Lynn Wiest

As the parent of an adult son and daughter, both diagnosed with autism, I understand the complex and overwhelming process of finding solutions, especially when children with high IQs and many strengths struggle with extreme emotional reactivity. Despite our many efforts—my husband and I worked tirelessly to address our children's challenges and support their emotional, social, and academic growth—we found ourselves overwhelmed. Even with my training as a Behavior Analyst and our active participation in applying the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, along with trying countless programs and therapies, both of our children continued to need extensive support beyond what we could provide as parents.

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A pivotal turning point came when our son was placed in a residential treatment center, which provided a life-changing approach to addressing his executive function and emotional regulation deficits. This experience profoundly impacted our entire family. My mentor, Douglas Maughan CMHC, was the former consulting Clinical Director at a residential treatment center for neurodiverse individuals. His approach, rooted in Naturalistic Neurodevelopment, has been modified to apply to a broader range of neurodiverse individuals. I use the core principles of his program and the intervention tools he developed as the foundation of my coaching.

 

I hold an MBA in Computer Application Management and a BA in Psychology from CSU, Sacramento. My career began in social services as a behaviorist at a non-public school and later as a consultant for the Sacramento Regional Center. Eventually, I combined my psychology degree and the technical skills developed during my MBA studies to pursue a career in Human Factors Engineering at a Fortune 500 company. However, it became clear that my true calling was to dedicate myself to raising our two children and advocating for both of my autistic children. For the past five years, I have been actively engaged with Naturalistic Neurodevelopment principles and have received mentoring to deepen my knowledge. I look forward to hearing from you.

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