, primarily drawing from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based approaches. She is an active member of the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) and its Special Interest Group for Women and Girls, where she collaborates to advance knowledge and advocacy for ADHD across the lifespan. She is also a current member of Southern Maine Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (SMACT). In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Pickel offers training and consultation for other mental health professionals around evidence-based assessment and treatment of adult ADHD.