Positive Behaviour Support for PDA
​(Pathological Demand Avoidance)

---

Understanding PDA and Behaviour

Children with PDA often experience high levels of anxiety related to everyday demands. Behaviour such as avoidance, refusal, negotiation or emotional outbursts is often a response to feeling overwhelmed rather than intentional defiance.

​Positive Behaviour Support focuses on understanding:

• Why behaviours are happening
• What triggers anxiety and demand avoidance
• How environments and expectations can be adjusted
• How to build skills for regulation and participation

---

What is Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)?

Positive Behaviour Support is an evidence-informed approach that focuses on improving quality of life by understanding behaviour and teaching new skills.

​Rather than focusing on “managing behaviour,” PBS looks at:

• The purpose of behaviour
• Environmental and emotional factors
• Skill development
• Long-term, meaningful outcomes

---

​How PBS Supports Children with PDA

​PBS is particularly well suited to PDA because it focuses on reducing pressure, understanding behaviour and building trust.

​Support may include:

• Identifying triggers and reducing demand-related anxiety
• Developing low-demand, flexible approaches
• Supporting emotional regulation and coping strategies
• Creating consistent strategies across home and school
• Building tolerance for everyday expectations over time

---

Our Approach to PDA

At Belong Health, we take an individualised, collaborative approach.
We work closely with:

• Families
• Schools
• Support coordinators
• Other therapists

​Our approach focuses on:

• Reducing anxiety first
• Building trust and safety
• Supporting communication
• Creating realistic, sustainable strategies

---

Multidisciplinary Support for PDA

Children with PDA often benefit from a combination of supports.
At Belong Health, PBS can be provided alongside:

• Occupational Therapy (emotional regulation, sensory processing)
• Speech Pathology (communication and understanding)
• Counselling (emotional support and coping strategies)
• Psychology Assessments (understanding cognitive and behavioural profiles)

---

NDIS Positive Behaviour Support for PDA

Positive Behaviour Support is commonly funded under the NDIS when it aligns with a participant’s goals and support needs.
PBS may include:

• Functional Behaviour Assessments (FBA)
• Behaviour Support Plans
• Ongoing therapy and support
• Collaboration with families and schools

We work closely with participants and support teams to ensure supports are practical, ethical and aligned with NDIS requirements.

---

Who We Support
We support:

• Children with PDA traits or profiles
• Children with autism and demand avoidance
• Families experiencing challenges with behaviour and anxiety
• Schools needing support strategies

Frequently Asked Questions – PDA & Positive Behaviour Support

What is Positive Behaviour Support for PDA?
PBS for PDA focuses on understanding behaviour, reducing anxiety and developing flexible, supportive strategies rather than using rigid behavioural approaches.

How do you support a child with PDA?
Supporting a child with PDA involves reducing anxiety, using flexible approaches, building trust and avoiding unnecessary demands. Strategies focus on collaboration, choice, and helping the child feel safe and understood.

What therapy is helpful for PDA?
Children with PDA often benefit from a combination of supports, including Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and counselling. These supports focus on understanding behaviour, reducing anxiety and building practical skills.

Is PDA part of autism?
PDA is often discussed in the context of autism, although there are different perspectives on how it is best understood. The focus is on identifying the child’s needs and providing appropriate support.

Can a child have PDA traits without an autism diagnosis?
Some children may show PDA-like traits without having a formal autism diagnosis. Support can still be beneficial in helping manage anxiety, behaviour and daily functioning.

What causes PDA behaviour?
PDA behaviours are often linked to high levels of anxiety and a need to avoid demands that feel overwhelming. These behaviours are not intentional but are a response to stress and difficulty coping.

How do you regulate a child with PDA?
Supporting regulation involves reducing demands, using calm and flexible approaches, providing choices, and helping the child feel safe. Strategies are most effective when tailored to the individual.

What does Positive Behaviour Support look like for PDA?
Positive Behaviour Support focuses on understanding why behaviours occur, identifying triggers, reducing anxiety and developing practical strategies that support long-term outcomes.

What is an NDIS Positive Behaviour Support plan?
An NDIS Behaviour Support Plan outlines strategies to reduce behaviours of concern and support the individual’s safety, wellbeing and participation. It is developed based on assessment and tailored to the individual’s needs.

What are examples of Positive Behaviour Support strategies?
Examples may include adjusting the environment, reducing demands, using collaborative communication, providing choices, teaching coping strategies and supporting emotional regulation.

How can PDA be supported at school?
Support at school may include reducing pressure, offering choices, using flexible expectations, supporting communication and working collaboratively with teachers and support staff.

Do children with PDA improve over time?
With the right support, children with PDA can develop skills to better manage anxiety, tolerate demands and participate in everyday life. Support needs may change over time.

Are children with PDA aggressive?
Some children with PDA may show aggression when they feel overwhelmed or anxious. These behaviours are typically a response to stress rather than intentional behaviour.

Can PDA cause challenging behaviour?
Yes. PDA can be associated with behaviours such as avoidance, refusal or emotional outbursts, often linked to anxiety and difficulty coping with demands.

Is PDA caused by parenting?
No. PDA is not caused by parenting. It is related to how a child experiences and responds to demands and anxiety.

What does PDA look like in children?
PDA may look like avoiding everyday demands, needing control, becoming overwhelmed easily, using distraction or negotiation, and having strong emotional responses.

---

Get Support for PDA

If your child is experiencing demand avoidance, anxiety or behaviours that are difficult to manage, support can make a meaningful difference.

At Belong Health, we focus on practical, compassionate and individualised support to help children and families feel more confident and supported.
Contact our team today to discuss your child’s needs and the next steps

free 30min PBS Session
with our PBS Specialist for ages 0-65+

Empowering individuals and families, one goal at a time.

Connect with Belong Health to experience personalised PBS services in the Peel Region, Perth Metro or via Telehealth Across Australia.
Our Free Connect PBS session with a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner  is designed to address your unique needs and empower you or your family.
​Secure your spot today and discover how our team can help you thrive.

Our friendly team are happy to help call us on 08 9586 3634 or send us a message

Have a question? or need more information