NeuroPraxis Institute Redefines ADHD Diagnosis for Women

NATIONWIDE - NOVEMBER 2025 - (USAnews.com) In a crowded clinical landscape where ADHD diagnoses often follow traditional, outdated models, women and adults assigned female at birth (AFAB) have long been overlooked. This neglect has led to years of misdiagnosis, late diagnoses, and invisible struggles, particularly for those who mask their symptoms. However, NeuroPraxis Institute (NPI) is bringing a much-needed paradigm shift to the field of neurodevelopmental assessment, offering innovative solutions that reflect today’s understanding of ADHD in women and AFAB individuals.

The story behind NPI’s groundbreaking approach is deeply personal and rooted in years of clinical experience. Anastasia Sousa, one of the Institute’s Directors, has spent over two decades observing how outdated diagnostic systems consistently fail to identify the complex presentations of ADHD in women and AFAB adults. From overlooked giftedness to the internalized distress of undiagnosed ADHD, Anastasia saw first-hand how the systems meant to help were actually contributing to confusion, misdiagnosis, and burnout.

Breaking the Silence: The Invisible ADHD Profile

Traditional ADHD diagnostic tools, for decades, have been based on male-normed models that focus on external behaviors, often overlooking the subtler signs of ADHD in women and AFAB adults. This has left a vast swath of individuals with ADHD misdiagnosed or, worse, undiagnosed. Symptoms such as internalized distress, cyclical emotional regulation struggles, and high levels of masking often go unrecognized, leaving these individuals feeling misunderstood, isolated, and chronically overburdened.

The turning point came when Anastasia, drawing from her own clinical work and frustrations with the status quo, helped create the NPI–WAFAB™ Clinical Interview. This innovative tool was designed specifically to address the unique, internalized, and high-masking ADHD presentations that so many clinicians struggle to identify. By moving beyond surface-level symptoms and considering trauma, culture, developmental science, and lived experiences, the NPI–WAFAB™ interview offers clinicians a more nuanced and accurate way of identifying ADHD in this historically neglected population.

A Book and Workbook for the Next Generation of Clinicians

Alongside the NPI–WAFAB™ Clinical Interview, Anastasia is preparing to release her upcoming book, The Invisible ADHD Profile: A Guide for Clinicians and the Women They Serve. This book, paired with a companion workbook, outlines a developmentally informed, evidence-based model for understanding the ADHD profiles of AFAB individuals, profiles that have long been overlooked by traditional diagnostic frameworks. The book serves as both a guide for clinicians seeking to refine their diagnostic practices and a resource for neurodivergent women who may have struggled with invisible ADHD symptoms for years.

As Anastasia puts it, "Assessment was never meant to be a tool for gatekeeping ,  it was meant to be a tool for understanding. We’re bringing it back to that." This statement encapsulates the essence of NPI’s mission: to transform how clinicians understand ADHD in women and AFAB individuals by providing them with the knowledge and tools to offer more accurate, compassionate, and culturally aware assessments.

A Global Shift in Neurodevelopmental Understanding

NeuroPraxis Institute’s commitment goes far beyond creating innovative tools and resources. It’s about transforming how the world understands neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD. NPI's programs, including its postgraduate-level certificates and continuing professional development (CE/CPD) courses, are grounded in trauma-aware, culturally responsive, and developmentally informed frameworks that challenge outdated diagnostic models. Through this rigorous, internationally recognized training, NPI is equipping clinicians across the globe with the tools they need to make more informed, nuanced diagnoses that better support the diverse neurodivergent population.

"Too many people fall through the cracks not because something is wrong with them, but because something is outdated in the systems designed to identify them," says Anastasia. This is why NPI’s approach doesn’t just aim to fill a gap in knowledge, it seeks to create a global shift in the way clinicians, educators, and allied professionals understand and support neurodivergent individuals.

One of the unique aspects of NPI’s approach is its commitment to democratizing knowledge. By offering postgraduate-level training that is accessible to a wider range of professionals, without requiring a doctoral degree, NPI makes this crucial information available to clinicians who would otherwise be excluded from this specialized knowledge. This is particularly important for those who work in fields where understanding neurodivergence is essential but often overlooked, such as in education and social work.

A Holistic Approach: Empowering Clinicians and Communities

What sets NPI apart is its holistic, community-level impact. Rather than focusing exclusively on clinicians, the institute offers resources that help empower neurodivergent adults, parents, and educators as well. By providing a clearer understanding of neurodivergent profiles, NPI fosters better communication, reduces stigma, and helps families and communities support individuals in a more informed and compassionate way.

NeuroPraxis Institute’s work is not just about creating tools for clinicians, it’s about creating a ripple effect that can reach into every corner of society. Whether it’s through NPI’s flagship training programs, its forthcoming book, or its growing global network of clinicians, educators, and allied professionals, the institute is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind.

Moving Forward: Modernizing the Future of Neurodevelopmental Assessment

The urgency of modernizing diagnostic frameworks cannot be overstated. The old models have failed too many individuals, particularly women and AFAB adults, with ADHD, and the consequences of this failure are far-reaching. However, through the introduction of tools like the NPI–WAFAB™ Clinical Interview and the release of The Invisible ADHD Profile, NeuroPraxis Institute is leading the way in reshaping the future of neurodevelopmental assessment.

As NPI continues to expand its reach, the institute remains steadfast in its mission: "Our mission is simple: democratize knowledge, transform futures. Everyone deserves access to accurate, compassionate understanding, not only those who can afford traditional routes."

NeuroPraxis Institute is not just changing how clinicians assess ADHD, it is changing the world’s understanding of ADHD itself, making it a more inclusive, equitable, and effective process for all.

To learn more about how NPI is transforming neurodevelopmental assessment and to explore its educational offerings, visit NeuroPraxis Institute or email academicaffairs@neuropraxis.institute.