Demand Avoidance: Why It's Not Always Pathological-Daniel Dashnaw

During this session from the 2025 Neurodiverse Love Conference, Daniel Dashnaw discusses the concept of demand avoidance, challenging the conventional view that it is inherently pathological. Demand avoidance can sometimes serve as a healthy response to overwhelm, misaligned expectations, or autonomy needs.  He will also briefly touch on research from neurodiversity, social dynamics, and stress regulation. His goal is to expand demand avoidance as a spectrum behavior that can signal unmet needs or adaptive coping rather than wholesale dysfunction. He will also offer a few clinical insights into recognizing, understanding, and addressing demand avoidance in a compassionate and constructive way.Daniel Dashnaw MFT, is the co-founder of Couples Therapy Inc., the largest evidence-based couples therapy practice in the USA. Daniel specializes in working with the neurodiverse, in both his part time work in a public health agency, and his private practice. Known for his compassionate yet no-nonsense approach, he draws upon cutting-edge research and therapeutic techniques, including the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy, to help couples rebuild trust, improve communication, and deepen their connection. You can reach Daniel at the link below:https://danieldashnawcouplestherapy.com/