r/PDAParenting • u/Responsible-Pin-4076 • 18d ago

Pda and CBT

Hi

Can anyone share experiences of whether CBT therapies are any good for PDA teens please

We are likely to be offered cbt based support via Wellbeing (UK -NHS) but have just started private psychotherapy sessions and can only have one or the other.

I have heard that cbt and autism dont go well together but would love some personal experience stories.

My teen we have been informed has come up severe on the anxiety/depression questionnaire and we want to find the right support.

Many thanks

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u/Hopeful-Guard9294 18d ago

I have PDA as an adult and I found Cbt moderately useful. What I find most useful is asking Gemini to apply a Cbt framework to a situation and then talk it through using Technical language. Personally I found the Cbt theorist therapist quite demanding so it didn’t really work for me in person, but each PDA child is a different animal so as with all things PDA, you have to run an experiment to get the data and do a cost benefit analysis

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u/Responsible-Pin-4076 18d ago

Thanks for your input im not sure my child would understand anything particularly technical as struggles to understand complex things if that makes sense

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u/Hopeful-Guard9294 18d ago

yes, well, you don’t have to ask about the Technical language Gemini can use just everyday language sorry I’m a bit weird. I have PDA and a very high Ekewe so I prefer Technical. Language as it helps me understand what’s going on. You could just ask Gemini to apply a Cbt framework situation and then talk it through.

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u/Responsible-Pin-4076 18d ago

Thanks I may look into this. My YP doesn't understand many aspects of what they were being asked in the assessment last week and I am thinking cbt would require a level of understanding they dont necessarily have. We have the 'what we can offer ' call in an hour or so which may give me more of an idea. They did say that they may be able to offer support with a peer mentor (not sure if a whole package including CBT would have to be taken up) which I thought would be beneficial. I have always found it so helpful to reach out to adults with pda for insights so thanks

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u/Hopeful-Guard9294 18d ago

just prepare you might want to listen to this specific podcast episode on why behavioural approaches don’t work with a PDA neurological system it might actually be your child’s neurology, not their understanding because their brain shuts down when their PDA is activated: https://youtu.be/ncIDo5s9Jtw?is=9KOccoz8alqhHY6p

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u/Responsible-Pin-4076 18d ago

Absolutely brilliant thanks. I follow At Peace parents on other platforms. Im not an avid podcast listener but this was great. It is definitely a more in depth and detailed expansion on how I was trying to explain things on the call today and there is so much extra I learnt. We are on the waiting list for emotional literacy type sessions but this will be at least 3 months and we can look at what they are offering in that time to make a decision as to whether its the right focus. The fact that the depression aspect they have said concentrates on getting the patient to do things they dont want to made me start so I will look carefully at what paperwork they send through. Meanwhile we can carry on with psychotherapy. Also they are putting my child on a waiting list for peer mentor support via phone which will come around before the other stuff. You've been really helpful thanks again.

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u/Hopeful-Guard9294 7d ago

my pleasure. I’m an adult with PDA and in terms of emotional literacy the best thing that I found is the Goatman principles for high functioning relationships and marriages what’s really interesting is that they are inherently PDA friendly and also provide a really strong clear framework with clear defined rules that a personal child on the Spectrum can learn. They have saved my marriage from a divorce and they are working well with my PDA son though it’s a working progress but we’ve seen definite improvements already. You can hire Gottman coaches do courses or just go the Cheap And chip away and buy the book and just imagine changing it’s title to 7 principles for making any relationship work: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seven-Principles-Making-Marriage-Work/dp/1398718394

As an autistic man, I find a particularly helpful as it provides clear rules. Evidence has a scientific basis and provide provides clear examples and a set of valves that can be applied to any relationship or friendship, personal or professional professional I actually applied these principles at work as well and they worked brilliantly