Best Pathological Drive For Autonomy Podcasts (2024)

1
Ep. 59 - Angry and Exhausted from Advocating for Your PDA Child? These ideas can help. 33:07

19m ago33:07

33:07

In this episode I share the lessons I learned THE HARD WAY about advocating for my PDA son. Because you are truly not alone if you're feeling angry and exhausted after trying to convince teachers, doctors, therapists, grandparents, even spouses what your child needs and why - I've worked with hundreds of families who have gone through this. I share…

1
Ep. 58 - How Polyvagal Theory Explains Masking in PDA Children 28:40

14m ago28:40

28:40

Parents often ask me how their three-year-old PDA child could possibly be masking before they've even started preschsool and seen much of how other kids behave. It's a great question, and one I asked many times as well. In this episode I dig into the answer, according to Polyvagal Theory. To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is …

1
Ep. 57 - Conversation with Dr. Alex Klein, Clinical Psychologist 46:08

3d ago46:08

46:08

In this episode Dr. Alex Klein and I answer questions that families submitted. If you'd like to submit a question for one of our future conversations, here is where you can do so: https://www.atpeaceparents.com/submit-question-klein-ehrlich Here's some of the questions we took on for this episode: How do you know if the behavior you are observing a…

1
Ep. 56 - PDA Children Avoiding Writing and Drawing 20:38

12d ago20:38

20:38

Does your child refuses to write or draw? In this episode I share my story of my son's avoidance of both and how supporting his nervous with PDA accommodations enabled him to come back to them over time. The story also illustrates the general logic of supporting a child through and out of burnout. To learn more about and figure out if your child or…

1
Ep. 55 - Boundaries vs Rules with Your PDA Child or Teen 23:39

24d ago23:39

23:39

Knowing the difference between boundaries and rules, and when to use each, can be really helpful when parenting a PDA child or teen. To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass at www.atpeaceparents.com. You can also connect with me on: Instagram - www.instagram/atpeaceparents TikTok - w…

1
Ep. 54 - Play Therapy and PDA - A Conversation with Therapist Lauren Stern Noel 44:30

2M ago44:30

44:30

In this episode I reconnect with my longtime dear friend, Lauren Stern Noel, who is also a developmental therapist and DIR-Floortime therapist working with Autistic children and children with developmental disabilities. We talk about playing with PDA children, and how it can look different than what parents might have expected. Lauren serves famili…

1
Ep. 53 - Parenting vs Caregiving for a PDA Child or Teen 18:46

2M ago18:46

18:46

In this episode I discuss how as parents of PDA children or teens we do both parenting and caregiving, and how that relates to a "Gentle Parenting" approach. To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass at www.atpeaceparents.com. You can also connect with me on: Instagram - www.instagram/…

1
Ep. 52 - Rhythms versus Routines when Parenting a PDA Child or Teen 14:53

3M ago14:53

14:53

In this episode I talk about how I view parenting a PDA child or teen as distinct from "Gentle Parenting" by focusing on rhythms instead of routines. To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass at www.atpeaceparents.com. You can also connect with me on: Instagram - www.instagram/atpeacep…

1
Ep. 51 - Signalling Safety to Your PDA Child or Teen 29:25

3M ago29:25

29:25

Signalling safety - often non-verbally - to your PDA child or teen can be a really impactful way to accommodate their nervous system. In this episode I provide seven tips on how to do it. To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass at www.atpeaceparents.com. You can also connect with me …

1
Ep. 50 - Sensory Processing Disorder or Pathological Demand Avoidance? 22:20

3M ago22:20

22:20

In this episode I discuss my two sons, the differences between SPD and PDA, and how those differences impact parenting. To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass. You can also connect with me on: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube And information on my Courses, Programs, and Coaching is…

1
Ep. 49 - Conversation with Lauren Stern Noel, Developmental Therapist (and great friend!) 45:18

3M ago45:18

45:18

When my PDA son was four-years-old and we were in crisis I called my longtime dear friend, Lauren Stern Noel, who is also a developmental therapist and DIR-Floortime therapist working with Autistic children and children with developmental disabilities. She invited me to Chicago to stay with her family and meet her most trusted colleagues - a speech…

1
Ep. 48 - Siblings and PDA (Again) 20:29

3M ago20:29

20:29

I always get questions about how to handle dynamics between a Pathologically Demand Avoidant child or teen and their sibling/s. And with good reason - it can be REALLY hard to navigate these dynamics in ways that support all members of the family. Want more on this topic? I first discussed it about a year ago in episode 15. To learn more about and …

