About Amy

I help women reconnect with themselves and the autistic males in their lives so they can build stronger, more fulfilling relationships.

Hello! I’m Amy.

MPH | Autism Educator | Certified Neuroscience, Life & Health Coach

My own journey began more than 25 years ago, as a mother trying to connect with my autistic son while also feeling deeply alone in my marriage to an autistic man. I loved them both, but I struggled to understand the distance, misunderstandings, emotional reactions, and repeated patterns between us. I tried everything I knew to create better relationships, yet I still felt frustrated, depleted, resentful, and guilty for wanting something to change.

For years, I searched for answers. I turned to friends, family, counselors, and clergy. I believed that if I could understand autism, everything would change.

I immersed myself in learning about autism. I completed master’s-level education in autism and received extensive training in learning theory and behavioral approaches. That knowledge gave me greater understanding, compassion, and empathy for the autistic people I loved.

But understanding autism was only one part of creating the changes I wanted. I also needed to understand myself.

I discovered that our brains have the ability to change—a process called neuroplasticity. I learned that I could recognize and strengthen new patterns of thinking, responding, and showing up in my relationships.

Nothing changed out there until something shifted within me.

When I combined this internal work with a deeper understanding of the autistic brain, I was able to calm my reactivity, reconnect with myself, and create the honest, trusting, and loving relationship I now have with my son.

My education and professional training support this whole-person approach. I hold a Master of Public Health and certifications in neuroscience coaching, life coaching, and health coaching. Together with my education in autism, behavioral approaches, and years of experience as a teacher, these perspectives help me understand how our brains, health, experiences, thoughts, and learned patterns influence the ways we respond and connect.

That transformation became the foundation for A Spectrum Between Us and The NeuroConnection Method™—the neuroscience-based method I now use to help women understand their autistic loved ones, transform the patterns keeping them stuck, and create better outcomes without losing themselves in the process.

How I Help

Through The NeuroConnection Method™, I combine an understanding of the autistic brain with neuroscience-based tools that help you calm overwhelm, transform limiting patterns, rebuild self-trust, and make clearer decisions.

This is not about fixing your autistic loved one or blaming yourself. It is about understanding every brain involved and changing what is within your control- so you can create greater calm, clarity, and connection without losing yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is The NeuroConnection Method™ right for me?

This work is for you if you are ready for more than learning how to survive another difficult day.

The NeuroConnection Method™ requires honesty, courage, and a willingness to look at your own thoughts, beliefs, reactions, boundaries, and choices. I will offer compassion and support, but I will also challenge you to recognize the patterns keeping you stuck and practice new ways of responding—even when doing something different feels uncomfortable.

This does not mean taking responsibility for your loved one’s behavior or accepting treatment that harms you. It means taking ownership of what is within your control so you can rebuild self-trust and create meaningful change in your life.

You do not need to arrive confident or have everything figured out. You simply need to be willing to be honest, stay curious, and do the work between our sessions.

If you are looking only for validation that your autistic loved one is the problem—or for strategies that require everyone else to change—this coaching will not be the right fit.

But if you are ready to move beyond working hard just to survive and begin doing the courageous work that can change your experience, I’m ready to walk beside you.

Why does A Spectrum Between Us primarily focus on relationships involving autistic males?

A Spectrum Between Us reflects Amy’s particular area of experience and expertise: helping women better understand and navigate their relationships with autistic and otherwise neurodivergent males, especially mothers of autistic sons and women whose partners are autistic.

This focus allows Amy to offer education, examples, and coaching tools grounded in the relationship dynamics she knows most deeply. It does not mean that every autistic male has the same traits or experiences, nor that the relationship challenges discussed are exclusive to males. Every neurodivergent person and every relationship is unique.

Can I work with Amy if my neurodivergent loved one is female, nonbinary, or another gender?

Yes. Although Amy’s primary area of expertise involves relationships with autistic and neurodivergent males, adults seeking support regarding a neurodivergent loved one of any gender are welcome to inquire.

Because every situation is different, Amy will first determine whether your goals and needs fall within her areas of training, experience, and coaching practice. If they do not, she will be transparent about that and may recommend seeking a professional whose expertise is better suited to your circumstances. Coaching suitability is determined by the nature of the support requested—not by a client’s or loved one’s sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other personal identity.

What can I expect from coaching sessions with you?

