Occupational Therapy – Working with PDA Children (Q&A Session)

What does effective occupational therapy look like for children with a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile?

Working with PDA children often requires occupational therapists to think differently. Traditional approaches can unintentionally increase anxiety and demand, making it difficult to build trust, complete assessments or achieve meaningful therapeutic outcomes.

In this practical and insightful Q&A session, Rachel from the PDA Society is joined by Faith Newton, Highly Specialist Children’s Occupational Therapist, Director of ND Kids Occupational Therapy and Consulting, author, and parent of two PDA children.

Responding to questions submitted by both parents and occupational therapists, Faith shares real-life strategies for creating low-demand, neuro-affirming therapy that meets children where they are. Covering everything from preparing for appointments and working within NHS constraints to managing shutdowns, masking and therapy that doesn’t follow a linear path, this session is packed with practical ideas that can be implemented immediately.

In this session, you’ll discover:

• How to help PDA children feel safe before, during and after occupational therapy appointments
• Practical ways to build trust when a child is anxious, disengaged or refuses to participate
• Low-demand strategies for therapy in clinics, schools, homes and online
• How to work creatively within NHS time and service limitations
• What to do when a child masks, shuts down or senses an agenda
• How to gather meaningful clinical information, even when formal assessments aren’t possible
• Approaches to sensory regulation that avoid creating additional demands
• Ways to adapt therapy to remain child-led, flexible and neuro-affirming
• How to support parents while recognising their expertise and lived experience
• Why indirect work, environmental adaptations and adult coaching are often more effective than traditional therapy models

What you’ll gain

This session offers practical, compassionate guidance that will help you rethink how occupational therapy can support PDA children. Rather than focusing on compliance or completing assessment tasks, you’ll learn how to prioritise trust, safety, regulation and collaboration to achieve better long-term outcomes.

Whether you’re an occupational therapist looking to develop more PDA-informed practice or a parent wanting to better understand how therapy can work for your child, you’ll come away with a wealth of adaptable strategies, increased confidence and a deeper understanding of what truly supports PDA children to thrive.

Ideal for: Occupational therapists, allied health professionals, parents and carers, SENCOs, education professionals, and anyone supporting children and young people with a PDA profile.

DISCLAIMER

The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the PDA Society.

While we aim to provide balanced and inclusive discussions, individual experiences and perspectives may vary. The PDA Society is committed to using language and terminology that reflects the preferences of PDA and autistic people, but sometimes our guests may use language and terminology which differs.

Appearance on our podcast is not an endorsement of an individual, and not all of our guests will align with our position on the issues discussed.