1
Ep. 47 - What skills do we need to parent our PDA children? 17:42

4M ago17:42

17:42

In this episode I discuss the practical skills we need as parents to support the nervous systems and health of our PDA children and teens, and how it relates to my morning's yoga session... To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass. You can also connect with me on: Instagram TikTok Fac…

1
Ep. 46 - "Strewing" to Accommodate your PDA Child or Teen 23:28

4M ago23:28

23:28

I explain strewing as an accommodation that can help PDA children and teens. To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass. You can also connect with me on: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube And information on my Courses, Programs, and Coaching is at At Peace Parents. Thanks for listening!…

1
Ep. 45 - First PDA Discussion with Dr. Alex Klein, Clinical Psychologist 1:05:37

4M ago1:05:37

1:05:37

Casey and Dr. Klein discuss PDA in their first podcast (of many to follow) and he shares some of the insights of PDA he's gained as a clinical psychologist. Disclaimer: Dr. Klein does not provide any clinical, medical, or therapeutic support as part of this podcast. To work with him as a clinician, you can find him here: https://www.dralexklein.com…

1
Ep. 44 - Five places parents get stuck 31:33

4M ago31:33

31:33

Casey discusses the five most common ways she's found parents of PDA children and teens get stuck in bringing their family to stability.By Casey

1
Ep. 43 - Guilt and second arrows as parents of PDA children 28:37

5M ago28:37

28:37

Casey discusses the ways parents of PDA children shoot themselves with the "second arrow" - often guilt - and ways to transcend it.By Casey

1
Ep. 42 - Service Dogs and PDA 19:16

5M ago19:16

19:16

In this episode Casey discusses having a service dog to help her PDA son, and some of the ups and downs she's been through.By Casey

1
Ep. 41 - PDA and Taking a Research Perspective 12:42

6M ago12:42

12:42

Casey discusses her identity, her role as a researcher rather than an advocate, and how this informs her objective approach - and openness -to helping each unique family find what works for them and the PDA child or teen without an attachment to path they choose.By Casey

1
Ep. 40 - If I accommodate now, what will happen when they grow up? 30:08

6M ago30:08

30:08

Casey talks about the theory of change she uses in her work, and the common fear parents have that if they accommodate their PDA children and teens they will not be able to succeed as adults. To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For Courses, Programs, Coaching and Consulting, find me at At Peace Parents Thanks for lis…

1
Ep. 39 - Parenting through the holidays 26:13

6M ago26:13

26:13

In this episode Casey discusses the challenges and strategies of parenting a PDA child or teen through the holiday season. (This episode was pulled from a recent Instagram Live video.) To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For Courses, Programs, Coaching and Consulting, find me at At Peace Parents, LLC Thanks for liste…

1
Ep. 38 - Is PDA on a spectrum? 10:13

6M ago10:13

10:13

Casey discusses the variability among PDA children and teens. To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For Courses, Programs, Coaching and Consulting, find me at At Peace Parents, LLC Thanks for listening! You are an amazing parent. xoxo, CaseyBy Casey

1
Ep. 37 - Let's talk about empathy 11:01

6M ago11:01

11:01

PDA children and teens have empathy, and in this episode we talk about why and how to help their nervous systems so they can access it. To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For Courses, Programs, Coaching and Consulting, find me at At Peace Parents, LLC Thanks for listening! You are an amazing parent. xoxo, Casey…

1
Ep. 36 - Are you a PDA parent of a PDA child? 16:02

7M ago16:02

16:02

In this episode we discuss the unique experience of parenting a PDA child for parents who are also pathologically demand avoidant and offer some simple tools and insights that may be helpful. To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For Courses, Programs, Coaching and Consulting, find me at At Peace Parents, LLC Thanks fo…

1
Ep. 35 - 6 Tips for Making Halloween More Manageable for your Family. 18:03

7M ago18:03

18:03

In this episode, we discuss why the Halloween - and the holidays - are so tough on PDA children and teens, as well as their parents, and I offer some tips to help you get through the beginning of what we call "The Gauntlet" in my family (the period between Halloween and my son's bday in January). Remember - it's not you! It's totally normal to drea…

1
Ep. 34 - The fawn and freeze responses 13:08

7M ago13:08

13:08

In this episode Casey talks about the fawn and freeze responses to nervous system activation. To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For Courses, Programs, Coaching and Consulting, find me at At Peace Parents, LLC Thanks for listening! You are an amazing parent. xoxo, Casey…

