Hello PDA Professionals,

The Collaborative values the work you do. We hope that any time spent with us this year enriches your practice skill, confidence and professional connections.

We at the PDA Therapy Collaborative are evolving and will continue to engage in clinical conversation and professional development that can support the vital work we do with PDA adults and families.

We will enter the summer with a Coffee and Connection to be held on Friday June 26th at 3pm EST and hope you can join us.

To attend use this Google Calendar invite:

https://calendar.app.google/kNuGNxFNkNRmVzR6A

Coffee and connection groups can open collegial dialogue and connection with your colleagues.

We will introduce ourselves, talk a bit about our work, and then have a clinical conversation that will emerge organically. Do you have a concern emerging? You’re welcome to bring it to the discussion. Join us! These groups are free and open to all PDA professionals.

Read on for recent news of the PDA Institute for Best Professional Practices, a reflection and thank you to my colleagues:

We held the first ever PDA Institute for Best Professional Practices on May 30th and the feedback was so heartwarming.

Our Collaborative panelists and guests had deeply nuanced conversations on PDA practice.

From topics, case study to small group discussion we were collegial and connective.

Feedback from our participants?

The conversational style was engaging, never boring, keeping interest the whole time. Loved that there wasn’t a lecture. Learning felt like an invitation to consider fresh and new perspectives that created energy for practice.

Requests? Bring more conversations about supporting families “beyond low demand” into steadiness and growth. Invite more people into leading and facilitating conversations.

We would love to do both!! We invite you to share what discussion and learning you are interested in facilitating this coming year.

Are you also interested in an ongoing study group for “Beyond Low Demand” practices or a study group for those merging the personal with the professional?

If so:

Email me, EliseJacobsonLICSW@gmail.com

And if you’d like to see the video recording of the Institute or simply watch one of the topical discussions you can find them on our site here: https://pdatherapycollaborative.com/institute-for-pda-best-practices-may-30-2026-12pm-to-5pm-est/

A special thank you to Dr. Jessica Myszak, Bryenne Alesch and Megan Agee for your steadfast collaboration and to Haley Bring and Dr. Jenna Cacciola for all your behind the scenes contributions. And a shout out to Collaborative Colleague Dr. Julie DeFelippo who works locally with me in the Boston area.

I’m excited for the future and what it brings for PDA best practices.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer!

Elise Jacobson, LICSW
Private Practice, expertise, PDA
Founder, PDA Therapy Collaborative
Social Work Practice Teacher