ODL 369: Understanding and Addressing Developmental Gaps in Mental Health Practice

Created On:  11/24/2025 

(Attention Case Managers ONLY: CCMC expires on this course on 11/14/26 and will not be renewed. Please complete before this date.)                  

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, psychologists, counselors, nurses and case managers.

Counselor Skill Groups: 

4. Counseling Services

Overview:

Mental health professionals often begin therapy based on a client’s chronological age, but treatment can reveal hidden developmental gaps. This training helps clinicians recognize and address discrepancies between a client’s age and their emotional, cognitive, or relational development, such as lacking emotional object permanence or cause-and-effect understanding.

Participants will learn to identify signs of neurodevelopmental delays that affect regulation, processing, and relationships. Through neurodevelopmental theory, case examples, and practical strategies, clinicians will learn how to assess developmental functioning and tailor interventions that rebuild foundational neurological skills essential for emotional continuity, reasoning, and identity formation.

This training is designed for therapists, psychologists, LCSWs, and allied professionals seeking effective tools for supporting clients with developmental trauma or regression.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:

• Identify key developmental milestones across five core domains: emotional, cognitive, social, relational, and physical development.
• Explain how knowledge of developmental processes across the lifespan informs clinical assessment and intervention strategies.
• Apply developmentally informed strategies to support clients in integrating missed or delayed milestones, regardless of chronological age.
• Evaluate discrepancies between a client’s chronological age and developmental functioning using neurodevelopmental frameworks.
• Describe the impact of early developmental disruptions on emotional regulation, cognitive processing, and relational capacity.
• Use clinical tools and interventions to address trauma-related developmental regression and promote neurological integration in therapy.

Presenter:

Mandy Miller, LCSW, MS in Early Childhood Development, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, C-DBT, TF-CBT, EMDR, Theraplay

With over 15 years of experience in the mental health field, Mandy brings a deep and nuanced understanding of human development and trauma-informed care. She holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Development from Erikson Institute (2006) and a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Loyola University Chicago (2007). This unique combination of education provides her with a comprehensive perspective on both typical and disrupted developmental patterns, as well as the pathways toward recovery and resilience.

Throughout her career, she has worked in diverse settings, focusing primarily on treating complex and cumulative trauma. Her clinical expertise encompasses a wide range of trauma presentations, including those underlying depression, anxiety, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and personality disorders. Her integrative approach addresses the multifaceted nature of trauma and its impact on emotional and cognitive functioning.

She is trained in Theraplay, EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), and is certified in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). In recognition of her contributions to the field, she was honored as the Social Worker of the Year in 2017 by the Clinical Social Work Association – South.

Colleagues and clients describe her as intelligent, creative, and deeply committed to her work. She is passionate about creating a world where individuals feel empowered and whole, and she continually seeks new knowledge and resources to support both her clients and professional community.