Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD): Flipping the Script on Labels and Finding Solutions When Nothing Seems to Work
And yet, the same struggles persist – aggression, shutdowns, mood swings, and more.
It can leave even the most dedicated therapists wondering – What am I missing?
For decades, diagnoses like Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and, more recently, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) were viewed as signs of willful defiance, manipulation, or poor parenting but emerging research tells a different story.
Dr. Amy Marschall, clinical psychologist and neurodiversity expert, offers a paradigm shift, reframing these labels and the resulting behaviors as survival strategies rooted in trauma, neurodivergence, and developmental delay – less about “bad behavior” and more about a neurological mismatch.
Learn the root causes of ODD, PDA, IED, and more – so you can address the underlying issues, not just the symptoms
Use trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming assessments to decode behavior and uncover unmet needs
Apply tools that build trust, co-regulation, and emotional resilience in autistic children, kids with ADHD, PTSD, and more
Replace meltdowns, shutdowns, and aggression with interventions that promote felt safety and emotional regulation
Empower parents and educators to support regulation and healing in any setting
You’ll also learn to challenge outdated myths and labels, and support clients through insight, not control.
Purchase today and become the therapist who truly sees – and supports – the children who need it most.
Credit
Canada Credit - CE Information Coming Soon
Continuing education credit information is coming soon for this non-interactive self-study package.
CEs may be available for select professions, as listed in the target audience. Hours will be dependent on the actual recording time. Please check with your state licensing board or organization for specific requirements.
There may be an additional fee for CE certificates. Please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details.
**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.
Amy Marschall, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in South Dakota, working primarily with children and adolescents. She is trained in trauma-informed care as well as cognitive behavioral therapy, and in 2017 became certified in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. In her clinical practice, Dr. Marschall works with survivors of abuse, families in the foster care system, children with incarcerated parents, clients dealing with high-conflict divorce or separation, and those growing up with other chronic stressors and traumas.
Dr. Marschall was diagnosed in adulthood as AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD), which informs her deeply empathetic and lived understanding of neurodivergence.
She is also the author of three professional resources: A Clinician’s Guide to Supporting Autistic Clients, Telemental Health with Kids Toolbox, and Telemental Health with Kids Toolbox, Volume 2. These publications reflect her commitment to providing accessible, neurodiversity-affirming, and trauma-informed tools for clinicians working with children and adolescents in both in-person and virtual settings.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Amy Marschall is the founder of Resiliency Mental Health and has employment relationships with RMH Therapy, ADHD Online, Prosper Health, AuDHD Therapists, A Change for Better, A Change for Better Fund, Grayce, and DotDash Meridith. She receives royalties as a published author. Amy Marschall receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Amy Marschall is a blogger with Resiliency Mental Health, Psychology Today, DotDash Meridith, and Everyday Health.
Movement and sensory strategies: safe spaces, sensory play, body-based tools
Routines and sleep: overcome barriers, hygiene plans, predictability across settings
Strengthen Relationships
Regulation, choice, and responsibility; developmentally matched tools
Parent-child: child-led play, check-ins, and intentional connection
Educator-student: practical tools for authentic engagement
Building inclusive, responsive classroom environments
Creative & Play-Based Interventions
Games, non-directive play, and creative outlets for big emotions
Research limitations and potential risks of misapplied strategies
Risks and limitations of common interventions
Break Through Behavioral Roadblocks
In-the-moment responses to significant behaviors
Suicide/self-harm statements
Elopement
Verbal and physical aggression
Controlling behaviors
When systems push back:
Navigate families and educators demanding strict discipline plans
Reframe resistance from adults who struggle to change
Target Audience
Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Marriage and Family Therapists
Speech-Language Pathologists
Teachers
School Administrators
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Nurses
Other Helping Professionals Who Work with Children
Reviews
Alert
Please note that the product you are purchasing is a pre-order and has not yet been recorded.
Typically, it is 4-6 weeks after the program date before the digital seminar will be available. If you decide to purchase, you will be notified when the product is ready to view.
Bundles Pricing
This product is part of a bundles which includes special pricing as displayed below.
Additional Participant CE Test
Additional Participant CE must be purchased for each additional viewer. These viewers will watch the video with the main registrant, but will have individual access to course handouts and certification. The standard price of this program includes certification for main viewer.
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