PDA North America Resources
At PDA North America, we aim to provide as many resources as possible to support those living with PDA. To be updated when we add new content, please join our mailing list! If there’s a resource you’d like to see, please let us know!
Free Downloadable PDFs
Below you'll find free downloadable resources from PDA North America that we've created or compiled from various organizations supporting pathological demand avoidance. These resources will continue to grow so be sure to check back regularly. If you are looking for us to create a specific resource, email us to let us know! ruth@pdanorthamerica.org
PDA Consulting for Families, Schools & Therapists
PDA North America founder, Diane Gould, is available to consult on PDA related issues to parents, schools, therapists or any interested party anywhere in the country. Diane is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker that specializes in PDA autism. Diane is available for ongoing or as needed virtual parent consultations that focus on understanding the child, effective parenting styles, sibling issues and building community resources.
Services:
Consultations with families, therapists & school districts
Guest lecturer for school districts, parent associations, and private agencies
Consult with parents to discuss problems that may be occuring in school
Advocate to review records & attend IEP/504 school meetings with parents
Review & help create PDA supportive behavior intervention plans
Clinical consultation to therapists in order to better meet the needs of their PDA clients and families.
Formal training also available upon request
If interested in PDA consulting, please contact Diane Gould: info@pdanorthamerica.org
PDA-Affirming Provider List
Below you will find a link to one of the most powerful resources we’ve created to date – the PDA-Affirming Provider List. We have spoken to every provider on this list and confirmed that they are indeed PDA-affirming as well as LGBTQ+ affirming.
The list also includes all providers that are recognized by PDA North America as having taken the Certificate Program we offer. All other providers listed have given us permission to be listed.
To note: PDA North America is sharing names of trained individuals as a helpful resource. We do not specifically endorse or take responsibility for any individual listed on this list.
If you are a PDA-affirming provider that would like to be added to this list please fill out the form linked below.
If you would like your listing edited or removed, please contact Molly Johnson at: mjohnson@pdanorthamerica.org – Thanks!
PDA North America Support Groups
PDA North America helps facilitate many PDA Support groups throughout the USA and Canada. Support Groups are free to join, and volunteer-led. If you have any interest in joining a support group, leading/creating a new one, whether you’re a PDA person, or parent/caregiver of a PDAer, please fill out this quick survey. After you do, our Support Group Coordinator, Lara Johnson, will be in touch shortly.
If you have any additional questions regarding Support Groups, please reach out to Lara Johnson at Lara@pdanorthamerica.org
PDA Community Outreach List
PDA North America does not vet this list nor do we endorse anyone on this list. This list is created by and for the PDA community and extended community of caretakers/parents/family members.
We have compiled a library of links where you can find content and information in the field of PDA. Our list is ever growing so please check regularly for updates.
PDA North America is sharing names of trained individuals as a helpful resource.
We do not specifically endorse or take responsibility for any individual listed on this site.
Diane Gould Therapy – View
PDA Society UK – View
Kristy Forbes – View
Sally Cat PDA – View
Amanda Diekman – Low Demand Parenting View
Casey Ehrlich PhD – At Peace Parents View
No Pressure PDA View
Dr. Mona Delahooke, Pediatric Psychologist – https://monadelahooke.com/
Studio3 – View
Autism Awareness Centre Inc – View
PDA Mama Bear – View
Zach Morris – Alive At Learn – View
Dr. Lori Desautels – View
Tomlin Wilding – View
Riko’s Blog – View
Living and Learning with Pathological Demand Avoidance | Super Shamlal
Life on an Alien Planet: A PDA boy and his journey through the education system | Katie Stott
View
The Explosive Child | Ross W. Greene PhD
View
Beyond Behaviors | Mona Delahooke
View
No Fighting, No Biting, No Screaming | Bo Hejlskov Elvén
View
The Reflective Journey | Professor Andrew McDonnell
View
Uniquely Human | Barry M. Prizant
View
The Power of Showing Up | Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
View
Differently Wired | Deborah Reber
View
Being Julia – A Personal Account of Living with Pathalogical Demand Avoidance | Ruth Fidler and Julia Daunt
View
Connections Over Compliance – Rewiring Our Perceptions of Discipline | Lori L. Desautels, Ph. D.
View
Body Wisdom and the Polyvagal Theory | Autum Romano
View
Unmasking Autism by Devon Price, PhD.
View
The Teacher’s Introduction To Pathological Demand Avoidance, Essential Strategies for the Classroom by Clare Truman
View
Declarative Language Handbook by Linda K. Murphy MS, CCC-SLP
View
Autism as Context Blindness by Peter Vermeulen, PHD.
