Menu
Menu
You’ve tried it all –
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.
You’ll also learn to challenge outdated myths and labels, and support clients through insight, not control.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.
Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationships
All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.
PESI Australia, in collaboration with PESI in the USA, offers quality online continuing professional development events from the leaders in the field at a standard recognized by professional associations including psychology, social work, occupational therapy, alcohol and drug professionals, counselling and psychotherapy. On completion of the training, a Professional Development Certificate is issued after the individual has answered and submitted a quiz and course evaluation. This program is worth 6.25 hours CPD for points calculation by your association.
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual - Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) (3.1 MB) | 41 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| PDA Handout (204 KB) | 3 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) - French (3.1 MB) | 41 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| PDA Handout - French (204 KB) | 3 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) - Italian (3.1 MB) | 41 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| PDA Handout - Italian (204 KB) | 3 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) - German (3.1 MB) | 41 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| PDA Handout - German (204 KB) | 3 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) - Spanish (3.1 MB) | 41 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| PDA Handout - Spanish (204 KB) | 3 Pages | Available after Purchase |
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:
Access never expires for this product.
For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepepesi.com
The Neurodiversity Paradigm: A Brief Overview
A way forward through affirming, trauma-informed care
Assessment & Diagnoses
A Trauma-Informed, Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach
“Behavior Problems” Through a Compassionate Lens
What lies beneath: the discomfort of changing established practices
A Fresh Approach to Change the Narrative
Build insight, communication, and attachment
Break Through Behavioral Roadblocks
In-the-moment responses to significant behaviors
Please wait ...