Pathological Demand Avoidance/Pervasive Desire for Autonomy (PDA) in Autistic Adults
Lived Experience and the PDA Safe Circle® Approach
- Speaker:
- Shoshana Meira Friedman
- Duration:
- 1 Hour 30 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
May 06, 2026
- Product Code:
- POS150763
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance/Pervasive Drive for Autonomy) can profoundly impact daily life for Autistic adults, yet it’s often misunderstood. In this session, Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman—Autistic PDA adult and creator of the PDA Safe Circle®—shares her lived experience and introduces a strengths-based, neurodivergent-affirming, and nervous system informed framework for reducing distress and increasing thriving in this highly vulnerable population.
Credit
Speaker
Shoshana Meira Friedman Related seminars and products
Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman is a PDA Autistic woman and creator of The PDA Safe Circle®, a transformative online community for PDAers of all ages to thrive within the constraints of their vulnerable nervous systems. After a previous career in Jewish congregational leadership and climate activism, she is now a sought-after coach and trainer for PDA adults, parents, and allied clinicians. Her writing has been published in many venues, including The New York Times and Psychotherapy Networker magazine. She is the author of two children's books. More at rabbishoshana.com and PDASafeCircle.com
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Rabbi Shoshana Friedman is the creator of The PDS Safe Circle, LLC. She is the High Holiday Prayer Leader at the Temple Beth El and receives royalties as a published author. Rabbi Shoshana Friedman receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Rabbi Shoshana Friedman has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
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Objectives
- Summarize how PDA manifests in autistic adults and the impact on daily life from a lived-experience perspective.
- Identify limitations and risks associated with conventional behavioral interventions for PDAers
- Recall the PDA Safe Circle® metaphor as a visual framework for supporting autonomy and reducing distress.
Outline
PDA in Autistic Adults: Lived Experience
- How PDA manifests in adulthood
- Story from a PDA young adult
- Story from a married couple with one PDA partner
- Story from a PDAer who is a parent
- Common misconceptions
The PDA Safe Circle® Approach
- Core metaphor: The safe circle
- 6 Elements of the Approach: A roadmap to thriving
- Limitations of the research and potential risks
Key take-aways for clinicians
- Lived experience clarifies PDA is a physiological not psychological disability
- The safe circle is a tool clients can use for self-understanding and life design
- Felt safety is key for PDAers. How we get there is atypical.
Target Audience
- Counselors
- Educators
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Physicians
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Speech-Language Pathologists
Reviews
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