View
Brain-Body Parenting, How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids by Mona Delahooke, PHD.
View
Building A Trauma Informed Resorative School by Joe Brumer
View
The Autistic Trans Guild to Life by Yenn Perkus and Wenn Lawson
View
Tilt Parenting – A Conversation with Autism and Neurodiversity Specialist Kristy Forbes – Listen
Tilt Parenting – A Conversation Between Debbie Reber and Seth Perler For Teachers and School Administrators – Listen
PDA Parents – With Caitie and Casey. We share our experiences parenting young children with the pathological demand avoidance profile of autism. – Listen
Diane Gould Therapy – View
Zach Morris – View
PDA Society UK – View
Studio3 – View
Autism Awareness Centre Inc – View
Dr. Lori Desautels – View
Tomlin Wilding – View
Kristy Forbes – View
Sally Cat PDA – View
Riko’s Blog – View
PDA North America is sharing names of trained individuals as a helpful resource. We do not specifically endorse or take responsibility for any individual listed on this site
Diane Gould
LCSW, BCBA – View
Zach Morris
M.Ed.. Education Consultant
Homeschool Advisor – Alive at LEARN – View
Zach offers A PDA Homeschool Circle for parents that provides a space for sharing experience and developing strategies to help cultivate increased connection, collaboration, and understanding as it applies to learning and the dynamic at home. The circles will explore topics such as co-regulation, conscious communication, interests and resistances, structures for healing/strengthening.
Current PAST Certified PDA Professionals and Trainers
Certified PDA Professionals
Michelle Tolison, LPC, RPT
PAST Certified PDA Trainer and Family Consultant.
704-457-7834
Owner and Lead Therapist
Dandelion Family Counseling, PLLC
5950 Fairview Road, Suite 770
Charlotte, NC. 28210
Email: admin@dandelionfamilycounseling.com
Website: www.DandelionFamilyCounseling.com
Casey Ehrlich, Ph.D.
Michigan
Academic Researcher, Parent Coach
Email: pdamoms@gmail.com
Website: www.pdaparents.com
Annemarie Stone
US, Midwest, Illinois
Reading Specialist
Phone: 708-528-9663 (Mobile)
Email: annemarie_stone@yahoo.com
Dr. Lisa Novak, Psy.D
Wilmette, IL.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist,
Co-Founder, Illuminate Psychological Assessments PLLC
3330 Old Glenview Rd,
Suite 10,
Wilmette, IL 60091
Phone: 312-857-6393
Email: lisa@illuminateneuropsych.com
Website: https://www.illuminateneuropsych.com/
Caitie Shaughnessy
Michigan
Educator
Email: pdamoms@gmail.com
Website: www.pdaparents.com
Christine M Wert, B.S.
Southern USA (Texas)
Special Education Educator
Email: stitcha40@yahoo.com
Joanne Garard
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Educational Assistant/Private Business Owner
Email: jokiwi1@gmail.com
Jane Fahys, MA, LCSW
California
Jane does psychotherapy, providing guidance and support, but not diagnostic evaluations.
Individual and Family Therapy
7545 Irvine Center Drive
Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92618
Mailing:
PO Box 12284
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Phone: 949-281-6222
CA Lic Jannine Fahys 88744
Email: jane@janefahys.com
Website: www.psychologytoday.com/profile/751853
Jessica Myszak, PhD
Northwest Chicago Suburbs
Telehealth evaluations in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
Clinical Psychologist
Phone: 847-558-7321
Email: admin@helpandhealingcenter.com
Website: www.helpandhealingcenter.com
Corin Wesner, M.A., BCBA
San Francisco Bay Area
Behavior Analyst
Behavior Analysis Services,
Training and Support
Certification Number 1-19-35499
Phone: 312-972-0799
Email: cwesnerbcba@gmail.com
Salya Namazi, Ph.D
Silver Spring , MD.
Clinical Neuropsychologist
PSYPACT Certified Provider able to see clients across multiple states remotely.
The Stixrud Group
8720 Georgia Ave. Suite 606
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-565-0534
Email: snamazi@stixrud.com
Website: www.stixrud.com
Ariel Kornblum, PsyD, BCBA, LBA
New York , NY.
Clinical Director of Behavioral & Educational Services
Licensed Behavioral Analyst
Manhattan Psychology Group, PC
107 West 82nd St. Suite P101
New York, NY 10024
Phone: 646-389-4112
Fax: 212-500-0007
Email:
Ariel.Kornblum@ManhattanPsychologyGroup.com
Website: www.ManhattanPsychologyGroup.com
Donna Henderson, PsyD,
Maryland
Licensed psychologist in Maryland
Psypact certified to work with clients in 23 other states providing neuropsychological and social cognition evaluations.