1
Ep. 33 - Behavioral approaches and why they don't work 28:10

7M ago28:10

28:10

Casey discusses why behavioral approaches don't work for PDA children and teens. To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For Courses, Programs, Coaching and Consulting, find me at At Peace Parents, LLC Thanks for listening! You are an amazing parent. xoxo, CaseyBy Casey

1
Ep. 32 - Is therapy good for PDA kids? 16:31

7M ago16:31

16:31

Casey talks about therapy for PDA children. To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For Courses, Programs, Coaching and Consulting, find me at At Peace Parents, LLC Thanks for listening! You are an amazing parent. xoxo, CaseyBy Casey

1
Ep. 31 - What does it look like long term if we don't correct our children's "bad behavior"? 38:19

8M ago38:19

38:19

This episode explores what I call "The Theory of Change" of parenting a Pathologically Demand Avoidant (PDA) child or teen through an accommodation approach over the long term (years!). We talk about the logic behind lowering demands and making choices that feel counterintuitive as a parent to support your child back into their "thinking brain." We…

1
Ep. 30 - Have you "radically accepted" your PDA child or teen? 21:45

8M ago21:45

21:45

This episode discusses what it *actually* looks like to radically accept your PDA child or teen. For many parents this is where the rubber hits the road and it is less about a nebulous or theoretical "acceptance" of a neurodivergent child, and more about the points at which we have to accept that raising a child with a nervous system disability req…

1
Ep. 29 - Can you "heal" Pathological Demand Avoidance? 34:58

8M ago34:58

34:58

In this episode, we discuss the difference between trauma and Pathological Demand Avoidance, as well as the overlaps in terms of your child's or teen's behavior. We talk about how you can heal trauma, however you cannot heal a neurotype, but rather accommodate it through trauma-informed parenting and practices. Sometimes, as parents, we don't know …

1
Ep. 28 - OCD, Anxiety or PDA? 37:02

9M ago37:02

37:02

This episode is designed to do three things: Give you clarity on how to figure out the root cause of your child's controlling and avoidant behavior - Is it Anxiety, OCD and/or Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)? Help you notice subtle differences in controlling and avoidant behavior to determine if there is more than one thing going on. Encourage …

1
Ep. 27 - Is My Child PDA or Autistic with Demand Avoidance? 32:55

10M ago32:55

32:55

"Is my child Autistic with Demand Avoidance OR is my child PDA?" This is a question I get often from parents, so this is a free training to help you discern the answer that question for yourself. We will cover: Figuring out which "lens" is most helpful to support your unique child and the root cause of the behaviors you observe. Understanding that …

1
Ep. 26 - What is the difference between PDA and trauma? 19:47

11M ago19:47

19:47

In this episode, I answer this very commonly asked question: What is the difference between PDA and trauma? As part of my answer, I discuss five things: 1. Why there is so much confusion between PDA and trauma. 2. Why there are different root causes behind similar nervous system activation. 3. Where there are points of overlap between PDA and traum…

1
Ep. 25 - Reframing Progress as a Parent of a PDA Child or Teen 14:37

12M ago14:37

14:37

This episode is an excerpt from the "Progress with PDA" workshop and is a way of looking at progress, even when you feel your most stuck as a parent. This perspective is the "yin" side to the "yang" of tracking data and indicators of progress that you observe of your PDA child or teen as they move out of burnout and towards more well-being. I hope …

1
Ep. 24 - Finding your unique PDA child or Teen's Edge. 9:13

12M ago9:13

9:13

In this episode, I answer the question: "What do I do when my PDA child or teen really wants to do something - see friends, play a sport, engage in an activity - but there is a big fallout afterwards?" To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For more resources for parents, including #actuallyautistic pages to check out a…

1
Ep. 23 - Sticker Charts and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) 15:18

1y ago15:18

15:18

In this episode, Casey shares the logic behind why sticker charts, laminated schedules, strict routines, and many of the supports used with children who have social communication differences and executive functioning differences actually backfire with PDA kids and young adults. To connect with me, find me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube For…

1
Ep. 22 - Timelines, Pre-PDA Awareness, and My Son's Burnout 17:33

1y ago17:33

17:33

In this episode, Casey shares her story from the perspective of a parent as she experienced the time leading up to her son's burnout (3.5 years old), her son's burnout (5.5 years old), and the current moment (8.5 years old). She ends with a spiritual insight from Buddhism about not shooting oneself with the "second arrow" when things are hard. To c…

