Ashley Cressey

Author, Speaker, and Framework Developer exploring how arts-based creative tools support nervous system regulation, identity development, and self-trust in ADHD and neurodivergent adults. Her work sits at the intersection of arts-in-health, neurodiversity, and systems design.

Credentials

  • 2026 a2ru selected poster presenter: "A Character-Based Model for Creative Regulation," University of Memphis, October 2026
  • a2ru Member
  • Vendor and exhibitor, Neurodiversion (ND26), March 2026
  • Author, The NOT Typical Collection: a series of character-led journaling workbooks for neurodivergent adults
  • Founder, The 2B Hub and 2B UNBOUND (institutional licensing arm)

Speaking Topics

  • Unmasking ADHD: From Self-Doubt to Self-Acceptance

    This is a personal and emotional talk for the person in the room who is living it. Most adults with ADHD don’t get a diagnosis; they get a reputation. Lazy. Inconsistent. Too sensitive. Too much.

    This talk unpacks how masking develops, why late diagnosis forces a complete identity reckoning, and how understanding your neurodivergence can rewrite the story you’ve been telling yourself for decades: shifting people from believing their harsh inner critic toward finding clarity and developing self-trust. 

    The audience leaves with:

    • language for their experience
    • a reframing of their lives up to now
    • permission to stop performing

  • The Hidden Cost of Self-Doubt in ADHD

    This talk addresses the systemic side of ADHD and speaks directly to educators, employers, and those who work alongside neurodivergent adults. When a brain that works differently is measured against systems built for a different kind of brain, the result isn't failure; it has just been misread. 

    It examines how repeated misunderstanding impacts self-identity, why ADHD challenges are often read by others as character flaws, how awareness of executive function differences can help people reinterpret years of misunderstanding, and what it actually takes to rebuild self-trust from the inside out.

    Audience Takeaways

    • a new framework for understanding neurodivergence and their own unique patterns
    • compassion for the years they spent blaming themselves
    • tools to start rewriting the internal narrative, starting now

  • Creative Regulation for Nonlinear Minds

    Productivity systems built for linear thinkers don’t fail neurodivergent people because they aren’t trying hard enough; they fail because they assume linear thinking and don’t align with how their brains process information and emotion. 

    This talk explores how creative reflection practices like journaling, storytelling, and visual processing can support emotional regulation, build clarity for neurodivergent adults, and why regulation has to come before everything else.

    The audience leaves with:

    • practical creative tools they can use immediately, supporting emotional regulation
    • a new relationship with their own attention and how reflective activities can help reduce overwhelm
    • a framework for how individuals can develop systems that work with their brain, not against it

Booking

Send inquiries to: speaker@the2bhub.com

Who These Talks Are For

  • ADHD and neurodiversity conferences
  • Arts-in-health and healthcare settings
  • Universities and academic institutions
  • Workplace well-being events
  • Mental health and education settings
  • Community organizations and advocacy groups

Speaking Formats

  • Keynote
  • Workshops
  • Panels
  • Podcast interviews