PDA and Neurodivergent-Affirming Parent Support Group
A mutual support space for parents who are exploring low demand approaches and finding what works when traditional parenting advice doesn’t fit their neurodiverse family.
Parenting children whose needs don’t fit the usual parenting advice can be isolating and exhausting.
This group exists to create a space for parents to share honestly, support one another, and explore approaches that are rooted in compassion, nervous system understanding, and lived experience.
We talk a lot about:
Low demand parenting
Nervous system accommodations (for your kids and yourself)
What it means to practice self-care in a life where your own needs are so often deprioritized
The grief of letting go of the parenting journey you imagined
The toll of being your child’s advocate in a world that misunderstands them
The process of rethinking everything you thought you knew about what “good parenting” looks like
Low demand tools and strategies to support your child
The challenges of navigating professionals, other parents, friends, and extended family who don’t get it
…and so much more.
More than anything, this group is a safe space to exhale and connect with other parents who get it. Whether you want to bring an issue to the group and ask for tips and tools from other parents, or share a hard moment and be heard and understood - you are welcome here!
What to Expect:
A facilitated support space
Each session is gently guided by facilitators who understand PDA, nervous system-aware parenting, neurodivergence, and the realities of raising a child who doesn’t fit the typical mold. The space is structured enough to feel safe and flow smoothly, but flexible enough to meet the group’s evolving needs.
Affirming, non-judgmental conversation
This is a place where you can speak freely without having to explain or defend your low-demand parenting choices. Whether you’re celebrating a win, grieving a loss, or just feeling overwhelmed, you’ll be met with empathy and validation.
Topics like low-demand parenting, co-regulation, and nervous system resilience
We explore the kinds of parenting strategies that actually work when your child has a PDA profile, is neurodivergent, and/or when traditional parenting strategies just don’t work. We talk about regulation (yours and theirs), how to lower demands without losing connection, and how to move through the world when parenting doesn’t look the way you thought it would.
Bi-weekly sessions, plus connection between meetings
We meet every two weeks for an hour and a half. Between sessions, you’ll have access to a private Whatsapp group where you can check in with other parents, vent, ask questions, and just feel less alone in the day-to-day.
Opportunities to share ideas and resources, be heard and understood, and feel less alone
There’s so much wisdom in this community. Each meeting offers a chance to swap tools and strategies, reflect on what’s working (or not), and build relationships with other parents who truly get it. You’ll leave each session with a little more clarity, a little more grounding, and the reminder that you’re not in this alone.I am happy to be a resource for folks seeking a therapist who shares these identities, or aligns with these values.
FAQs
Does my child need to have a formal diagnosis?
Nope. Diagnoses aren’t necessary to join. If you’re parenting a child who resists everyday demands, struggles with transitions, needs a highly individualized approach, or is neurodivergent in some kind of way—and you’re trying to meet them with compassion—you’re welcome here.
Where does group take place?
This group takes place online to support easy access for parents wherever they are. (Though we do have future dreams of retreats and in-person gatherings, thoughtfully designed and well-supported for PDA and neurodivergent families.)
How do I know if I’d be a good fit for the group?
This group is a good fit for you if you’re committed to a neurodivergent-affirming approach and are actively working to parent from a place of curiosity, compassion, and connection. You may be deep into low demand parenting, or just beginning to unlearn more traditional approaches, but you’re not here to “fix” your child through compliance-based strategies or behavioral control.
You’re likely a good fit if:
Your child shows a PDA profile or strong demand-avoidant patterns, and you're looking for other parents who get it. (Want to learn more about PDA? Check out the PDA Society)
You're curious about, or already practicing low-demand parenting (even if you're still figuring out what that looks like for your family!)
You are moving away from reward/punishment models and toward relationship-based care
You want to support your child’s autonomy and sense of safety
You're willing to look at your own stuff along the way. (Low-demand parenting asks us to examine what we were taught parenting "should" look like, which can sometimes be tricky!)
You are open to reflecting on your own nervous system and how it shows up in parenting
You are seeking community with others who don’t think your child just needs more discipline, structure, or rules
You can hold space for other parents' experiences (Sometimes, folks may want advice and ideas, but we don’t automatically jump to fixing or advising)
Overall, you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be open to supporting your child as they are, not who the world expects them to be, and to meeting other parents in that too.
When is the next group?
Our groups have six sessions per term. They occur every other week, for an hour and a half each. At the start of each term, we open enrollment for new members. To find out when the next group will start - contact us here.
Who Leads the Group?
The group has two co-leaders:
-Tori Garner, MSc.A OT (An Occupational therapist) and
-Lacy Alana, LCSW, RSW, MSSW (a neurodivergent psychotherapist).
Tori and Lacy originally met through shared clients, and connected over the shared recognition that many of our clients would benefit from support and connection with other families navigating unique parenting journeys. Now, several terms later, the group is still going strong!
Tori and Lacy are present to facilitate an open sharing space, share ideas, and provide guidance and support. We fully recognize and value the wisdom of our parents - and though we’re there to support, we want to center your voices. We aim to offer enough structure to feel safe, while also being flexible enough to meet the group’s evolving needs.
What do you mean by “nervous system accommodations”?
We talk about ways to adjust environments, expectations, and relationships to support regulation—for both kids and caregivers. That might mean building in rest, lowering demands, shifting routines, rethinking traditional parenting advice, and more!
What if I’m still figuring all this out?
That’s totally okay. This is a place to explore, ask questions, and learn from other parents who get it. As long as you’re affirming, wanting to meet your kids where they are, and are engaged in unpacking the journey along the way -you’re welcome here!
How do I join?
We accept new members into the group at the start of every term. To ensure that each group member is a fit - we’ll schedule a phone or video intake call with the potential group member before the group starts. If it seems like a good mutual fit - then we can get you enrolled for the next session! We do intake calls all the time - so message us to get started!
How much does it cost?
We know that the costs of raising neurodiverse kids add up, and don’t want that to be a barrier to parents having access to support too. We offer a sliding scale of $150-250 for each session, charged at the beginning of each term. We do not ask for income verification, as we recognize that a number of factors can impact family finances. We ask that families choose the rate at the intersection of value and sustainability. If this is untenable for you, please reach out, and we can discuss whether it may be possible to find an arrangement that works.