A calmer, clearer way
to support your autistic
teen or young adult
A neurodiversity-affirming program for parents who want to help their child move toward independence, without pushing past their capacity or losing the connection between you.
You're doing a lot and still feel stuck
Most parents who find their way to SPACE to Grow aren't doing too little. You’re doing everything you can think of, and the usual advice keeps coming up short. You might recognize a few of these:
You're unsure how to balance support and independence.
Anxiety, burnout, or overwhelm are shaping daily life.
You're seeing avoidance, resistance, or shutdown.
What you're trying doesn't seem to be working.
Your child relies heavily on you for daily functioning.
You have a vision for their future, but not a path to it yet.
None of this means you've done something wrong. It usually means the approach you were handed wasn't built for your autistic child.
Supporting an autistic teen or young adult is genuinely different
Most parenting guidance assumes a nervous system that responds to routine charts, natural consequences, and ‘just be more consistent.’ For an autistic or ND young person, those approaches can make anxiety and avoidance worse — because they don't account for capacity, demand sensitivity, or how their brain actually works.
So the real shift starts somewhere else entirely. Not in trying to change your child directly, but in something you can do: the way support is offered around them.
Introducing SPACE to Grow
A structured, expert-guided program to help you support your autistic teen or young adult toward greater independence — without pushing beyond their capacity or damaging connection. Instead of trying to change your child, you'll learn to gradually reduce the accommodations that keep everyone stuck, while building calm, confident communication — at a pace that respects their nervous system.
“Dr. Siena offers a rare jewel of a course which includes a neuroaffirming approach, understanding of PDA, evidence based care informed by lived experience, the full recovery process, understanding of capacity, personalized coaching and learning from others.”
—Amanda
What makes SPACE to Grow unique?
A parent-led program grounded in evidence-based principles and adapted, specifically, for autistic teens and young adults
Neurodiversity-affirming
This approach respects your child’s
neurotype and way of experiencing
the world. The goal is not to “fix” or
normalize, but to support meaningful, individualized growth.
You're the starting point
You don't need your child's buy-in to begin.
You learn how to shift your own responses
in a structured, intentional way, creating
the conditions for new patterns and
real progress over time.
For complex profiles
SPACE to Grow is specifically adapted for
the real-world overlap of autism, anxiety, executive functioning challenges, and
PDA traits — so you can respond to the full picture, not just one piece of it.
Clinical and lived expertise
Developed and led by Dr. Siena, a licensed psychologist and certified SPACE provider,
who also brings the perspective of
parenting within a neurodiverse family.
Choose the path that works for you
Full access to everything in the program — the live coaching, all on-demand modules, the resource library, and the community. Here's how to join:
✔︎ 12 weeks of live 90-minute coaching with Dr. Siena, replays are uploaded the same day
✔︎ 6 months of private community access and ongoing support
✔︎ 21 on-demand core modules (lifetime access)
✔︎ 25+ editable tools and resources
ONE PAYMENT
US$1,497
✔︎ 12 weeks of live 90-minute coaching with Dr. Siena, replays are uploaded the same day
✔︎ 6 months of private community access and ongoing support
✔︎ 21 on-demand core modules (lifetime access)
✔︎ 25+ editable tools and resources
PAYMENT PLAN
US$547 × 3
“Please give this course a try: you will find helpful content explained by a thoughtful, wise, and compassionate clinician who understands the reality of challenges of raising a ND teen and young adult….You know that knot you feel in your chest when considering your child’s future? That will soften and shift and the effects of that change will ripple throughout your family.”
What a mother of a 25 year old is saying about her experience in the program
Everything that comes with SPACE to Grow
12 Weeks of Live Coaching
(90-minute sessions)
Weekly 90-minute calls to ask questions, get
specific guidance, and work through real situations.
All sessions are recorded — yours to keep
with lifetime access.
21 On-demand Core Modules
(lifetime access)
A step-by-step path at your own pace — shifting
unhelpful accommodations while building
the right supports for anxiety, executive
functioning, and daily life.
6-Month Private Parent
Community Access and Support
A thoughtfully moderated space alongside
other parents — with Dr. Siena present throughout, so you're never figuring it out alone.
25 Editable and Actionable
Tools and Resources
Worksheets, planning templates, and scaffolded
supports you can tailor to your child, family, and
situation. Designed for real life, not just theory.
