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Twenty-five years ago, when I became a mother, I began a journey that would shape the course of my life in ways I never could have imagined. When my first child began missing certain developmental milestones, even very subtly, I found myself surprised, confused, and searching for answers. What followed was a decades-long journey of learning, advocacy, resilience, and personal growth. Along the way, I gained knowledge and experience I never expected to need, and discovered a deep passion for helping other families navigate similar paths. Today, I am grateful for the lessons this journey has taught me and find tremendous joy in supporting parents who are just beginning their own.

Certified Professional Life Coach for 

Neurodivergent Youth, Young Adults, and Their Families

In my quest to support both my children and myself, I have spent years studying neurodivergence, family dynamics, education systems, and mental health. Most recently, I became a Certified Professional Life Coach, specializing in supporting parents, particularly mothers, of neurodivergent youth and young adults.

My work focuses on helping families better understand neurodivergent profiles, access assessments and supports, strengthen family relationships, and navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with raising neurodivergent children. I support families of teens and young adults with:

• Autism

• ADHD

• AuDHD

• Twice Exceptional (2e) profiles

• Dyslexia

• Visual Processing Challenges

• Slow Processing Speed

• Executive Functioning Challenges

• Co-Morbid Mental Health Challenges

• Co-Existing Trauma from Societal Ostracization

I take a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach that honors each individual's unique brain, personality, and path.

Mental Health Advocate

For over 15 years, I have worked as a mental health advocate, helping families find resources, support, and hope during difficult times. I am certified in Teen Mental Health First Aid through NAMI and trained to recognize warning signs of mental health crises, including self-harm and suicidal ideation. Over the years, I have helped families access support for:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Panic attacks

• C-PTSD

• OCD

• ARFID

• Compulsive overeating

• Emotional regulation challenges

When higher levels of care become necessary, I assist families in researching treatment options, including:

• Residential Treatment Programs

• Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)

• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

I have also worked with families in researching and securing residential placements for long-term therapeutic boarding schools in California and beyond when additional support is needed, helping them find both district-funded and private-pay options.

My goal is always to help families become informed, empowered advocates for their children. I understand how overwhelming these decisions can be and strive to help families find the resources that are the best fit for their unique circumstances.

Food Allergy Advocate and Parent Support

As the mother of a young adult with life-threatening peanut and tree nut allergies, I understand firsthand the challenges, fears, and responsibilities families face every day. Managing food allergies involves much more than reading labels. It means navigating schools, social situations, field trips, overnight programs, medical appointments, and legal protections. I help families:

• Understand available treatments and resources

• Navigate school accommodations and safety plans

• Advocate for their child's rights

• Plan for safe participation in school and community activities

• Feel less overwhelmed and more supported

Most importantly, I offer the perspective of a parent who has lived this experience and understands the emotional toll it can take. This means staying in tune with each child's mental health as they navigate the ensuing traumas that can be caused by living with life-threatening food allergies.

Certified Personality Assessments for Help

with Social Skills and Career Counseling

I am certified in the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children (MMTIC), a personality assessment based on the Myers-Briggs framework designed specifically for youth.  Understanding personality type can be transformative. It helps people of all ages, and especially children, teens, and young adults, have more awareness about themselves which in turn will help them:​

• Socialize

• Explore career choices

• Learn more easily

• Make decisions

• Manage energy

• Choose and manage relationships better

Self-awareness fosters confidence, reduces self-judgment, and helps young people make choices that align with who they genuinely are.

A Journey of Self-Discovery - Finding My Own Neurodivergence

As I moved throughout my family's journey, I discovered my own neurodivergence, and so much of my childhood, my educational history, and social past suddenly made so much more sense! I discovered that I am dyslexic, a visual and kinesthetic learner, and, although not formally diagnosed, I'm fairly certain I am  AuDHD, meaning I am both autistic and have ADHD. For much of my life as a child, I simply thought I was "different" or that I somehow didn't fit in. Understanding my own neurodivergence gave me a framework for recognizing both my challenges and my strengths. It helped me see that there was nothing wrong with me. I wasn't broken. I was simply a complex, capable, neurodivergent human being. That understanding has allowed me to embrace who I am more fully and to support others with greater empathy, compassion, and insight. An unexpected gift of this journey!

A Little More About Me

When I'm not coaching, advocating, or learning something new, I enjoy spending time with my family, extended family, and dear friends. After helping myself to understand how to work with my dyslexia and be able to comprehend when I read for the first time as an adult, I have found that I actually enjoy reading! I have also learned with the support of doctors, therapists, and nutritionists how important self-care is, especially for those of us who care for others.  But, in reality, all of us must practice self-care to stay healthy!  Things that work for me are: (not in any particular order!)

• Early morning routine of breathing, meditation, prayer, and journaling

• Spending at least one hour alone each day with my husband

• Prioritizing getting together with friends

• Exercise! I like Ballet, Barre, Zumba, and Aqua Aerobics :) 

• Coloring, pottery, crocheting, knitting, and any arts & crafts

• Doing anything fun with my kids

• The Beach 

• Spending time with Jesse, my Sheepadoodle, who brings a smile to my face every day

My Mission

My mission is simple: to help parents, young adults, and families on their journey. Whether you're navigating neurodivergence, mental health concerns, food allergies, or simply trying to make sense of what comes next, I offer guidance, support, practical resources, and a compassionate understanding from both professional training and lived experience. Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can hear is: "You're not alone."