Phone: 301-565-0534
Email: drdonnahenderson@gmail.com
Website: www.drdonnahenderson.com
Lisa L. Hancock, Ph.D., MBA
California, Nevada
Licensed Clinical Psychologist CA PSY 31333/NV PY 1035
NPI: 1538788971
Certified Autism Specialist CAS205668
Dr. Lisa Hancock is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides neuropsychological assessments, counseling, and psychotherapy to children, teens, families, couples, and adults. Dr. Hancock is experienced in conducting Independent Educational Evaluations (IEE); as well as supporting parents through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process. She is licensed in both California and Nevada.
Summit Center Office
Phone: 925-708-6296
Fax: 925-939-7501
Joanna Haase Ph.D., MFT
California
Consultations, Individual and Family Therapy
MFT License 22234
572 East Green St., Suite 208
Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: 626-799-7907
Email: drjhaase@mac.com
Website: http://drjoannahaase.com
Website: http://www.gro-gifted.org
Marcee Ben-Menachem, MEd., NBCT, LMHCA
Washington
Marcee is a mental health therapist specializing in children, adolescents and young adults. Her background is strongly rooted in working with neurodiverse individuals and families from a systems perspective.
9431 Coppertop Loop NE
Suite 205
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Phone: 206-795-9293
Email: marcee@thecompassmethod.com
Website: www.thecompassmethod.com
Linda Huber, PhD, NCSP, HSP
Franklin, TN
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Health Service Provider.
357 Riverside Drive
Suite 1000-B
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: (615) 336-3614
Email: huber@cedartree.clinic
Website: www.cedartree.clinic/
Emily MacLeod, M. ED
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Parent Consult for caregivers and families of PDA children.
Instagram: PDApassages
Facebook: PDA Passages
Email: pdapassages@gmail.com
Phone: 1-778-385-6022
Carol Jarvis Rogers, BEd MC-CCC
(Master’s in Counselling- Certified Canadian Counsellor with CCPA Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association) PDA Level 2 Accreditation (OCN with Laura Kerbey.)
As a mother, grandmother, educator, and counsellor of quirky-brained kids, I have 30+ years experience supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and caregivers/parents. As an experienced teacher, school counsellor, and college tutor I can help in advocating for inclusion within the systems. As a homeschooling parent for 15+ years, I have experience supporting home educators and their students. I am currently in private practice as a Solution-focused Strengths-based counsellor, parent coach, and educational consultant. I am available to any North American time zone via phone or video chat.
Email: caroljarvisrogers@gmail.com
Phone: (250) 898-9198
Elena G Kaiser – LCPC, ATC, BC
Evanston Illinois and surrounding area.
Elena specializes and integrates several modalities
for neurodiverse individuals.
Children -adolescents -Families and Adults.
Certified -PDA
Certified -EMDR
Certified -Art Therapist
Email: Elena@elenakaiser.com
Website: www.elenakaiser.com
Jessica Hanzo, MA, LMFT
Bay Area, California
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Available for therapy, and consultation services for families and providers
“Supporting PDA families from the bottom-up”
Email: info@pdaproject.com
Website: https://pdaproject.com/
Elise Jacobson, LICSW
Licensed to practice Social Work in Massachusetts for 30 years.
Elise provides tele-therapy to adults of all ages with an expertise in neurodiversity. Elise also offers guidance and emotional support to parents and brings to this work a background in child and family Social Work and her own experiences parenting a child with the PDA profile.
Phone: 617-680-1032
Email: rmjresearch@aol.com
Website: https://pdaparentconsultant.clientsecure.me/
Liora Schwartz, LMSW
Brooklyn, New York
Parent Coach and Trainer, focused on understanding behavior from a neurobiological framework. Social Work background in schools. Parent of a teen PDAer. Facilitates teen PDA parent support group.
Email: lioragschwartz@gmail.com
Website: www.lioraschwartzconsulting.com
Elizabeth Grillo, OTR/L, C/SIPT
Florida
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Certified in Sensory Integration and Praxis Test
Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS)
PDA parent perspective
Elizabeth is a pediatric occupational therapist specializing in a sensory integration framework with a focus on task analysis/ function with experience and certification in ASD/ PDA. She provides consultations and therapy for families and children.
Cell: (call/ text) 516-330-4020
Email: elizabethg321ot@gmail.com
Lindsay Flanagan
Denver, Colorado
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Parent Coach
Email: hiveparents@gmail.com
Website: www.hiveparents.com
One Day PDA Workshop Trained
Deborah L Smith – Kennewick, WA
Counselor
509-531-9542
dlsmith954@hotmail.com
Jennifer Corie – Baton Rouge
LA PhD, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist
Iceberg Therapy Services LLC
225-277-3442
jennifer.corie@icebergts.com
www.icebergts.com
Lisa B. Pesenti – Chicago, IL
Teacher/Admin
773-320-1377
lisabea30@gmail.com
Linda Benton, LCSW, CADC – St. Charles, Illinois
Social Worker
815-762-2451
linda.benton@advocatehealth.com
Sheiquilla Johnson – Blue Island Illinois
Teacher/Admin
708-704-5054
smarie674@gmail.com
Certified PDA Trainers
Sandra R. McConnell
PAST Certified PDA Trainer and Family Consultant
443-653-9449
PDAmamabear@gmail.com
Heather Jessup – Belleville, IL
850-830-0459
hnjessup@gmail.com
Kerissa Lyman
Certified PDA Trainer
Autism Advocate & Family Coach
Livinglyman@yahoo.com
Livinglyman.com
Living and Learning with Pathological Demand Avoidance | Super Shamlal
Life on an Alien Planet: A PDA boy and his journey through the education system | Katie Stott
View
The Explosive Child | Ross W. Greene PhD
View
Beyond Behaviors | Mona Delahooke
View
No Fighting, No Biting, No Screaming | Bo Hejlskov Elvén
View
The Reflective Journey | Professor Andrew McDonnell
View
Uniquely Human | Barry M. Prizant
View
The Power of Showing Up | Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
View
Differently Wired | Deborah Reber
View
Being Julia – A Personal Account of Living with Pathalogical Demand Avoidance | Ruth Fidler and Julia Daunt
View
Connections Over Compliance – Rewiring Our Perceptions of Discipline | Lori L. Desautels, Ph. D.
View
Body Wisdom and the Polyvagal Theory | Autum Romano
View
Unmasking Autism by Devon Price, PhD.
View
The Teacher’s Introduction To Pathological Demand Avoidance, Essential Strategies for the Classroom by Clare Truman
View
Declarative Language Handbook by Linda K. Murphy MS, CCC-SLP
View
Autism as Context Blindness by Peter Vermeulen, PHD.
View
Brain-Body Parenting, How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids by Mona Delahooke, PHD.
View
Building A Trauma Informed Resorative School by Joe Brumer
View
The Autistic Trans Guild to Life by Yenn Perkus and Wenn Lawson
View
Tilt Parenting – A Conversation with Autism and Neurodiversity Specialist Kristy Forbes – Listen
Tilt Parenting – A Conversation Between Debbie Reber and Seth Perler For Teachers and School Administrators – Listen
PDA Parents – With Caitie and Casey. We share our experiences parenting young children with the pathological demand avoidance profile of autism. – Listen
What Is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)?
PDA is becoming widely recognized in other countries to be a profile on the autism spectrum thanks to The PDA Society (UK) and PDA emissaries like Kristy Forbes and Ruth Fidler. However, US and Canada are still at an early stage in our understanding and PDA research is in its infancy.
While autism is a widely recognized term our understanding of the full breadth and complexity of the autism spectrum is still evolving. The National Autistic Society explains autism as, “a lifelong disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.” Many autistic advocates embrace the neurodiversity concept, where a range of neurological differences is viewed as being part of a natural human variation.
We know that autism is dimensional – it involves a complex and overlapping pattern of strengths, differences and challenges that present differently from one individual to another and in the same individual over time or in different environments.
A cluster of traits can be called a presentation or a profile – in some cases this can be quite different from what some people think autism ‘looks like’.
This can lead to presentations in some people – including autistic women and girls, and PDA individuals – being missed altogether, misunderstood or misdiagnosed, which can in turn lead to poor outcomes.
All research points to early identification and tailored support being the best predictor of positive long-term outcomes. Recognizing these profiles helps identify signposts the approaches or support that will be most helpful for each individual.
A PDA profile of autism means that individuals share autistic characteristics …
persistent difficulties with social communication and social interaction,” and, “restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, activities or interests,” present since early childhood to the extent that these, “limit and impair everyday functioning,” (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fifth Edition, DSM-5)
often including a different sensory experience in relation to sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing, vestibular, proprioception and interoception.
… and also:
have a need for control which is anxiety related
are driven to avoid everyday demands and expectations (including things that they want to do or enjoy) to an extreme extent
tend to use approaches that are ‘social in nature’ in order to avoid demands
present with many of the ‘key features’ of PDA rather than just one or two
tend not to respond to conventional parenting, teaching or support approaches
Source: The PDA Society