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News and Research
Science-backed Information for Better Care
ScienceWorks is a modern telepsychology practice offering evidence-based care for: Autism & ADHD, Anxiety & Depression, OCD, Trauma, Insomnia, Kids & Families, and more.
These conditions frequently co-occur, can be difficult to diagnose, and also difficult to treat - often requiring specialist knowledge and direct clinical experience to achieve the best possible outcomes.
That's why research and training are the foundation of our work.
Our goal is sharing our knowledge with our friends, clients, and partners to build a stronger, more informed mental health community.
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Kids & Families
Stay informed with news and updates from clinical experts. Scientific information, evidence-based treatments, and more.


How Much Does a Psychoeducational or Learning Evaluation Cost — and What to Expect
Weighing a psychoeducational or learning evaluation? Here is what the cost actually reflects, how insurance fits, the timeline, and how to compare providers.

Ryan Burns
7 days ago12 min read


"I Saw Myself in My Child's Diagnosis": Recognizing Your Own Autism or ADHD After Your Kid Is Evaluated
After your child's autism or ADHD diagnosis, you may recognize yourself too. Why it's common, what an adult evaluation involves, and what it can change.

Kiesa Kelly
Jun 314 min read


Telehealth Therapy in Tennessee: Matched to Your Needs
Last reviewed: 04/09/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you are looking for telehealth therapy options in Tennessee, you may already know you want help but still feel unsure about what kind of help actually fits. That is often the real decision point. Video sessions are only the format. What matters more is whether the care is matched to the problem that is actually keeping you stuck, whether that is OCD, trauma, insomnia, or a more layered picture with overlap.[1][8] The g

Kiesa Kelly
Apr 99 min read


Family Therapy vs Parent Management Training: Which One?
Last reviewed: 04/09/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you are trying to choose between family therapy vs parent management training, you are probably already carrying a lot. Maybe there is arguing at home, daily escalation, shutdowns, defiance, sibling tension, or a child who seems overwhelmed and reactive. These two services can overlap, but they are not the same thing. In most cases, family therapy works on the relationship system, while parent management training gives

Kiesa Kelly
Apr 99 min read


Gottman Method for Neurodivergent Couples: ADHD, Autism, OCD
Last reviewed: 04/09/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly The Gottman method for neurodivergent couples can be especially useful when the repeated argument is not really about love, motivation, or commitment. Sometimes the visible conflict is dishes, lateness, tone, reassurance, or withdrawal. Underneath, the real issue is a mismatch in attention, sensory load, compulsive coping, pacing, or nervous-system overload.[1-8] That matters because respectful, effective couples therapy

Ryan Burns
Apr 910 min read


Online Therapy in Tennessee: Is Telehealth a Good Fit for You?
Last reviewed: 03/25/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you are looking for online therapy Tennessee options, the question is usually not whether telehealth is “real therapy.” It is whether this format will help you get the right care and stay engaged with it. Teletherapy has been shown to have outcomes similar to in-person therapy, and federal telehealth guidance notes that many behavioral health services can be provided virtually in a private space.[1,2] In this article,

Ryan Burns
Mar 258 min read


Oppositional or Demand-Avoidant? A Better Frame for Kids
Last reviewed: 03/23/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly When adults get stuck in an oppositional or demand avoidance frame, they can miss the most important question: what is driving the behavior right now? A child who argues, stalls, bolts, shuts down, or explodes may look defiant from the outside. But in many families, the behavior is better understood as a stress response shaped by anxiety, overload, uncertainty, or an intense need to protect autonomy rather than a simple r

Kiesa Kelly
Mar 239 min read


PDA Therapy Support for Tennessee Families: A Practical Guide
Last reviewed: 03/19/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you are searching for PDA therapy support Tennessee parents can use without turning home into a compliance battle, you are probably already tired. Ordinary requests may turn into panic, rage, shutdown, or long negotiations. For some families, “PDA-style demand avoidance” is useful shorthand for a pattern where expectations feel threatening. It is also important to know that PDA is not a standalone DSM or ICD diagnosis

Ryan Burns
Mar 209 min read


Autism Sleep Problems: Sensory, Anxiety, and Body Clock
Autism sleep problems are common and often driven by sensory sensitivity, anxiety, and circadian timing differences, not “bad behavior.” Learn what contributes to night waking and bedtime resistance, what to rule out, and supports that can help.

