Our Autism, ADHD, and AuDHD Coaches
Our highly skilled and experienced coaches receive ongoing education and supervision to provide you the most effective services available. We will pair you with the coach proven to help others like you achieve what you hope to get out of coaching.
All coaches receive initial training from Head Coach Jaclyn Hunt and are supervised by her closely. Additionally, coaches maintain their certifications by participating in continuing education every two years and supplemental training throughout each year. Our coaches also all complete LivingWorks Start, an evidence-based, entry program into suicide alertness, so that everyone can play a role in preventing suicide.
Our coaches are committed to supporting all autistic and neurodivergent people, including those less likely according to research to get their needs met – people of color and the LGBTQ community. We are also very diverse ourselves in many ways!
Whether you are looking for an AuDHD coach, an autistic coach, an ADHD coach, someone who can relate to a specific gender, or speaks Spanish, Arabic, or ASL, we probably have someone who is a perfect fit for you. Check out this amazing team!
Patty Laushman is a coach, educator, author, and speaker on the topic of neurodiversity. With both personal and professional experience with neurodiversity, she understands the impact of being neurodivergent in a world built for neurotypicals. She comes from the neurodiversity perspective and also acknowledges the challenges differences can pose to daily living. Patty is the creator of the SBN™ parenting framework, through which parents learn the five steps to helping neurodivergent teens and adults get unstuck and realize their greatest potential. She also runs a group coaching program called Parenting for Independence, which helps parents of neurodivergent teens and adults learn how to implement the SBN™ parenting framework and join others in community for this unexpected stage in their parenting journeys. Patty is the author of the upcoming book, "Parenting for Independence: Overcoming Failure to Launch in Emerging Autistic Adults" which will be available in November 2025, In her coaching practice, Patty is a life coach to neurodivergent teens and adults as well as a coach to their parents. She helps clients develop understanding, set and achieve goals, acquire skills, and ultimately thrive. She provides coaching sessions via Zoom with clients worldwide. Every neurodivergent person possesses a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. Patty collaborates with her clients to identify their top goals and figure out which strengths can be leveraged while also identifying and overcoming any barriers that may be in the way of reaching their goals. Each coaching plan she develops is as personalized as her clients are unique. Her mission is to empower her clients to become their own best coaches and coach herself out of a job. She also collaborates as part of a team with other professionals and family members to provide the most client-centered solutions to a variety of life challenges. She is a Certified Autism Life Coach through Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE), a 15-year program that has coached 3,000+ teens and adults on the autism spectrum through their LifeMAP (Life Management Assistance Program). She is a Certified Autism Specialist through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). She is also certified through the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) in employment services for people with disabilities (basic level). Before she was an neurodivergent life coach, she started and ran a technology services company which she grew for nine years and sold in 2012. She also worked as a sales development consultant for eight years through her own consulting company. Coaching is the fourth business she’s started, and for neurodivergent clients who are looking to start their own businesses, she is uniquely qualified to be their business coach. Her business background is detailed in her LinkedIn profile. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Northern Colorado with a minor in music performance. Her master’s degree in journalism is from the University of Colorado at Boulder with an emphasis in integrated marketing communications. She also earned a secondary science teaching license from Metropolitan State University of Denver and briefly taught chemistry in a public high school. She has also home-educated an amazing, profoundly gifted, multi-exceptional, neurodivergent teen. She lives in the Denver/Boulder metro area. In her spare time, she enjoys everything the outdoors has to offer, especially hiking, backpacking, and camping. She loves heavy metal music and watching crime and medical television dramas. Her favorite television series is Star Trek: The Next Generation and favorite movies are Apollo 13 and Titanic. She’s also an avid reader, as evidenced by the numerous stacks of books all over her house.
About Head Coach Jaclyn Hunt
Jaclyn Hunt is a coach, educator, author, and speaker on the topic of autism. Beginning her coaching career in 2013, long before most people knew that the profession existed, Patty considers Jaclyn the “mother” of the autism life coaching field. In fact, she even wrote the book: Life Coaching for Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Discovering Your True Potential.
Jaclyn is the other head coach at Thrive Autism Coaching and also manages our amazing team of specialized cognitive coaches. Cognitive coaching focuses on developing skills like self-awareness, understanding, problem-solving, and executive functioning to strengthen the client’s ability to achieve goals that increase their self-determination and quality of life. She is an Advanced Certified Autism Specialist Level 2 and a Board Certified Cognitive Specialist through the IBCCES. She earned a master’s degree in the behavioral sciences from Kean University with a focus on psychological services. Her entire professional life has been dedicated to helping neurodivergent adults unlock and achieve their true potential. She lives in the Newark, NJ metro area. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, reading, occasionally playing video games, taking tropical vacations with her husband, Joseph, tasting foods and wines from around the world, and of course, enjoying life to the fullest.
Our Coach Support Team
These are the people you might interact with first when you reach out to us. They know the insides and outs of our amazing coaching team.
