For some children the demands of every-day life provoke high anxiety. They act to protect themselves, with a “NO!”. The more parents push, the higher their anxiety gets, and the more vehement that NO! becomes.
This means that conventional parenting strategies don’t just not work, they actively make things worse. Pretty quickly, the child and the parent can be locked in battles. No one knows the way out.
It’s all fuelled by anxiety, and an intense need to avoid anxiety. Lowering demands helps to reduce that anxiety and hopefully starts to free the child up to make decisions based on something other than that strong need to avoid.
So are demand avoidant children fated to spend their lives highly anxious? Is this just ‘wired in’ to them?
No. Anxiety can change, and children can become less anxious over time. They can gain an awareness of their own responses and an understanding of their reactions.
Part of growing up is learning how to manage our emotions and this is something that all children can learn.
There are things that parents can do to help their children and that’s what I’m talking about this course.
Suitable for all demand avoidant children, whether they have a diagnosis or not.
Information
This course is available to watch for 12 months after purchase.
It is not clinical advice or therapy. It should not be used as a replacement for therapy.
It is suitable for children with and without a diagnosis.
Agenda
- Welcome and introduction (3 mins)
- Demand Avoidance (15 mins)
- Anxiety (13 mins)
- Demand Avoidance and Anxiety (18 mins)
- How parents can help (15 mins)
Total running time: 1 hour 4 mins
Presenter
Dr Naomi Fisher is a UK clinical psychologist registered with the HCPC. She has a doctorate in clinical psychology and a PhD in autism, both from King’s College London. She specialises in trauma, autism and alternative education. She is the author of several books, including The Teenager's Guide to Burnout with Eliza Fricker. She has over 18 years clinical experience in the NHS, third sector and private practice.
