This brief episode explains what a "cognitive loop" is for a PDA child or teen, when they get stuck between their frontal lobe ("thinking brain") and their amygdala ("survival brain"). This is often when a child is experiencing an *internal* loss of autonomy because they can't do something they want or are trying to do.  I provide exampes from my son's life, for example, on a ninja course and playing a video game.  To connect with me, find me here: 

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For more resources for parents, including #actuallyautistic pages to check out and a list of PDA-affirming practitioners in North America, check out the resources page at PDA Parents.

For Courses, Programs, Coaching and Consulting, find me at At Peace Parents, LLC 

Thanks for listening! You are an amazing parent.

xoxo,
Casey



Ep. 6 - What is a "Cognitive Loop" for a PDA Child or Teen?

The At Peace Parents Podcast is your source for all things related to understanding, supporting, accommodating, and advocating for your demand avoidant or PDA child. It will completely transform the way you think about your PDA child's brain, behavior, and parenting, and support you in finding your path to more peace and stability in the home. For more information see www.atpeaceparents.com

Kids & Family

Parenting

In this episode I share how Polyvagal Theory - cutting edge understanding of how the human nervous system works - can help us parent our PDA children and teens. Specifically, I look at how it helps us answer the following paradoxical questions: 1 - Why do things seem to get worse after I dive in on accommodating? 2 - How can my child turn their responses on or off if the behaviors truly aren't under their conscious control? 3 - Similarly, how can equalizing be social in nature if not under their control? 4 - Why, after making so much progress with my PDA child, do I personally feel so awful in my own nervous system? To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass at www.atpeaceparents.com. You can also connect with me on: Instagram - www.instagram/atpeaceparents  TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@atpeaceparents Facebook - www.facebook.com/atpeaceparents YouTube - www.youtube.com/@atpeaceparents And information on my Courses, Programs, and Coaching is at my At Peace Parents website, www.atpeaceparents.com Thanks for listening! You are an amazing parent. xoxo, Casey

Ep. 60 - Polyvagal Theory and Parenting a PDA Child or Teen

In this episode I share the lessons I learned THE HARD WAY about advocating for my PDA son. Because you are truly not alone if you're feeling angry and exhausted after trying to convince teachers, doctors, therapists, grandparents, even spouses what your child needs and why - I've worked with hundreds of families who have gone through this.  I share these lessons in the hope that it will short cut the process for you, so you can preserve some of your limited energy.  Interested in the two books I mention - Non-Violent Communication and Boundary Boss. You can find links to both on our resources page, and if you buy through those links a commission will go towards our scholarship program. www.atpeaceparents.com/resources To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass at www.atpeaceparents.com. You can also connect with me on: Instagram - www.instagram/atpeaceparents  TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@atpeaceparents Facebook - www.facebook.com/atpeaceparents YouTube - www.youtube.com/@atpeaceparents And information on my Courses, Programs, and Coaching is at my At Peace Parents website, www.atpeaceparents.com Thanks for listening! You are an amazing parent. xoxo, Casey

Ep. 59 - Angry and Exhausted from Advocating for Your PDA Child? These ideas can help.

Parents often ask me how their three-year-old PDA child could possibly be masking before they've even started preschsool and seen much of how other kids behave. It's a great question, and one I asked many times as well.  In this episode I dig into the answer, according to Polyvagal Theory. To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass at www.atpeaceparents.com. You can also connect with me on: Instagram - www.instagram/atpeaceparents  TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@atpeaceparents Facebook - www.facebook.com/atpeaceparents YouTube - www.youtube.com/@atpeaceparents And information on my Courses, Programs, and Coaching is at my At Peace Parents website, www.atpeaceparents.com Thanks for listening! You are an amazing parent. xoxo, Casey

Ep. 58 - How Polyvagal Theory Explains Masking in PDA Children

In this episode Dr. Alex Klein and I answer questions that families submitted. If you'd like to submit a question for one of our future conversations, here is where you can do so: https://www.atpeaceparents.com/submit-question-klein-ehrlich Here's some of the questions we took on for this episode:How do you know if the behavior you are observing as a parent is from ADHD or PDA? What are the differences and similarities?Why are psychologists so resistant to recognizing PDA? (Asked as “What is wrong with Psychologists that they can’t see this as a neurotype!?!” 

Ep. 57 - Conversation with Dr. Alex Klein, Clinical Psychologist

Does your child refuses to write or draw? In this episode I share my story of my son's avoidance of both and how supporting his nervous with PDA accommodations enabled him to come back to them over time.  The story also illustrates the general logic of supporting a child through and out of burnout.  To learn more about and figure out if your child or teen is PDA, you can take my FREE Clarity Masterclass at www.atpeaceparents.com. You can also connect with me on: Instagram - www.instagram/atpeaceparents  TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@atpeaceparents Facebook - www.facebook.com/atpeaceparents YouTube - www.youtube.com/@atpeaceparents And information on my Courses, Programs, and Coaching is at my At Peace Parents website, www.atpeaceparents.com Thanks for listening! You are an amazing parent. xoxo, Casey

Ep. 6 - What is a "Cognitive Loop" for a PDA Child or Teen?

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