Meghan
provides support throughout the organization. Her hobbies include video games, collecting Pokemon cards, and listening to music by Taylor Swift! Meghan is often the first point of contact when reaching out to Thrive Autism Coaching to make sure we pair you with the right coach for your needs.
Jenn
is the other support member for our amazing coaching team. She holds a BFA in fine arts with a focus on film from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Jenn may be your first point of contact when reaching out to Thrive Autism Coaching to make sure we pair you with the right coach for your needs.
Our Amazing Diverse Team of Personal Autism, ADHD, and AuDHD Coaches
Our highly skilled and effective team is ready to work with you one-on-one. We will help pair you with the best-fit coach on our team based on your situation and your goals for coaching. You can schedule a complimentary consultation to explore this here.
Akilah
Coach Akilah is an encouraging and dedicated cognitive coach with a passion for empowering autistic adults. She firmly believes that many of the challenges people face stem from a lack of belief in their own potential—and she loves helping her clients see just how capable they truly are. Whether it’s celebrating small victories or finding creative workarounds to obstacles, Akilah is committed to guiding her clients toward greater confidence and success.
Dillon
Coach Dillon is a Registered Social Worker (RSW), Certified Cognitive Coach (CCC), and holds a Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW). With specialized training in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT1), Trauma-Informed Care (CTRI), and safeTALK & Living Works START, he takes a well-rounded, empathetic, and structured approach to coaching.
Jessica
Coach Jessica has spent the past 20 years helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges with clarity, confidence, and self-acceptance. With a holistic, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach, she is passionate about guiding clients toward self-awareness, meaningful relationships, and a fulfilling life.
Robin
Coach Robin is a dedicated autism life coach and licensed professional counselor candidate (LPCC) in Colorado who specializes in supporting neurodivergent adults in understanding themselves, working with their nervous systems, and achieving their goals their way. She holds a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and is trauma-informed and EMDR-trained, bringing a deep understanding of neurodiversity, mental health, and personal growth to her coaching practice.
Youssef
Coach Youssef is a Certified Cognitive Coach with a strong focus on career development and employability for autistic individuals. He holds a Bachelor’s in Petroleum Engineering and a Master’s in Entrepreneurship, blending analytical problem-solving with creative strategies to help clients identify their strengths, market their skills, and pursue careers that align with their values. His coaching is centered on self-reflection, mindset development, and personal growth, guiding clients to build confidence and take meaningful steps toward their goals.
Anne
Coach Anne is a compassionate and experienced life coach dedicated to helping neurodivergent individuals embrace their strengths, shift their mindset, and build fulfilling lives. She is a Certified Professional Life Coach through the World Coach Institute (an ICF-accredited program) and a Certified Cognitive Coach through the International Board of Credentialing & Continuing Education Standards. With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Central Florida, Anne brings both expertise and a deep understanding to her coaching practice.
Francesco
Coach Francesco is dedicated to helping neurodivergent individuals gain confidence, build social skills, and advocate for themselves. With seven years of experience as a life coach, he believes no one should have to mask or struggle to fit into society. Instead, he empowers his clients to embrace their uniqueness, develop strong communication skills, and create lives filled with independence and self-expression.
Maryam
Coach Maryam is a compassionate and dedicated autism life coach who helps neurodivergent individuals reconnect with themselves, build confidence, and navigate life’s challenges with clarity and self-acceptance. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Mental Health and Disability Management, she blends professional expertise with personal experience to provide individualized support.
Rosanne
Coach Rosanne has dedicated over 30 years to supporting neurodivergent individuals, helping them build confidence, develop independence, and navigate life’s challenges. With a background as a special needs paraprofessional and ongoing training in various areas, she brings deep experience and a practical, straightforward approach to coaching. She believes in being upfront and honest with clients and their families, setting realistic expectations, and working together to create meaningful progress.
Christina
Coach Christina is a Certified Life Coach, Certified Cognitive Coach, and Certified in Relationship Science, dedicated to empowering neurodivergent individuals. Her coaching style is empathetic, client-centered, and deeply rooted in active listening, creating a safe and judgment-free space where clients can explore their thoughts, emotions, and challenges with confidence.
Gretchen
Coach Gretchen is a Certified Cognitive Coach passionate about helping individuals uncover what truly motivates them and using that insight to create personalized goals and solutions. She understands that growth looks different for everyone and tailors her coaching approach to each client’s unique needs.
Pol
Coach Pol is a person-centered coach who helps individuals reconnect with their authentic selves, navigate life’s challenges, and grow in ways that feel meaningful and sustainable. His coaching focuses on areas such as relationships, trauma healing, spiritual development, career, and entrepreneurship, with a compassionate, client-led approach that blends emotional insight with practical tools for change.
Wendy
Coach Wendy is a Board Certified Cognitive Specialist with more than 20 years of coaching experience, helping neurodivergent individuals build confidence, develop practical strategies, and create lives that align with their strengths and values. She holds life and business coaching certifications through EverCoach by MindValley, affiliated with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), is certified through Yale University’s Science of Well-Being program, and has a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Psychology.