1
Ep. 21 - Marriage and Co-Parenting with a PDA Child or Teen 23:36

1y ago23:36

23:36

In this episode, I share an excerpt from the Paradigm Shift Program session that focused on Marriage, Co-Parenting, and Communication dynamics while raising a Pathologically Demand Avoidant (PDA) child or teen. I share my personal story, how raising a PDA child has impacted my marriage and share one fundamental insight about being the "lead" parent…

1
Ep. 20 - Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) vs. Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) 24:55

1y ago24:55

24:55

In this episode, I outline the ways in which the description of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 overlaps with some of the surface-level indicators of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) or "Pervasive Drive for Autonomy." Although there are many things that look the same on the surface, if we dig deep…

1
Ep. 19 - Identity: Yours, Your Child's, and Mine 22:51

1y ago22:51

22:51

In this episode we explore identifying with a particular neurotype - whether it is Pathologically Demand Avoidant (PDA), Autistic, Neurotypical, ADHD, or none at all- and the choices we have for ourselves and for our children. At the core, we discuss how autonomy is incorporated into the process of your child choosing an identity, and separating th…

1
Ep. 18 - Why is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) so Hard to Understand? - Part II 28:14

1y ago28:14

28:14

Why is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) so hard to understand as a parent and for therapists, pediatricians, teachers, and people looking in on your child's life? In this episode, I answer the following questions: How do I know whether it is "defiance" or typical kid behavior or Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)? How do I know whether it is Pa…

1
Ep. 17 - Why is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) so Confusing? - Part I 13:37

1y ago13:37

13:37

Why is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) so hard to understand as a parent and for therapists, pediatricians, teachers, and people looking in on your child's life? In this episode, I answer the following questions: My child doesn't seem Autistic, can they still be Pathologically Demand Avoidant (PDA)? My child seems typical some of the time, can …

1
Ep. 16 - Toileting and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) 20:21

1+ y ago20:21

20:21

In this episode on Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Toileting, we discuss the impact that cumulative nervous system stress has on toileting, through two mechanisms: The nervous system's fight/flight or freeze response and how it impacts the metabolism, cortisol, and adrenaline, all of which impact digestion and toileting, and "Control coales…

1
Ep. 15 - Siblings and PDA 32:14

1+ y ago32:14

32:14

In this episode, I tackle the complex and often difficult topic of managing siblings and a PDA child at the same time, as well as the impact on siblings of raising a PDA child or child with a sensitive nervous system in the same home. Please note: This is recorded from a live video and so often when I said "Accidentally" I used air quotes because i…

1
Ep. 14 - Your "Secret" and "Inappropriate" Questions about PDA 24:57

1+ y ago24:57

24:57

In this episode, I answer questions that parents submitted as "secret and inappropriate" about PDA. I answer as honestly and objectively as possible! The five questions were: ✨ Can you have “PDA Lite”? ✨ Is PDA always Autism? ✨What happened to an older generation of PDAers? ✨Can trauma cause PDA? ✨Do you think autism and PDA are more common now or …

1
Ep. 13 - The Three Stages Parents of PDA Children and Teens Go Through 19:56

1+ y ago19:56

19:56

This episode describes the three stages of the journey that parents of PDA children and teens go through on their path to peace. First, the "Doing Everything" phase where you learn and do everything you possibly can to help your child. Second, the "Structural Change" phase where you make changes to your lifestyle and make difficult tradeoffs that r…

1
Ep. 12 - Parenting a PDA Child or Teen with an Experimental Mindset 11:47

1+ y ago11:47

11:47

This episode describes why allowing yourself an experimental mindset while trying new approaches and accommodations with a PDA child or teen is so important. So you stop judging or paralyzing yourself with a fear of "doing it wrong" or not following some set of rigid rules. So you stop seeking answers that are already within your intuition and capa…

1
Ep. 11 - "Aren't You Just Rewarding Bad Behavior?" 17:48

1+ y ago17:48

17:48

In this episode I answer the question I get over and over on social media, in my coaching containers and in the programs I run: "Are you just rewarding bad behavior by using an accommodation approach with your PDA child?" It is a very valid question and one that I grapple with daily because we have all been conditioned to think like this. Here I gi…

1
Ep. 10 - Masking, PDA Children and Teens, and YOU! 16:29

1+ y ago16:29

16:29

This episode explores "high masking" in PDA children and teens, across both the introverted and extroverted expression. It discusses the importance of recognizing masking, both for the sanity of parents, your child's well-being, and getting access to the structural support (diagnosis, insurance coverage, support at school), that you need. Citations…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Pathological Drive For Autonomy Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide