Support & Coaching For All The Family
Whatever the age of your child, if you have just received a diagnosis of autism, PDA or ADHD it can be incredibly overwhelming and difficult to know where to turn to next. We can offer advice or guidance around supporting your child at home and at school. Perhaps you are at the start of your journey of discovering your child’s needs and are looking for guidance to navigate your journey. A diagnosis is not required to access the support we offer.
You can arrange a meeting to discuss your child's individual needs. We can also offer support by phone and by video calls and e-mail. Support is on-going and we work with families to ensure that parenting an autistic child and associated conditions can become a little easier. We can also offer support with schooling, Education Health Care Plans and work closely with schools to ensure that all your child's needs are met at both home and school.
Support & Coaching for all the family
PDA Support
How can we help
One to one consultations with parents and carers to discuss effective and compassionate support and PDA strategies
Liaise and work with schools and colleges to ensure appropriate support in education
Support Groups for parents and carers
Parent and carer training on PDA
If you suspect that your child has PDA you may find it helpful to complete the Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire on the PDA Society Website - Take the questionnaire
What is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)?
PDA is a complex autism spectrum condition characterised by high anxiety and a need for autonomy. As a result of high anxiety individuals with PDA can find everyday demands and requests intolerable. Often children and young people with PDA can display behaviours that are challenging to others.The strategies to manage PDA are different to the strategies that can be effective for individuals with other forms of autism. Many parents feel frustrated and helpless as children with PDA can behave very differently at home and school, and therefore are often told that their child’s behaviour is a result of their parenting. Many Local Authorities do not recognise PDA as it is not in the DSMV - Surrey is one of these authorities, however, at PAST we can advise you on how to work with LA's to ensure your child gets the support they require.
PAST Mentoring Service
What to expect:
In our first session, we focus on understanding who you are and what you want out of mentoring, often by asking a few open ended questions, to give mentees the space they need to say what's important to them. Most of the time, sessions are conversations, centred around giving children and young people the space to talk about whatever is on their mind. Sessions can focus on mental health and coping strategies, or simply on what you found fun that week!
Please Note:
Our mentoring team are not trained counsellors or legal professionals but have undertaken mentoring training, PDA training, Safeguarding training and are fully insured. Any advice given as a mentor comes from personal experience of being a young neurodivergent person.
Session cost: £25 for 30 mins
£50 for one hour
Mentoring Sessions:
Our mentoring team is made up of young neurodivergent adults who can create safe and trusting relationships with children and young people. Sessions can be offered at our offices in Great Bookham, Surrey or online.
Sessions are adapted to suit each individual’s needs and create a safe place where mentees can chat in a non-judgmental space. Online sessions could involve the use of gaming and face to face sessions could use sports, arts and crafts etc (whatever the mentee feels happy to do!)
We can offer one off sessions or regular weekly, fortnightly or monthly catch ups.
Things we can help with:
Navigating social confusion, boundaries, and masking
Self-care practises for neurodiversity and burnout
Providing a compassionate, safe space to answer and affirm any questions about neurodiversity
Understanding what it means to be Autistic, ADHD, or both!
Discussing challenges around education, friendships and relationship