Understanding PDA: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

This 4-page guide explores Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a profile of autism characterised by a nervous system-based need for autonomy. Created by Dr Natasha Holden, Clinical Psychologist and parent of a PDA child, this resource combines professional expertise with lived experience.

The guide offers a thoughtful examination of what PDA feels like from the inside, explaining key features and common misunderstandings. It explores how the nervous system responds to demands and why traditional approaches often don't work. Most importantly, it provides practical, compassionate strategies for creating safety and supporting individuals with PDA.

Written in accessible language with clear explanations, this resource is ideal for parents, carers, educators and professionals seeking to better understand and support those with PDA. The guide emphasises connection over compliance and offers a neurological perspective that helps readers move beyond behaviour to understand the needs beneath.