Understanding PDA Through a Gospel Lens

Understanding PDA Through a Gospel Lens

From Raising Autistic Disciples by Raising Autistic Disciples

April 16, 2026 · 1h 12m · Season 2 · Episode 24

About this episode

Larah and Angie discuss Pathological Demand Avoidance and its implications for parenting through a gospel lens.

In this episode of Raising Autistic Disciples, Larah sits down with her friend Angie for an honest, VERY vulnerable, practical, and gospel-centered conversation about PDA, or Pathological Demand Avoidance. Larah comes into this conversation the same way many parents do, with questions. What is PDA really? How does it show up in everyday life? How do you parent a child who experiences demands, correction, and ordinary expectations in a very different way? And how do you hold on to a gospel lens while learning new ways to understand your child? Angie helps walk through the core traits often connected to a PDA profile, while also giving parents language, examples, and encouragement for the moments that can feel confusing, exhausting, or misunderstood. Together, they talk about nervous system survival, regulation, masking, parenting misconceptions, and why understanding how our kids are wired can help us better disciple them. This episode is especially for the parent who has felt overwhelmed, behind, or unsure where to even begin. You are not failing by learning as you go. And learning your child more deeply is not moving away from discipleship. It is part of faithful stewardship. In…

People in this episode

Host: Larah

Guest: Angie

Topics covered

  • Pathological Demand Avoidance
  • parenting
  • gospel-centered conversation
  • nervous system survival
  • regulation
  • discipleship

Keywords

  • PDA
  • parenting challenges
  • gospel lens
  • nervous system
  • behavior
  • discipleship
  • understanding children

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