Is It Defiance or PDA? Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance in Kids | Dr. Amber Collins | Episode 52

Many parents struggle to understand why their child resists everyday requests like getting dressed, doing homework, or following simple routines. While it can look like defiance, for some children the root cause may be something deeper.

In this episode of The Couch Podcast, Dr. Juan Santos sits down with Dr. Amber Collins of Wayfinder Psychiatric Wellness to discuss Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)—a profile often associated with autism that involves an extreme anxiety-driven need to avoid everyday demands.

Dr. Collins explains how PDA can show up in children, why traditional parenting approaches may not work, and what parents can do instead to reduce conflict and better support their child.

Together, we explore practical strategies families can use at home, how schools can respond more effectively, and why understanding the anxiety behind PDA can transform how parents approach challenging behaviors.

If you are a parent, educator, or mental health professional trying to better understand children who resist demands in intense ways, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and actionable insight.

• What Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is
• Why PDA behaviors are often misunderstood as defiance
• The role anxiety plays in demand avoidance
• Signs that may suggest a child is experiencing PDA
• Parenting strategies that reduce power struggles
• How schools and caregivers can better support these children
• Why understanding the child’s nervous system is key

Dr. Amber Collins a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and the owner of Wayfinder Psychiatric Wellness.

She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families with diverse challenges and needs. She has experience with anxiety, depression, attention/focus concerns, or other mental health challenges.

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Connect with Santos Counseling

Santos Counseling provides counseling for individuals, couples, and families in Greensboro, North Carolina.

📍 411 Dolley Madison Road
Greensboro, NC 27410

📞 336-663-6570

🌐 https://www.santoscounseling.com

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