Laura Archer, MSW

08/27/2025

PDA isn't the only type of 'Demand Avoidance', and it's a very rare presentation.

Here is a little bit of information on the different types of demand avoidance, it's important we investigate them when a child/adult is demand avoidant so we can understand the real reasons behind it. Here's a little bit of information on these...

EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AVOIDANCE
This is when certain tasks prove difficult due to executive function difficulties or impairments - such as starting a task or using one's working memory. We have 7 executive functions that are constantly in use every day. Give them a google to understand more!

SENSORY AVOIDANCE
When an environment isn't a 'sensory match' for a person, it can be overwhelming or over/under-stimulating and this can naturally lead to a person avoiding that environment. We have 8 senses and it's important we understand them and how environments affect them in order to know if sensory avoidance is an issue.

LOW SELF-ESTEEM BASED AVOIDANCE
When a person has low self-esteem and low self-efficacy it stands to reason that they will fear failing and this can put huge pressures on them. The easiest way to rid that pressure is to avoid the activity altogether. With neurodivergent individuals Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria may also play a part in this.

ANXIETY DRIVEN AVOIDANCE
Think about it... If a person, environment or object causes anxiety in someone it's very natural and rational for them to avoid the cause of the anxiety. It's a way of keeping oneself safe.

PATHOLOGICAL DEMAND AVOIDANCE
This is a really rare presentation and is linked to the demand (not necessarily the activity). The demand will trigger anxiety which leads for a 'pervasive drive for autonomy', or the desperate need to be in control in order to bring anxiety down. This need for control can often become the overriding factor in the situation, and can often appear 'irrational' where the demand avoidant response seems unnecessarily excessive or extreme. You may also find ALL of the other reasons for demand avoidance are present in a person with PDA.

Always great information from Sunshine Support❤️!

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07/24/2025

07/24/2025

"Self regulation is really internalized co-regulation!!!!"

07/11/2025

Just as pain can ripple through generations, so can peace. Just as wounds can be passed down, so can wisdom.

The patterns we repeat shape our legacy — but so do the ones we break.

When we choose presence over avoidance, compassion over criticism, connection over control… we plant seeds our children will one day harvest.

This is how cycles shift.
This is how we become the ancestors they’ll thank, not recover from.
And this is how love becomes the legacy.

You get to decide what you will pass down.
Love sounds pretty good to me. ❤️

Quote Credit: ❣️

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07/11/2025

07/11/2025

06/30/2025

I have some news!

After a wonderful period of time running my practice out of my Waterdown location, I have made the (difficult) decision to move my office to Burlington and practicing out of a therapy collective called The Arterie.

🗓 As of August 1st, 2025 all in person sessions will be held at The Arterie
📍The Arterie - 384 Guelph Line, Burlington (15 minutes from Waterdown)

Please reach out if you have any questions regarding how we can support you during this move. My time at the Waterdown Village Chiropractic & Wellness Group has been positive, so this was not an easy decision, but I am very excited about this next step.

06/24/2025

Parenting is a beautiful contradiction where we often feel two things at once. We call these "AND" moments.

These challenging moments pull us in all directions, feeling both messy and beautiful, hard and worth it all at the very same time…

And without an understanding of what an "AND" moment is, we are at risk of feeling confused and/or not enough.

Here is a poster you can print and hang to remind yourself to connect these thoughts that sometimes feel like contradictions with an "AND" instead. 🙂

For access to this printable and soooo much more, join us. Together we are raising an emotionally healthy world.

JOIN (FREE): https://genmindful.com/pages/join-our-community/