The PDA Parenting Podcast

Traditional parenting programs often don’t work for PDA families - not because parents aren’t trying hard enough, but because the structure itself creates pressure.In this episode, I share why I stopped offering a weekly parenting class and what flexible, PDA-informed support can look like instead.What if the problem isn’t you - or your child - but the structure of the support you’ve been offered?In this episode, I’m sharing why I stopped offering a traditional weekly parenting class for PDA families - and what I created instead.After listening closely to PDA parents, it became clear that rigid schedules, fixed weekly meetings, and pressure to “keep up” often make support inaccessible - even when parents deeply want help.Here, I talk about:Why traditional parenting programs often don’t work for PDA familiesHow nervous system safety impacts a parent’s ability to access supportWhy flexibility and autonomy matter just as much for parents as they do for kidsHow I redesigned my parent education and coaching program to fit real lifeWhat it means to look at the environment - not the child or parent - when something isn’t workingThe educational foundation of this work is the Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors: A Course for Parents by Robyn Gobbel, which I offer under license and integrate through a PDA-informed lens with coaching support.This program is offered on a rolling enrollment basis, with space for up to 12 families at a time. When the program is full, families are invited to join a waitlist until an opening becomes available.Whether or not this program is the right fit for you, my hope is that this episode offers reassurance, permission, and a reminder that needing a different structure doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.To learn more or check current availability, visit my website: www.amykcoach.com/parentcourse

What happens when learning shuts down - at school, at home, everywhere?In Part One of this two-part conversation, I’m joined by educator and consultant Danielle Rodda to talk about why learning becomes unsafe for so many PDA and neurodivergent kids.In this episode, we explore:Why compliance-based education doesn’t work for PDA nervous systemsHow school trauma and chronic pressure shut learning downWhy “more supports” still aren’t enoughThe emotional weight parents carry when nothing seems to helpThis episode is about context and permission - understanding that when learning stops, it’s not because you or your child are failing.Note: This conversation continues in Part Two, where we shift into rebuilding safety around learning, unlearning harmful narratives, and what learning can look like once pressure is removed.Support for Parents: 12-Week Course Now OpenIf this episode resonates, I want you to know you don’t have to navigate this alone!Registration is currently open for the 12-week parent course: Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors, created by Robyn Gobbel and adapted specifically for PDA families and led by Amy Kotha.✨ Bonus Session Included: Danielle Rodda, Neurodivergent Consulting, will join us for a bonus session focused on PDA + learning, unlearning, and the return to learning. 🔗 Registration is open now:  Click HERE for details!To connect with Danielle Rodda:@danielleroddaconsulting IGSubstackdaniellerodda.ca 

The holidays hit PDA parents harder - and it’s not your fault. In this episode, we break down why judgment, comparison, overwhelm, and the “good mom” myth intensify this time of year - and what’s really happening inside your nervous system and your child’s.You’ll learn: • why your child’s overwhelm triggers your own • how identity friction fuels shame • why holiday environments activate threat states • the parallel process between your nervous system and theirs • how comparison becomes a safety strategy • the difference between belief work and crisis work • how SOOTHE supports in-the-moment connectionAnd if you already know you want deeper support, the 12-week January program  (created by Robyn Gobbel) is the next step - where we get deeper, turn these nervous system tools into lived, everyday practice and gain parenting confidence. Registration opens this week!  Limited enrollment.Click HERE for Details + Registration!* Mentioned in episode: 'Echolocation for worth' concept comes from the work of Kara Loewentheil

In this episode, Amy explores why some kids - especially adopted, autistic, or PDA-identifying kids - avoid talking about their story, whether it’s adoption, trauma, or a new diagnosis. Using personal experiences from raising her two daughters, she explains how these conversations activate the nervous system and why avoidance is often about safety, not refusal.You’ll learn how to share your child’s story without triggering demand avoidance, how to “drip in” information gently over time, and why honesty paired with safety builds stronger identity and self-esteem. Amy also introduces her SAFE Story Framework to help parents approach disclosure with confidence and connection.Mentioned in This EpisodeFocus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior workshop (created by Robyn Gobbel, adapted for PDA and led by Amy Kotha) - December 5th @ 12 PM ETRaising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors  - a Parent Course (created by Robyn Gobbel, adapted for PDA and led by Amy Kotha) the 12-week parenting experience beginning January 12th, 2026         Doors Open!!  Click HERE for details + registration!