Dear PDA Mama Bear...

My name is Sandra McConnell and I'm the PDA Mama Bear. I'm a blogger, speaker, coach, and mentor on Autistic Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).

For my "day job" I'm conveniently an instructor at a large company, teaching Diversity and Neurodiversity topics. My past experience and training includes corporate communications; mediation and conflict resolution; interview and negotiation; organizational leadership; photographer; and even crime scene investigation.

My education includes two recent graduate certificates in Learning Differences & Neurodiversity specializing in Executive Functioning and Autism from Landmark College (2021); a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychophysiology from Argosy University (2006); and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology from the University of New Mexico (UNM, 2000).

And most importantly, I'm also an experienced mother of three, the oldest of whom is both gifted and PDA, now aged 11 and doing well in mainstream 6th grade. My middle child is ADHD, and the little one is left handed (haha). I live with my husband and children in Maryland, USA. I identify as neurodivergent and "positively PDA." And because of that I offer a very unique - and very PDA - perspective of psychology and sociology, rejecting archaic, pessimistic behavioral paradigms based on force, and instead advocating for warmth, wisdom, trust, safety, and communication as the true bedrocks for growth and fulfillment.

Services

Email me today using the form below to request a free, no-obligation introductory consultation. I train parents with PDA'ers ages 11 and under (my own son's age), and I mentor stable (not in crisis) adult PDA'ers who want to learn how I've leveraged PDA for good things. To the parents of teenagers: I can certainly train you but my personal stories may be limited by not having my own teenager. I use an unstructured, casual, conversational approach. My rate after the introductory session is $75/hour, with most people booking 2 at a time, 2 to 4 weeks apart. Coaching/mentoring is meant to finite but cyclical, with you "leveling up" and then heading out to process and practice what you learned, and circling back later with new questions, to keep leveling up. I encourage new sessions, but do avail myself to no-cost emails, and there are no timelines to keep. My consultation times are 3:30pm and 8:30pm in the eastern United States on weekdays, usually by phone. Let me know what your time zone is, and preference for 3:30pm or 8:30pm, and any other scheduling needs. I will respond with my next available opening that matches, which is usually within 1 - 3 weeks. Oh, and don't forget to tell me a little about your PDA story in the email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Dear PDA Mama Bear...

Services

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Dear PDA Mama Bear,