Beyond ‘Be Good’: Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance.

Proudly presented in partnership with the Parry Sound Family Health Team

Details to come!

March 25, 6-7pm
online (Zoom)

Dr. Marie Hooper (C. Psych)

Marie is a Clinical Developmental Psychologist who completed her Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. at York University. Her clinical work is strengths based, evidence based, neurodivergent affirming, gender affirming, relational, and trauma assumed. She is committed to creating spaces where individuals and families feel respected, understood, and genuinely supported.

Marie serves on the Board of Directors for PDA North America, contributing to international education, advocacy, and research on Pathological Demand Avoidance. She is known for promoting trauma assumed, low demand approaches and for supporting families, schools, and clinicians in developing flexible, autonomy based learning pathways for children with PDA profiles.

As the Founder and Director of Flourish Health Services, Marie leads a neurodiversity affirming, trauma assumed, interdisciplinary teaching clinic that provides comprehensive assessment and therapy for toddlers, children, teens, and adults. She introduced the Whole Child Assessment at Flourish, as well as the Integrated Developmental Assessment approach. Each is a distinct framework, yet both share the same strengths based, fully integrated lens that looks at the whole person rather than isolating skills or difficulties. She also co-created Club AuSome, an affirming social-emotional group for autistic girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.

Marie is also leading the development of North America’s first school exclusively for autistic girls, inspired by Limpsfield Grange School in the United Kingdom. This future school will offer a therapeutic, sensory friendly, neurodiversity affirming environment with integrated supports for 2SLGBTQIA+ and transgender students. Her vision is to create an educational ecosystem where neurodivergent girls can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.

As a clinician, educator, and advocate, Marie is dedicated to creating ecosystems where neurodivergent individuals are not only supported but truly celebrated.