Danielle Redding

The Conscious Psych, Australia

Title: Looking Beyond the Behaviour: Neurodivergence, Trauma and Substance Use in Vulnerable Young People

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Biography

Danielle Redding is a registered psychologist based in Queensland, Australia, working across private practice and neurodevelopmental assessment within the youth justice sector. Her work includes assessment of ADHD, autism, intellectual disability, trauma and complex presentations among young people experiencing significant psychosocial vulnerability, including First Nations young people. Danielle has a particular interest in the intersection of neurodivergence, trauma, mental health, substance use and behavioural presentations, and in understanding the vulnerabilities that may sit beneath behaviour. Her professional perspective is also informed by lived experience of late diagnosed neurodivergence and the broader impacts of addiction on individuals and families.

Abstract

Substance use and behaviours associated with addiction rarely occur in isolation. For young people experiencing multiple vulnerabilities, particularly those involved in the youth justice system, substance use may intersect with neurodevelopmental differences, trauma, mental health difficulties, disrupted attachment, social disadvantage and difficulties with emotional and behavioural regulation. For First Nations young people in Australia, these experiences may also occur within the broader context of colonisation, cultural disconnection and intergenerational trauma.
Drawing on psychological practice with young people involved in the Australian youth justice system, this presentation explores the intersection between neurodivergence, particularly Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), trauma, mental health and substance use. It considers how neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities, adverse experiences and environmental factors may contribute to impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, risk-taking and substance use, while highlighting the complexity of distinguishing between overlapping neurodevelopmental, trauma-related, substance-related and behavioural presentations.
The discussion is additionally informed by lived experience of late-diagnosed neurodivergence and the broader impacts of addiction on individuals and families. Together, these perspectives encourage a shift from asking simply “What is wrong with this behaviour?” towards understanding what may sit beneath it and what needs remain unmet.
A neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-responsive and culturally informed approach can support more comprehensive assessment and formulation, particularly for young people whose difficulties may otherwise be understood primarily through behavioural, substance-use or justice-based frameworks.