When we’ll meet for the live coaching calls
Twelve (12) Mondays at 11:30am–1:00pm EST
1) September 21
2) September 28
3) October 5
4) October 12
5) October 19
6) October 26
7) November 2
8) November 9
9) November 16
10) November 30
11) December 7
12) December 14
Can't join live? Every session is recorded, and you'll have lifetime access to the replays — rewatch them anytime, even long after the cohort wraps.
A Glimpse Inside: SPACE to Grow
Your Roadmap to Confident Parenting
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We’re moving away from 'just getting through the day' and starting to build a clear plan for your child’s path to adulthood
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Learn the 'why' behind behaviors to help you understand what your child needs to feel safe and supported
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We put it all together to create a life where your child can be themselves and truly thrive as they grow up
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How to rebuild trust and learn what your child is actually ready for, so you can move forward without the overwhelm
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Identify those 'invisible' things so you can better understand what’s driving your child’s hardest moments
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The specific tools and levers you can use to start making real, positive changes in your daily life
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Find practical ways to take care of yourself so you have the energy and patience to keep supporting your child
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We’ll look at all the things you’re already doing to help your child and recognize what’s working and what might need to change
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We’ll help you pick just one specific, manageable goal to focus on for your very first win
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Map out your custom, step-by-step plan to balance supporting your child with helping them build new skills
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We’ll walk through how to talk to your child about these changes in a way that feels calm, clear, and confident for both of you
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See real-life examples of these plans in action, so you can see how this looks in a normal, everyday home
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We’ll show you how to get that momentum back and keep building a strong, trusting connection with your child
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We’ll look at the bigger picture to make sure you have a solid, sustainable plan for the long run
“This has exceeded expectations…So many people need this help, and it’s so hard to find qualified professionals, and this is such a brilliant way to help more people.”
— Mom of an 18 year old
Picture making decisions from a clearer place
Not a transformed child overnight — a more grounded you. Reading what's really going on underneath the behavior. Knowing when to step in and when to step back. Responding instead of reacting, with a plan you actually trust and a community walking it alongside you.
Two simple ways to begin
Same full access either way — choose what fits your family right now
✔︎ 12 weeks of live 90-minute coaching with Dr. Siena, replays are uploaded the same day
✔︎ 6 months of private community access and ongoing support
✔︎ 21 on-demand core modules (lifetime access)
✔︎ 25+ editable tools and resources
ONE PAYMENT
US$1,497
✔︎ 12 weeks of live 90-minute coaching with Dr. Siena, replays are uploaded the same day
✔︎ 6 months of private community access and ongoing support
✔︎ 21 on-demand core modules (lifetime access)
✔︎ 25+ editable tools and resources
PAYMENT PLAN
US$547×3
“This is a great program that takes a proven approach and adapts it to the reality of neurodivergent/autistic teens/young adults.”
— A.P.
Meet Your Guide
Dr. Siena Whitham
Hi, I’m Dr. Siena.
I’m a licensed psychologist and certified SPACE provider, specializing in supporting parents of autistic teens and young adults navigating complex, often stuck situations.
Many of the families I work with are dealing with some combination of anxiety, burnout, executive functioning challenges, and ongoing dependence — and are unsure what will actually help.
My work focuses on helping you:
Understand what’s actually driving behavior
Differentiate anxiety, burnout, and capacity limits
Shift your own responses in a structured, intentional way
Support skill-building without overwhelming your child
Move forward with more clarity and less reactivity
Why I created SPACE to Grow
In my clinical work, I saw the same pattern repeatedly:
Parents were either doing everything for their child and feeling stuck
—or—
Trying to push change and encountering resistance
There was very little guidance on how to bridge that gap.
SPACE to Grow was created to give parents a structured, supported way to move forward — without losing connection or overwhelming their child.
A personal note
I’m also a parent in a neurodiverse family.
Which means I understand this work not just clinically, but personally — the uncertainty, the second-guessing, and the constant recalibrating.
Meet Dr. Siena
Psychologist, Certified SPACE provider, and parent in a neurodiverse family.
I work with families navigating complex, often stuck situations — where anxiety, burnout, and dependence have made it hard to move forward.
SPACE to Grow was built to give parents a clearer way to think, plan, and take meaningful next steps — without relying on pressure, urgency, or guesswork.
