Parent coaching for families raising a child or young adult with autism — wherever you are in the journey.
Whether your child was just diagnosed or has been in services for years, you deserve clear guidance, practical tools, and a coach who truly understands life on both sides of the table. Sessions in English and Spanish. Available anywhere in the United States via telehealth.
You’re Not Doing It Wrong
If you're reading this, you've probably just come from a psychologist’s office where you’ve received the devastating news that gives rise to more questions than answers or you are a parent who has dedicated hours upon hours looking up what it all means, searching for resources and researching what you can do to help your child.
Starting out on this journey can feel like an insurmountable task with no real guidance and direction. Maybe you've been navigating this for years and you're now facing a whole new set of challenges — puberty, independence, your child becoming an adult — and you feel just as lost as you did at the beginning.
Either way, if any of this sounds familiar:
You don't know where to start or which services are actually worth pursuing
Home feels chaotic and you're not sure how to get things under control
You're getting calls from the school and fear and panic sets in every time
You and your partner can't agree on how to handle things
Your teen is changing and you have no roadmap for what comes next
You've wondered, more than once: Is this my fault? Am I doing this wrong?
You're not doing it wrong. You just haven't had the right support yet.
Things can feel genuinely different.
In the Autism community, we have a motto that says, “Progress, not perfection”. This means that there will be hard days but together we can move in the right direction to give your lives more consistency, structure and ways that we all can grow together. Here is how I can help:
You understand your child's diagnosis and know how to find the right services
You know what to do when behavior escalates — and you respond with strategies instead of react with emotions
Your home has routines that are consistent, and your kids know what to expect
You feel confident navigating your teen's puberty, independence, and the next steps
You and your partner are finally on the same page, working together as a team
You feel like a capable parent again, not someone barely holding it together
This is what parent coaching can make possible — not by changing your child, but by giving you tools to respond in constructive and helpful ways that actually work, one step at a time.
Who I Work With
Newly Diagnosed Families
Your child was recently diagnosed with autism and you are figuring out what that means, what services exist, and how to actually access them. You may feel overwhelmed, scared, or unsure where to even begin. This is exactly where I start — helping you understand the landscape and build a plan that makes sense for your family.
Families Navigating Adolescents and Their Transitions
Your child has had a diagnosis for years, and now you are facing a new set of unknowns — puberty, high school, young adulthood, independence, community access, guardianship. The services and strategies that worked at age 7 don't always translate to age 16. I help families navigate these transitions with clarity and a real plan.
How We Work Together
Individual Parent Coaching
One-on-one sessions for parents who want clear strategies, real tools, and someone in their corner. Sessions in English and Spanish, available throughout the United States via telehealth.
Group Coaching for Autism Parents
Small, topic-focused group sessions designed to reduce isolation, answer the questions you're afraid to ask out loud, and connect you with other parents who genuinely get it.
Professional Development for Schools
Training and consultation for school staff and support providers working with students with autism. Practical, behavior-informed, and grounded in real classroom experience.
Hi, I'm Kristen.
I'm a licensed social worker and parent coach — and I'm also an autism parent. I've been on both sides of the table: sitting in evaluations, trying to decode the jargon, and wondering what was coming next for my own child. And working inside homes, in the community and schools helping other families find their footing.
I built JK Smith Behavioral Consulting because families like yours deserve clear, practical guidance from someone who understands both the science and the day-to-day reality of raising a child with autism.