You can expect a safe, understanding and supportive environment where transformation occurs within you through direct guidance from me in zoom sessions and introspective, weekly online coursework. I use principles from neuroscience and behavioral therapy to create personalized strategies to help you develop new skills that can strengthen your relationships with others and yourself. This is not just positive thinking and hoping things will change. This is evidence-based science that uses proven pathways resulting in faster and sustainable transformation unlike anything you have tried before.

This is NOT about him, changing him or berating him. It is about YOU and you thriving- not how things are your fault. You are in a situation where I know you want the best for everyone involved.

Coaching is for the strong, tenacious woman who is committed to her life being fulfilling and is willing to do the internal work to achieve it.

How can my background in neuroscience and behavior analysis help you in your relationship?

My background helps me look beneath the surface of repeated conflict, misunderstandings, and emotional reactions. Behavior analysis helps us recognize what may be driving a behavior and what keeps an unhelpful pattern going. Neuroscience helps us understand how both autistic and non-autistic brains process emotions, communication, stress, and connection differently.

Through The NeuroConnection Method™, I use that understanding to help you stop taking every behavior personally, calm your automatic reactions, and make more intentional choices. This isn’t about blaming or fixing your autistic loved one—or blaming you. It’s about understanding every brain involved and changing the patterns within your control so you can build greater self-trust, clarity, and healthier connection.

My training allows me to understand the complex dynamics of the brain to guide you to see how your thoughts determine your behaviors and responses. My knowledge of having a partner on the autism spectrum provides you with an empathetic and compassionate coach who understands your unique situation. We’ll use this knowledge to discover what is happening with YOU in your relationship, to be less reactive to your partner’s behaviors, and address your feelings of being adrift.  

I often feel lonely in my relationship. How can coaching help me with this?

Feeling lonely while you’re in a relationship can be deeply painful and confusing. Coaching gives you a safe place to be honest about what you’re experiencing—without judgment, blame, or being told that your needs are unreasonable.

Through The NeuroConnection Method™, we’ll explore what may be contributing to your loneliness, including differences in communication and emotional connection, repeated relationship patterns, and the thoughts and beliefs affecting how you respond. You’ll learn how to communicate your needs more clearly, strengthen your boundaries, reconnect with yourself, and make empowered choices about what you want moving forward.

Coaching cannot guarantee that your loved one will change. But you do not have to wait for someone else to change before you can feel more grounded, connected, and in control of your life. You can understand your loved one while also remembering that you get to matter too.

Feeling lonely and unseen is a common challenge in such relationships. My supportive coaching program will address this by helping you build a stronger emotional connection with yourself. Additionally, you will learn strategies that help you reclaim your individuality and thrive within your relationship.  

What if I'm considering ending my relationship?

Considering ending a relationship can bring grief, fear, guilt, and uncertainty—especially when you still love the person but recognize that the relationship may be affecting your health and well-being.

Coaching gives you a supportive, judgment-free place to separate emotional overwhelm from what you truly need and want. Through The NeuroConnection Method™, we’ll examine the patterns in your relationship, reconnect you with your values and boundaries, and help you rebuild the self-trust needed to make a clear, empowered decision.

I will never tell you whether to stay or leave. My role is to help you understand your choices and move forward with greater confidence and peace—whether that means creating healthier patterns within the relationship or deciding that ending it is the healthiest path for you.

Deciding to leave a relationship is a significant and personal decision. A Spectrum Between Us coaching will have you explore all aspects of you and your relationship, assessing the sustainability and happiness it brings you. I’ll support you in understanding your needs and wants, ensuring your decision to stay or leave is made with confidence and clarity. 

How does coaching support my personal growth?

Coaching helps you understand yourself more deeply—your thoughts, beliefs, emotional reactions, needs, values, and the patterns shaping your life and relationships.

Through The NeuroConnection Method™, you’ll learn how to calm overwhelm, question beliefs that may be keeping you stuck, rebuild self-trust, and respond more intentionally. You’ll become clearer about what you want, what you need, and what is within your control.

Personal growth isn’t about fixing yourself or becoming someone else. It’s about reconnecting with who you are and developing the confidence to make choices that support your health, happiness, and future. As you change how you meet difficult moments, you create new possibilities for yourself and your relationships.

The mini-course goes beyond immediate relationship issues to focus on your long-term personal development. By rediscovering your identity and rebuilding your confidence, our sessions aim to empower you to make powerful changes in your life, ultimately helping you find a deeper sense of purpose and build a vision for your future. You will be expected to be accountable to a step-by-step plan to realize that vision. 

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