Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
What does this course involve?
Looking beyond challenging behaviour to understand what may be driving resistance, avoidance and opposition.
When someone repeatedly refuses requests, avoids everyday demands or responds strongly when expectations are placed upon them, it can be easy to interpret their behaviour as deliberately difficult or defiant.
This course explores Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), helping participants develop a greater understanding of the different factors that may influence demand avoidance and oppositional behaviour.
Bill encourages participants to look beyond labels and consider what the behaviour may be communicating, helping develop approaches based on understanding, communication and the needs of the individual.
Moving from “won’t” to “why?”
Behaviour doesn’t happen without context.
What appears to be refusal, defiance or an unwillingness to cooperate may have much more happening beneath the surface. Anxiety, emotional regulation, perceived loss of control, previous experiences, communication difficulties and the demands of the environment can all influence how someone responds.
Developing a greater understanding of these factors can change not only how we interpret behaviour, but how we respond to it.
- Understanding demand avoidance
- Exploring the PDA profile
- Understanding Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Differences and similarities between PDA and ODD
- Looking beyond labels and diagnoses
- Understanding demands and expectations
- Anxiety and demand avoidance
- The importance of autonomy and control
- Emotional regulation
- Understanding triggers
- Recognising patterns of behaviour
- Looking beyond refusal and opposition
- Escalation and challenging situations
- Communication and language
- Adapting expectations and approaches
No PowerPoint. No Death by Slides.
Bill believes the best training happens through conversation, discussion and genuine engagement — not by reading information from a screen.
Every Just Say Training course is written and delivered personally by Bill, drawing upon more than 35 years of experience working in mental health and related services.
There are no PowerPoint presentations. Instead, participants are encouraged to ask questions, discuss real situations and explore the subject in an open and engaging environment.
The result is training that feels relevant, memorable and connected to the real world.
What can you expect from the course?
Repeated refusal and oppositional behaviour can be incredibly challenging for the people providing support, particularly when approaches that usually work appear to make the situation worse.
Bill helps participants step away from simply asking, “How do we make this person comply?” and instead consider “Why is this demand so difficult for them?”
That change in perspective can open the door to different ways of communicating, setting expectations and building relationships.
- Understand Demand Avoidance – Explore why everyday requests and expectations can create significant difficulties for some individuals.
- Understand ODD – Develop greater awareness of oppositional behaviour and the factors that may influence it.
- Look Beyond Defiance – Consider what may be driving refusal, resistance or challenging behaviour.
- Recognise Triggers – Explore how demands, environments and communication can influence someone’s response.
- Adapt Your Approach – Consider different ways of communicating and presenting expectations.
- Build Better Relationships – Explore how trust, understanding and communication can support more positive interactions.
- anisation or emotional regulation may be communicating.
- Challenge Assumptions – Explore common misconceptions surrounding ADHD and neurodivergence.
- Adapt Your Approach – Consider how communication, expectations and environments can become more supportive.
- Recognise Strengths – Look beyond challenges and recognise the abilities, perspectives and strengths of the individual.
Year of Experience
Years Delivering Training
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Courses Written & Delivered by Bill
Why choose PDA & ODD training?
When someone repeatedly refuses requests or challenges expectations, focusing only on the behaviour can lead to frustration and conflict.
Greater understanding allows us to ask a different question: what is driving the behaviour?
This course helps participants explore demand avoidance and oppositional behaviour from a broader perspective, considering the influence of anxiety, emotional regulation, autonomy, communication, relationships and the individual’s environment.
It can be particularly valuable for people working within education, social care, fostering, healthcare, family support, youth services, residential care, charities and other services supporting children, young people or families.
The aim is not simply to find better ways of achieving compliance. It is to develop a greater understanding of the individual and consider approaches that can reduce conflict, strengthen relationships and provide more effective support.