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This signature course takes you from from low-demand theory into daily practice — with research-backed doable steps.

 

In this robust, 8-week course, you’ll get:

  • 6 core teaching modules

  • Each module walks you through a step of my transformative 6-Step Low Demand Method, helping you drop power struggles, create safety in your home, and meet your own needs, even in crisis. Each module also includes interviews with researchers, therapists, and medical professionals who share the theory that supports this transformative approach.

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  • 3 bonus sections: "Toddlers," "Teens," and "Schools" with answers to your frequently asked questions, including toileting and diapers, screens for young kids, self-harm, mental health crises, working with educators, understanding school refusal, advocating for low demand practices, and more.
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  • Bi-Weekly coaching calls

    Bring your questions to our 5 bi-weekly 90-minute coaching calls and receive direct expert guidance in a supportive, nonjudgmental community. Calls are all recorded and captioned for easy access.

       
  • Community connection

  • Connect with this passionate and caring group of fellow caregivers who truly get it. Share wins, ask questions, and find solidarity without the pressure to mask or perform in our private (non-facebook) community space.

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  • Bonus Tools & Resources

    Downloadable course workbook, reflection prompts, self-care practices, recommended book lists and my most popular quick reference guides — yours to keep forever.

     
  • Bonus: 4 logins to the Drop the Power Struggles (Low Demand 101) Course for members of your support community to join you in learning the low demand way.

Low Demand Parenting Course - Spring 2026

  1. Live Course Calls

    5 lessons
    1. Session 1 - 1/28/26
    2. Session 2 - 2/11/26
    3. Session 3 - 2/25/26
    4. Session 4 - 3/11/26
    5. Session 5 - 3/25/26

  2. Welcome - Start Here!

    12 lessons
    1. START HERE
    2. Welcome to the Course
    3. Meet Your Instructor

    1. GET SET-UP

      1. Course Logistics
      2. How to Submit Questions
      3. Download Course Workbook
      4. Accessing Your Bonus!

    2. Foundations of Low Demand

      1. Core: Pillar 1 - The Nervous System
      2. Core: Pillar 2 - Felt Safety
      3. Core: Pillar 3 - Primacy of Needs
      4. Deep Dive: How does the nervous system work? with Dr. Megan Anna Neff
      5. Deep dive: Intersectionality with Dr. Morenike Giwa Onaiwu

  3. Pre-Work: Trauma & Burnout

    19 lessons
    1. Welcome to the Caregiver Trauma & Burnout Pre-Work
    2. Core: What is Trauma?
    3. Core: What is Parental Burnout?
    4. Core: Stuck in burnout
    5. Core: Parental Trauma from Children's Aggression
    6. Deep dive: Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation
    7. Practice: Self-Compassion Meditation
    8. Practice: Yoga for Trauma Recovery

    1. Question & Answers

      1. Can you go through burnout more than once?
      2. How do "Safe and Sound" & Neurofeedback help with trauma?
      3. How do we practice compassion for ourselves?
      4. What if I'm entering burnout as my child is leaving it?
      5. I'm Stuck in Parental Burnout - What Am I Missing?
      6. "I feel so ashamed and alone about my child's violence and self-harm."
      7. Why forcing yourself to stay calm all the time is so unhelpful
      8. How do we "practice gratitude" without veering into toxic positivity?
      9. Is it possible to heal while still going through the trauma?
      10. What do we do with the trauma of being screamed and cursed at?
      11. Where is the bottom of dropping demands? When is it enough?

  4. Module 1: What is a demand & what truly matters?

    12 lessons
    1. Core: Intro to the Six Steps
    2. Step 1: Name the Demand
    3. Step 1: "Can't," Not "Won't"
    4. Step 1: Big Demands vs. Tiny Demands
    5. Step 2: Know What Matters
    6. Step 2: Radical Acceptance
    7. Deep Dive: Step 1 - Listening to Your Child's Nervous System
    8. Worksheets

    1. Question & Answers - Steps 1-2

      1. Step 1: How do we "hold boundaries" with low demand parenting?
      2. Step 1: Naming all the demands after a hard outing
      3. Step 2: Name what matters - Deciding where to use our energy
      4. Low Demand steps for diaper changes

  5. Module 2: Listening to our kids & dropping demands

    13 lessons
    1. Step 3: Listen to Your Child
    2. Step 4: Drop Demands in the Moment
    3. Step 4: Drop Demands Proactively
    4. Step 4: Why we let go of the reward/punishment mentality
    5. Deep Dive: Understanding the Neuroscience of Toxic Stress

    1. Previous Questions & Answers - Steps 3-4

      1. Step 3: Getting really curious in listening to our kids
      2. Step 3: How do you talk to your children about low demand changes?
      3. Step 3: How can you find out what your child is thinking or feeling?
      4. Step 4: What do you do when you can't completely drop the demand?
      5. Step 4: What to do when a demand really matters
      6. Step 4: Competing sibling needs - what do you do when you can't drop the demand?
      7. Cues of safety when you can't drop the demand
      8. Where to start with low demand (when the day is FULL of demands!)