Ryan Burns
Feb 109 min read


ADHD Testing for Teens in Nashville, TN: What Parents Should Know
If you’re considering ADHD testing for teens in Nashville, TN, this guide explains when an evaluation makes sense, what a solid assessment includes, how school input helps, and what supports to use after.

Ryan Burns
Jan 39 min read


Parent Training for ADHD: What It Is and What Changes Fastest
Parent training ADHD isn’t about “fixing” your child. It’s an evidence-based skill set that helps you reduce power struggles, build routines, support executive function, and recover faster after big feelings so home feels calmer.

Ryan Burns
Dec 21, 20259 min read


PDA vs ODD: What's Similar, What's Different, and Why It Matters
Confused about pda vs odd? From the outside, both can look like “refusing.” But the why is often different. This guide breaks down what overlaps, what’s distinct, and how choosing the right support plan can reduce power struggles at home and school.

Kiesa Kelly
Dec 21, 20259 min read


PDA Meaning: Pathological Demand Avoidance Explained
A pda profile describes when everyday requests (even enjoyable ones) can feel like a threat to autonomy—triggering intense avoidance, big emotions, and “power struggle” cycles. This guide explains signs across ages and offers dignity-preserving supports.

Ryan Burns
Dec 21, 202512 min read


ROCD: Relationship OCD Signs, Cycle, and What Helps
ROCD (relationship OCD) can make normal relationship uncertainty feel urgent and dangerous, pulling you into “Do I really love them?” loops. This guide breaks down common ROCD symptoms, the obsession–compulsion cycle, and how ERP and I-CBT help you relate to doubts differently.

Ryan Burns
Dec 21, 20259 min read


ADHD Assessment or Therapy First? A Demand Avoidance Guide
If you’re wondering, do I need an ADHD assessment or therapy, you’re not alone. This decision guide helps you choose the next best step for clarity, relief, and support systems, especially when demand avoidance, anxiety, or possible AuDHD are in the mix.

Ryan Burns
Dec 17, 20256 min read


Executive Dysfunction vs Demand Avoidance: Telling Apart
Executive dysfunction vs demand avoidance both can sound like “they won’t,” but the mechanism matters. Learn how evaluations tell ADHD-style executive overload from a nervous-system threat response to demands—and what supports fit each pattern.

Kiesa Kelly
Dec 17, 20257 min read


Is PDA in the DSM? What 'PDA-Style' Demand Avoidance Means
“PDA not in DSM” doesn’t mean demand avoidance isn’t real. It means clinicians need careful, evidence-informed language to describe a PDA-style pattern and match supports without over-claiming.

Ryan Burns
Dec 17, 20258 min read


PDA in Autism: Practical Support Strategies for Parents
Many families are desperate for something more helpful than “be consistent with consequences.” For autistic demand avoidance, PDA support strategies rooted in safety, autonomy, and collaboration reduce power struggles and open practical pathways to "yes" at home and school.

Ryan Burns
Nov 18, 20257 min read


PDA vs ODD: How Demand Avoidance Differs from Defiance
Many children and adults who show demand avoidance are not "oppositional" at all. For some, pathological demand avoidance—a profile linked with autism and anxiety—explains why simple requests feel like danger. This article explains pathological demand avoidance, anxiety-driven avoidance, and ODD-style "oppositional" patterns so you can recognize what’s really going on and consider next steps for support.

Ryan Burns
Nov 18, 202510 min read


PDA and ADHD in Adults: What Demand Avoidance Looks Like
PDA and ADHD can look similar, but they’re not the same. When demand avoidance in ADHD is driven by overwhelm—not defiance—supports that lower perceived threat and protect autonomy work best. Learn how to tell ADHD from PDA-style demand avoidance and what actually helps.

Kiesa Kelly
Nov 18, 20259 min read
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