What You'll Learn
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1) Understand how anxiety, avoidance, and executive functioning challenges interact — and why things may feel stuck
2) Assess your child's capacity in real time and adjust your approach accordingly
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3) Shift your communication and support in ways that reduce friction and open the door to growth
4) Navigate difficult conversations and set boundaries while maintaining connection
5) Respond to resistance and escalation with more clarity, calm, and effectiveness
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6) Build real-world executive functioning and daily living skills through structured, supported steps
7) Provide the right scaffolds as you gradually step back — so your child feels supported, not abandoned
8) Support a realistic, individualized path toward adulthood — without relying on pressure or urgency
(Enrollment opens September 2026 — spots are limited)
The SPACE to Grow Approach
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SPACE to Grow is grounded in evidence-based approaches, with a core foundation in the SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) model developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center.
This program is an independent adaptation of these principles, tailored specifically for autistic teens and young adults.
SPACE is a parent-based treatment that focuses on shifting how parents respond to anxiety — particularly by gradually reducing accommodations while strengthening supportive, confident communication.
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A central part of this approach is focusing on what you can control.
Rather than trying to change your child directly, you learn how to shift your own responses in a clear, structured way — creating the conditions for growth, skill-building, and increased independence over time.
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SPACE to Grow is not a standard application of the SPACE model.
It has been specifically adapted to support autistic teens and young adults — particularly those navigating anxiety, executive functioning challenges, burnout, and demand avoidance.
This includes a focus on:
Capacity and nervous system states
Executive functioning and daily life skills
Sensory needs and regulation
Providing alternative scaffolds as support shifts
The goal is not to remove support — but to evolve it in a way that supports growth.
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This work respects your child’s neurotype and way of experiencing the world.
Growth is not defined by becoming more typical — but by building a life that is sustainable, meaningful, and aligned with your child’s strengths and needs.
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For more information on the original SPACE treatment, please visit spacetreatment.net.
Who is SPACE to Grow for?
Parents of autistic teens (12–18) and young adults (18–29+) who are experiencing one or more of the following:
❋
You feel unsure how to balance support and independence
❋
You’re seeing patterns of avoidance, resistance, or shutdown
❋
Things feel "stuck" or not progressing over time
❋
You want a clearer, more thoughtful approach — not more guesswork
❋
Anxiety, burnout, or overwhelm are impacting daily life
❋
You’re trying to help — but what you’re doing doesn’t seem to be working
❋
Your child relies heavily on you for daily functioning
❋
You have a vision or goal for your child’s future (e.g., college, re-entry into school), but don’t yet know how to help them get there
Who SPACE to Grow isn’t for (right now)
Parents looking for quick fixes or immediate results
Families in acute crisis who need a higher level of immediate or intensive support
Those not open to reflecting on their own role in current patterns
Situations where there is active safety risk that requires direct clinical care
What’s Included
Full Program Access — US$1,497
A structured, 12-week program combining expert guidance, live coaching, community, and practical tools — designed to help you create real, sustainable change.
A limited number of reduced-cost spots are available based on need.
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Join Dr. Siena and your cohort for weekly live coaching calls where you can:
Ask questions and get direct guidance
Work through real situations
Get support as you implement changes
All sessions are recorded and shared, so you can revisit them or catch up if you can’t attend live.
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A thoughtfully moderated space to connect with other parents navigating similar challenges.
Active expert support during the 12-week program
Continued access for an additional 3 months
Ongoing space for reflection, questions, and shared learning
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25+ fully editable worksheets, templates, and scaffold guides designed for real-life use.
These tools help you translate what you’re learning into clear, concrete steps — tailored to your specific child and family.
(Enrollment opens September 2026 — spots are limited)
“This was way better than any book I could have read. I think I can now be the best parent of an AuDHD young adult that I'm capable of. I have the knowledge and tools for that - finally!”
— J.S.
Get started with SPACE to Grow
Enrollment opens September 2026. Spots are limited and typically fill quickly
What happens next
When enrollment opens, you’ll get:
▪ Immediate access to all on-demand materials
▪ Weekly live coaching and Q&A sessions
▪ The full resource library
▪ Access to the private parent community
While you wait
You can explore free resources and follow along for ongoing guidance and support.
Joining the waitlist also means you'll get early insights and updates before anyone else.