Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care What is Pathological Demand Avoidance and How Do I Parent This Child?
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Are you familiar with pathological demand avoidance? Do you need helpful strategies to raise a child with the challenging behaviors that characterize PDA? Listen in to this conversation with Dr. Cynthia Martin, a clinical psychologist, the former Senior Director of the Autism Center at the Child Mind Institute, and founder of CM Psychology in Manhattan, NY.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What is Pathological Demand Avoidance?
- What makes PDA different from typical defiance or resistance?
- Is PDA considered an official diagnosis, or is it more of a way to describe a cluster of behaviors that we’re seeing in some kids?
- What do we know about the underlying causes?
- How does PDA relate to other conditions like autism or ADHD? What are the overlaps with trauma, prenatal substance exposure??
- What are the types of behaviors parents or caregivers might see?
- How can a caregiver tell the difference between a child who can’t comply and one who won’t comply?
- Where do parents start when considering if their child has a PDA profile?
- What observations or examples should parents share to help a clinician understand their child’s challenges?
- What kinds of strategies are effective for parenting a child with PDA traits?
- How can parents reframe their approach so that daily demands — like getting dressed, brushing teeth, or doing homework — don’t turn into constant battles?
- What types of therapies or interventions tend to be most helpful?
- What do you say to caregivers who are feeling worn down and ineffective? Where do they start?
- How can a parent or caregiver set their child up for success even if they do have this PDA profile?
- What words of hope or encouragement would you offer to parents and caregivers just starting to investigate?
Resources:
- Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in Kids - Child Mind Institute
- Demand Avoidance: Why Kids Refuse to Follow Directions - Psychology Today
- Symptom Tests for Children: Is Your Child Showing Signs of Pathological Demand Avoidance? - ADDitude: ADHD Science & Strategies
- Unstuck & On Target - Evidence-Based Curricula and Resources for Professionals and Families to Support Executive Functions.
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.
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