  6. Module 3: Getting proactive so we can meet our needs

    11 lessons
    1. Step 5: Meet Your Own Needs
    2. Step 6: Create Home Culture
    3. Step 5: From people-pleasing to meeting our own needs
    4. Core: A Practical Low Demand Example
    5. Core: Where to Start (if you're a tad overwhelmed)
    6. Core: What to do if you're stuck "in the moment"

    1. Questions & Answers: Steps 5-6

      1. Low-demand for kids = high-demand for parents
      2. When your partner is still high-demand
      3. Step 5: Understanding our own neurodiversity (as parents)
      4. Step 5: Meeting our own needs in 5-10 minute pockets
      5. Step 5: What about when we don't have the mental space to drop demands?

  7. Module 4: Making home safe

    13 lessons

    1. Collaboration

      1. Core: Intro to Collaboration
      2. Deep Dive: Declarative Language

    2. Safety Planning

      1. Core: Intro to Safety Planning
      2. Core: What is a Safety Plan?
      3. Core: Preparing for Worst Case Scenarios
      4. Core: Two Practical Strategies for Hard Days
      5. Deep Dive: What To Do In Crisis (interview with Laura Kerbey)

    3. Question & Answer - Aggression and Safety

      1. How we keep our kids safe in crisis (community voices)
      2. Permission to drop shame
      3. Creating opportunities for equalizing play
      4. Low demand in action
      5. Low demand vs other parenting strategies
      6. How our parent shame makes collaboration hard

  8. Module 5: Advocate Powerfully

    17 lessons
    1. Core: Advocacy in a High Demand World
    2. Core: Sustaining Low Demand for the Long Haul
    3. What about when people judge?
    4. What about school advocacy? (interview with school principal Jen C.)
    5. What about friends & community? (with Kelly of the 90 Minute School Day)
    6. What about advocating around medical needs? (interview with MD Mel Houser)
    7. What about therapy? (interview with a low demand therapist)

    1. BONUS: Babies & Toddlers

      1. What about diapers and toileting?
      2. What about young kids & screens?
      3. What about when you can't get sleep?

    2. BONUS: Teens and Young Adults

      1. What about when your kid is equalizing with their friends? (social conflict)
      2. What about advocating for mentl health support for your struggling teen? (interview with mom Jen C.)
      3. What about when you need to take your kid to the ER (mental health)?

    3. BONUS: School Advocacy

      1. How to figure out school accommodations for younger children?
      2. Working with and training the teachers/educators
      3. What about when your kid is upset by grades/scores/report cards?
      4. What about when my kid can't stand praise? (school context)

  9. Module 6: Course Wrap Up

    18 lesson
    1. Book List

    1. Moving Forward with Low Demand

      1. Core: Integration Journaling
      2. Core: Moving Forward with Low Demand
      3. Sharing Your Low Demand Story
      4. Community Story: Clothing
      5. Community Story: Screens
      6. Story: Cereal Meltdowns at Breakfast
      7. Story: Communication through Dysregulation
      8. Story: I pushed too hard. (How to repair).

    2. Resources

      1. Day Flow Worksheet
      2. Demand Dropping Worksheet

    3. Affirmations

      1. Affirmations for Parents of Uniquely Wired Kids
      2. Affirmations for Parents of PDAers

    4. Nonverbal Communication Supports

      1. Nonverbal Support: Energy Tank
      2. Nonverbal Support: Panic Button
      3. Nonverbal Support: Stop Slider

    5. Scripts

      1. Scripts for Sharing About PDA
      2. Scripts for Sharing About Low Demand Parenting

  10. Bonus: Low Demand 101

    2 lessons
    1. Video: Low Demand 101
    2. Low Demand 101: Slides

Rachelle

"I am not exaggerating when I say that Amanda's course really changed my family's life.

We were already implementing a low-demand lifestyle after reading her excellent book, but the chance to go deeper with Amanda herself has helped us truly understand and connect with the why of all the changes we are making.

And it has made SUCH a difference for all of us in terms of prioritizing trust and connection and focusing on healing our nervous systems."

Karen

"This incredible course was an important step in my journey towards a deeper understanding and connection with my daughters but also with others who share our experiences.

As a single mother of neurodivergent/PDA, having the opportunity to attend given our limited financial resources meant more than I can articulate.

I honestly feel accepted and seen for the first in my life. I have walked alone in my experience for over 25+ years, and the time I spent here is priceless."

Matt & Lynna

"Amanda’s approach gives grace to the caregivers making a radical shift, promotes self-compassion and forgiveness, and is soul healing for caregivers who have been in the trenches."

Carra

"Amanda’s work has radically changed our family dynamic. We went from not knowing how we would survive to feeling confident in our low demand approach. We now experience a level of joy and peace that I never knew possible."