Why Traditional Parenting Programs Don’t Work for PDA Families - and What I Do Instead

Traditional parenting programs often don’t work for PDA families - not because parents aren’t trying hard enough, but because the structure itself creates pressure.

In this episode, I share why I stopped offering a weekly parenting class and what flexible, PDA-informed support can look like instead.

What if the problem isn’t you - or your child - but the structure of the support you’ve been offered?

In this episode, I’m sharing why I stopped offering a traditional weekly parenting class for PDA families - and what I created instead.

After listening closely to PDA parents, it became clear that rigid schedules, fixed weekly meetings, and pressure to “keep up” often make support inaccessible - even when parents deeply want help.

Here, I talk about:

• Why traditional parenting programs often don’t work for PDA families
• How nervous system safety impacts a parent’s ability to access support
• Why flexibility and autonomy matter just as much for parents as they do for kids
• How I redesigned my parent education and coaching program to fit real life
• What it means to look at the environment - not the child or parent - when something isn’t working

The educational foundation of this work is the Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors: A Course for Parents by Robyn Gobbel, which I offer under license and integrate through a PDA-informed lens with coaching support.

This program is offered on a rolling enrollment basis, with space for up to 12 families at a time. When the program is full, families are invited to join a waitlist until an opening becomes available.

Whether or not this program is the right fit for you, my hope is that this episode offers reassurance, permission, and a reminder that needing a different structure doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

To learn more or check current availability, visit my website: www.amykcoach.com/parentcourse