Crystalena Oberweiser, PhD

We human differently.  Yes, I said we.  

I am not someone who took a class on autism that one time in college. I’m not someone who knows “ALL about autism” because my friend’s cousin’s kid has autism and that must make me an expert.  I am uniquely qualified to work with you as you navigate the challenges that autism and other neuro-complexities bring because I am autistic.  I have had to (and continue to) learn to meet my needs and reach my goals while also managing my own diagnosis.  

I hold a PhD in human development. I have been a middle school teacher for 15 years where I have worked with autistic students and helped them reach their academic and social goals. 

I became a life coach because I was not seeing the kinds of support for autistic people that I wish had been available for myself.  When I was younger and getting “help” for my autism, most of the interventions were focused on making me seem less (or better yet – not) autistic.  Success looked like being able to pass as neurotypical.  I believe that this idea hurts people.  Maybe there are some people who want to be neurotypically passing and have low enough support needs to be able to pull it off, but most of us can’t…or at least can’t for a sustained amount of time.  I feel that it is very important to be able to figure out what kind of life you really want, and then plan to get the life you want with the brain that you have.