The PDA Parenting Podcast

• From Fear to Hope: Parenting Through Crisis with Compassion

  In this heartfelt episode, Amy opens up about a recent family crisis that brought her to her knees - and the quiet resilience that helped her rise again. Through personal reflection, she explores the science of co-regulation, the role of community in healing, and what clinical psychologist Dr. Matt Zakreski calls “psychological capital” - hope as something we can actively build through small acts of connection.You’ll leave with compassion, clarity, and a practical 5-step plan for crisis moments - so you can respond with love, not fear.Resources Mentioned:Dr. Matt Zakresky — In the Business of Hope: How to Keep Believing When Things Feel ImpossibleDr. Mona Delahooke — The Developmental Iceberg: Looking Below the Surface of Challenging BehaviorsCrisis & Suicide Lifeline (U.S.) — Call or text 988Find a Helpline (International) — findahelpline.com📄 Download Amy’s ND-Accommodating Family Safety Plan - a neurodivergent-affirming guide to help you stay grounded and prepared during emotional storms. ❤️ Get your free copy by clicking HERE Join the waitlist for Amy’s new 12-week parent course: “Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors - a course for parents” - created by Robyn Gobbel and led by Amy Kotha.  Adapted for families raising sensitive, PDA, or neurodivergent kids who need a new kind of understanding. Join the Waitlist → Click HERE

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• Why Hygiene is Hard for PDA Autistic Kids (and How Parents Can Help)

   Why is hygiene such a struggle for PDA autistic kids? And why does pushing only make it harder?In this episode of the PDA Parenting Podcast, Amy explores the real reasons behind resistance to toothbrushing, showering, and other daily self-care routines. You’ll learn how nervous system responses, sensory sensitivities, and demand avoidance all play a role, and why it’s never about laziness or willfulness. Amy shares practical, creative strategies that ease the pressure, support autonomy, and restore connection - so parents can move away from shame and toward compassion. Whether it’s silly characters like “Ms. Helga,” salon visits, or scaffolding with small steps, this conversation offers hope, empathy, and tools for families walking this path.Want more support? Join the waitlist for my upcoming 12-week parent course, Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors (developed by Robyn Gobbel, led by me, Amy K). You’ll be the first to know when doors open! 👉 Join the waitlist here:  https://amykcoach.myflodesk.com/bafflingbehaviors

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• Scaffolding Through Life Transitions: Supporting PDA Teens with Safety & Collaboration

  Parenting a PDA teen means our role is always evolving - and nowhere is that more clear than during big life transitions like starting college, a first job, or moving away from home. In this episode of The PDA Parenting Podcast, Amy Kotha shares how scaffolding, cues of safety, and collaborative strategies can help PDA teens and young adults navigate overwhelming changes without collapsing under the weight of demands.Drawing on neuroscience, polyvagal theory, and her own experience supporting her PDA autistic daughter as she transitioned into college life, Amy explores:What scaffolding really means for PDA kids, teens, and young adultsWhy cues of safety* (sensory, emotional, relational) are not extras but nervous system essentialsHow to lower demands and support autonomy through collaborationWhat these transitions mean for parents, whose nervous systems are also adapting and shiftingWhether your child is starting a new school year, leaving home, or facing any big change, this episode will help you reframe scaffolding as a strength - a bridge toward growth, safety, and connection.Because while this path is hard, your presence, your love, your being - is enough.* Gobbel, R. (Host). (2020–present). The Parenting After Trauma Podcast [Audio podcast]. Robyn Gobbel, LLC. https://robyngobbel.com/podcast

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• Voice, Vision, and Validation: A Conversation With Diane Gould on Empowering Neurodivergent Lives

  In this powerful episode of The PDA Parenting Podcast, host Amy Kotha is joined by Diane Gould, LCSW - a veteran therapist, late-diagnosed autistic woman, and Director of PDA North America. Diane shares her personal journey to discovering her neurodivergence and how it informs her professional mission to amplify PDA awareness and advocacy across the continent.Together, Amy and Diane dive into what it truly means for neurodivergent individuals - especially those with a PDA profile - to find their voice in a world that often misunderstands them. From school struggles and masking to identity, self-advocacy, and parenting with presence, this episode is rich with insight, validation, and practical wisdom.Highlights:Diane’s late autism diagnosis and the surprising story behind itThe founding and mission of PDA North AmericaThe power of lived experience in supporting PDA familiesRethinking behavior through the lens of curiosity and nervous system regulationWhat it means to scaffold our kids' voices — not replace themA vision for a truly neurodivergent-affirming worldResources & Contact:📚 Navigating PDA in America by Diane Gould & Ruth Fidler🌐 PDA North America  www.pdanorthamerica.orgPEERS®-Inspired Friendship & Relationship Program  https://dianegouldtherapy.com/peers/📧 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]✨ To learn more about Amy’s work or to get coaching support, visit www.amykcoach.com

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• Life with a PDA Sibling: A Raw Conversation with Devi

  What is it really like to grow up with a sibling who has PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) autism? In this powerful episode, I sit down with my daughter Devika -an autistic, ADHD teen herself - to talk about her personal experience as the sister of a PDA child. Devi shares openly about the emotional ups and downs, how family dynamics were affected, and what helped her feel seen in a home where one child needed constant support.This heartfelt conversation touches on the invisible sibling role, neurodivergent family dynamics, and the unique challenges of being both a support system and a child navigating her own needs. If you’re a parent wondering how to support your neurotypical or neurodivergent child alongside a PDA sibling, this episode is a must-listen!• Growing up with a sister who struggled with leaving the house for school created early confusion and stress• Feeling the need to stay quiet and not express needs because they "weren't as important" as her sister's• Taking on the "mascot" role in the family – using humor and distraction to cope with difficult situations• Finding school to be a crucial escape from home life struggles• The importance of discovering "safe people" outside the family who see you as an individual• Learning that PDA outbursts aren't personal: "They take it out on you because they know you're somebody who will never leave them"• How sibling relationships can evolve positively over time with understanding and communication• Advice for siblings currently living through difficult family dynamics with PDADownload the free guide "Invisible Roles in PDA Families" through amykcoach.com to explore the roles your children might be taking on and find ways to better support all family members.

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